Las Vegas (38-29) 5, Salt Lake 1
Steven Matz bounced back from his worst start of the year to throw a gem going 7 shutout innings to pick up his 7th win of the season also pushing the 51’s win streak to 7 games. Matz needed just 87 pitches (53 strikes) to finish his 7 sparkling innings giving up just four hits and a walk while striking out five. He still leads the Pacific Coast League in ERA at 2.11 and strikeouts at 86 in 85.1 innings pitched. Matz threw 54 fastballs (32 strikes), 11 changeups (9 strikes), 22 curveballs (12 strikes) with the most pitches in an inning being only 16 in the 5th inning. Chase Huchingson threw a scoreless 8th inning walking and striking out one, he has yet to allow a run in 2.1 AAA innings since being promoted. John Church allowed a run in the 9th to cough up the shutout on three hits, he struck out one and has given up four runs in his last two appearances combined.
The game was scoreless going into the bottom of the 6th inning when the 51’s offense finally broke through for three runs started by a T.J. Rivera double followed by a Matt Reynolds RBI triple and a Alex Castellanos RBI double made it 2-0. Jayce Boyd who was 2-4 with his 4th AAA double made it 3-0 51’s with a RBI single in the 6th inning. Boyd is 9-27 with four RBI and a 5/3 BB/SO over his last 10 games. Anthony Recker hit a 2-run bomb in the 8th inning to make it 5-0, he was 2-4 in his return to Las Vegas. Here is video of the homer. Reynolds was 1-4 with his 42nd RBI and Castellanos was 1-3 with his 40th RBI while walking once and scoring twice. I wish they had a recording of the in-game broadcasting for the 51’s because Vic Black jumped on with Las Vegas broadcaster Russ Langer for most of the game. He was extremely entertaining and said he has a slight tear in his groin. Box Score
Tyler Pill (2-3, 6.00) pitches tonight as they go to Fresno to take on the Grizzlies at 10:05 ET.
Binghamton (34-30) 3, Portland 1
I showed up in time for batting practice for Binghamton thankfully because Michael Conforto put on a pretty good show hitting lasers everywhere. He hit a homerun to right field that cleared everything out of the ballpark, I have seen alot of games/BP at Hadlock field and I have never seen a ball hit to that spot before. The sound of the bat of Conforto was different than everyone else, he seems to get the barrel on everything he swings at. In the last round him and L.J. Mazzilli did a little homerun derby basically, Conforto won but Mazzilli showed impressive power but only to the pull side.
When the game started it still looked like Conforto was hitting BP, in his first at bat he got down in the count 1-2 on a pitch that was 6 inches outside that was called a strike. He got the count to 2-2 a muscled an outside fastball to left center field on a soft line that Mazzilli could have scored on with a better read. In his 2nd at bat he hit a laser that went off the top of the wall in right field for a RBI double scoring Mazzilli this time. Third time up he got beat on a fastball in and flew out to left field on a tough pitch. His final at bat he took an outside fastball and went right with it into the hole between shortstop and third base to go 3-4 on the night. He is now hitting .375/.493/.625 in AA and has a combined 40 RBI on the year. Mazzilli had a very good game too, he was 1-3 with his 4th double a walk and two runs scored. I was really impressed with Mazzilli in the field who made two good plays including one on a ball up the middle to end the game. He showed good range to his right and looked quick coming in on a soft ground ball. Eudy Pina was only 1-4 but all three outs were hard hit and his swing looks much better than when I saw him last month. Hitting the ball with more authority (2 HR’s in last 3 games) while going with the ball to the opposite field better. Gavin Cecchini had a rough day all around, he was 0-5 with another throwing error. He was making some hard contact but seemed to be out on his front foot a bit last night. The throw was on a possible 3-6-3 double play ball that he should have just held onto but instead airmailed it over the 1st baseman head.
Luis Cessa started for the B’Mets pitching a fantastic game going 8 innings giving up a run on five hits and two walks while striking out five. The third inning he gave up two singles and uncorked a wild pitch giving up his only run and outside of that he dominated the Sea Dogs. He was popping the glove most of the night hitting 97.4 MPH (computer tracking the game used decimals) on a fastball in the 3rd inning, hardest pitch I have seen recorded for Cessa. He was hitting 94/95 consistently all night and threw a 96 MPH fastball on his 101st pitch of the night in the 8th inning. Later in the game he started throwing more off-speed pitches and threw about 40 on the night. His slider has good tilt on it and he was able to put it where ever he wanted to last night. Cessa picked up 6th win and lowered his ERA to 2.34, he has allowed just two runs in his last four starts that spans 27.2 innings. Paul Sewald pitched a clean 9th inning to pick up his 11th save and lowering his ERA to 1.53 on the year. Sewald was hitting 92 with his fastball and throwing his breaking ball at 80 MPH. Box Score
Binghamton looks for the sweep with Michael Fulmer (1-0, 3.44) on the mound vs. the Sea Dogs at 6:00. I did talk to Michael Conforto last night and will have the interview up as soon as possible.
Clearwater 4, St. Lucie (34-23) 3 F/11
St. Lucie lost when Kyle Regnault gave up a walk-off homerun to Aaron Brown to lead off the bottom of the 11th inning. Regnault had thrown two scoreless innings to keep the game tied up before giving up the long ball. Miller Diaz got the start and was wild walking five hiiters in 5.2 innings giving up three runs while striking out one. Lefty Kelly Secrest followed Diaz going 2.1 scoreless without allowing a hit and striking out two.
Brandon Nimmo played his in 4th rehab game going 1-4 with a RBI double and a walk. Amed Rosario was 2-5 for the third consecutive night raising his average to .269 on the year. Dominic Smith, Maikis De La Cruz, and Stefan Sabol all went 1-4 while reaching base twice. FSL leading hitter Jeff McNeil was 0-5 with his 7th error, he has been playing mostly 3B lately with no 2B opening in Binghamton. Box Score
Logan Taylor (1-5, 4.23) is on the hill for St. Lucie as they take on Clearwater at 7:00.
Asheville 4, Savannah (35-31) 2 F/13
After scoring a run in each of the first two innings the Sand Gnats bats fell asleep not being able to score in the next 11 straight. They were able to create some scoring opportunites but went 3-15 with runners in scoring position. The offense was led by Wuilmer Becerra who was 3-6 and is now hitting .289/.340/.491 on the year for Savannah. John Johnson and John Mora each had two hits while they were responsible for knocking in both Savannah runs. Eudor Garcia went 1-6 while Luis Guillorme had an unusually rough night going 0-6 with the dreaded golden sombrero.
Martires Arias was the start for the Sand Gnats going 5.2 innings giving up two runs on five hits and two walks while collecting five strikeouts. Alberto Baldonado followed with 2.1 innings of scoreless ball allowing only one runner and striking out four. The lefty Baldonado has now given up just 15 hits in 32.2 innings all year with 38 punch outs as well. David Roseboom pitched a clean 9th inning with two K’s and is now scoreless in his last 10 appearances stretching over 9.2 innings. Paul Paez pitched 4 good innings but was saddled with the loss giving up two unearned runs in the top of the 13th because of am error by left fielder Vicente Lupo. Box Score
The Sand Gnats look to bounce back tonight with Scarlyn Reyes (6-4, 3.51) getting the start vs. Asheville at 7:05.
DSL Mets1 (8-8) 7, DSL Giants 4 Box Score
DSL Mets2 (10-5) 4, DSL TIgers 1 Box Score
Roster News
Rainy Lara was added back to the Binghamton roster after getting roughed up in his spot start for Las Vegas. Akeel Morris was added to the Binghamton roster as well after struggling last night in his ML debut.
I was also able to talk to a Padres scout at the Binghamton game and will give you guys some insight after tonight when I hope to talk to him again.
