Las Vegas (29-17) 9, Col. Springs 1
Steven Matz was on the hill again for Las Vegas last night continuing to do what he has done most of the season shutting the Sky Sox down for 7 innings after receiving a 5-0 lead to work worth in the 2nd inning. He didn’t give up any runs while only allowing three hits, walk one, seven strikeouts while needing only 77 pitches (52) strikes to complete his outing. Of those pitches Matz threw 19 curveballs, 6 changeups, and 52 fastballs needing only 12 pitches in the 6th and 7th innings combined. Matz now has 6 straight games of going atleast 6 innings and striking out seven or more hitters. He is 2nd in the PCL in ERA (1.99), 3rd in WHIP (1.04), 1st in K’s by 19 (68), and 1st in innings at 63.1. Matz was sitting in the 94-95 MPH range most the game with a couple of dips into 92-93 in the later innings. Here is video of Matz last strikeout.Logan Verrett pitched the 8th giving up a run on three baserunners while striking out two and has given up just three runs in 11 innings since returning to the Mets.
Wilfredo Tovar did the most damage for a 51’s team that went 6-13 with runners in scoring position collecting two hits of his own while knocking in three runs and stealing his 11th base. Matz also helped himself at the plate going 2-3 with two RBI’s, he is now 7-20 hitting this season. Brandon Allen continued his hot hitting going 2-3 with a walk, three RBI’s, three runs scored, stole his 2nd bag of the year and is now 13-34 over his last 10 games. Matt Reynolds was 1-5 on the night and has hit only .255/.318/.327 in the month of May. Box Score
The 51’s are back at it tonight with Tyler Pill (1-1, 6.21) on the mound at 10:05 ET against Col. Springs
Portland 8, Binghamton (24-21), 5
Gabriel Ynoa was solid before the 6th inning when him and reliever Adam Kolarek blew up to allow five runs in the top of the 7th to open up what was a 3-2 Sea Dogs lead. Ynoa’s final line: 6.1, 7 hits, 5 ER’s, 0 walks & strikeouts, 2 HR’s, left two runners on that came around to score. Kolarek let both of the inherited runners score while letting three of his own score in just 0.2 of an inning. Vic Black (wearing #9 which looks weird on a pitcher) came in to pitch for the 2nd straight night getting a groundout, single on curveball, flyout, and a popout to end his inning of work. He was hitting 92-93 according to the stadium gun and looks like he could ready to activate anytime now. Bobby Parnell followed with an equally impressive inning getting a strikeout swinging on the knuckle-curve, walking a hitter, then getting a 6-4-3 double play to end his inning. Parnell hit 97 MPH once on the stadium gun, hit 95 once, and was at 92 with his other fastballs.
The B’Mets offense took some time to wake up scoring all 5 of their runs in the 6-8 innings including a two-run HR by Aderlin Rodriguez (4th) in the 8th inning. Aderlin had his best game of the season on the same day he found out he will get his starting spot back after the retirement of 1B David Cooper, going 3-4 with the HR, 2 doubles, and 3 RBI’s. Josh Rodriguez hit his team leading 9th HR in the 6th inning as part of his three hit night. Gavin Cecchini was 1-4 with a sac fly giving him 20 RBI’s on the season. Jayce Boyd went 1-4 as well extending his hitting streak to 12 games. Outfielder Eudy Pina was a perfect 4-4 on the night with his 4th triple of the year and is now 13-32 over his last 10 games. Binghamton actually outhit Portland 15-12 but hit into 4 double plays and left 7 runners on base. Box Score
Dillon Gee will make what should be his last rehab start for Binghamton tonight vs. Portland starting at 6:35.
St. Lucie (22-23) 6, Lakeland 3
The St. Lucie Mets won its 4th straight game behind a good first inning that gave the starter Miller Diaz a 4-0 led he would never relinquish. The big hit in the inning came off the bat of Dominic Smith who came up with the bases loaded and cleared them with a double to left field. The clutch hit extended Smith’s hitting streak to 8 games, he has 6 doubles and 7 RBI’s over that span. Jeff McNeil was 4-5 scoring a run, knocking in is 13th run, stole two bases and is now leading the Florida State League in hitting at .348. Michael Conforto had his 8-game hit streak ended but walked twice and scored a run. Amed Rosario went 1-4 extending his own hitting streak to 7 games but was caught stealing for the 3rd time this year.
Diaz struggled but was just good enough to get the win going 5.2 innings allowing three runs on five hits, four walks, striking out four batters, and picking up his 3rd win of the year. Mike Hepple went 1.1 innings allowing only a walk while stranding two runners he inherited from Diaz. Josh Smoker was absolutely dominant in his 2 innings of work giving up just one hit while striking out five hitters picking up his 2nd save of the season. Box Score
St. Lucie looks to win its 5th straight game when Logan Taylor (0-2, 5.75) takes the mound tonight vs. Lakeland at 6:30.
Savannah (20-25) 5, Asheville 1
Lefty Brad Wieck was fantastic after allowing a first inning run going 6.2 innings and retiring 14 straight hitters in one stretch. Wieck gave up the one run on four hits, a walk, while striking out nine batters. Over his last 4 starts Wieck has struck out 37 hitters in 24.2 innings going 2-1 in that stretch that has seen his ERA go from 4.74 to its current 3.09. James Duff and David Roseboom combined to throw 2.1 innings of scoreless ball to close out the victory for the Sand Gnats.
The Sand Gnats could only muster six hits but took advantage early in the game of Tourists pitching that walked 7 hitters to score twice in the 1st and three times in the 3rd. Luis Guillorme was the table setter per usual walking twice and scoring both times lifting his OBP to .391 on the year. Wuilmer Becerra went 2-4 with his 9th double and knocked in his 18th run of the year. Eudor Garcia was 0-2 but walked twice scoring a run while Tomas Nido chipped in with two-out two-run double in the 3rd inning. Box Score
Casey Meisner (3-1, 1.93) looks to build off his 7 inning of 1-hit ball with 10 K’s as he takes the hill tonight at 7:05 against Asheville.
