Memphis 4, Las Vegas (29-25) 3
The 51’s offense struggled again culminating in their 8th straight loss, they haven’t scored more than 3 three runs in a game during the losing streak. They jumped out to an early 3-0 lead thanks to the power of Matt Reynolds who hit a 1st inning 3-run homerun as he got his 7th start at 2B this year. Here is video of the HR. It was Reynolds only hit on the night, his 3rd HR and is now up to 32 RBI’s on the season. After that the bats went cold being shutout over the next 8 innings collecting just five hits. Brooks Conrad and Wilfredo Tovar each went 2-4 with a double while Johnny Monell and Brandon Allen were each 1-4 with a single. Jayce Boyd and T.J. Rivera combined to go 0-8 while playing LF and 3B respectively.
Logan Verrett made his 2nd start of the season for Vegas going 3.2 innings giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits, picking up three strikeouts. Verrett threw only 66 pitches as it seems the Mets are stretching him back out to go back to starting which he has done most of his career (78 appearances, 71 starts). Scott Rice relieved Verrett letting his inherited runner score then gave up the game winning 2-run HR to Dan Johnson in the 5th inning. John Church pitched scoreless 6th and 7th innings lowering his ERA to 3.30, WHIP to 1.10. Zack Thornton pitched a clean 8th inning extending his scoreless streak to 10.1 innings. Box Score
The 51’s look to avoid their 9th straight loss with Darin Gorksi (3-5, 5.67) taling on Memphis at 8:05.
Trenton 6, Binghamton (26-26) 4
Binghamton had a 4-3 lead heading into the top of the 7th inning with Bobby Parnell coming out to pitch. First batter hit one to center field that Gilbert Gomez misplayed into a leadoff single. After Parnell walked the #9 hitter he gave up a flyball to that should have been an easy catch but Jared King lost in the lights resulting in a ground-rule double to score the tying run. Parnell then got a groundball out to Gavin Cecchini with the infield in but walked the next hitter to load the bases with one out. The next hitter Eric Jagielo hit a sac fly to LF to give the Thunder the lead. Gary Sanchez followed with a single to left that Michael Conforto made a great throw to homeplate but the runner was called safe although to the naked eye he looked out. Parnell got the next hitter ending his inning giving up three runs and failing to record a strikout with his fastball sitting in the low 90’s. Gabriel Ynoa made the start going 6 innings giving up three runs on nine hits, zero walks, and struck out one. Ynoa threw 86 pitches with 56 for strikes but his slider looks to be flatter than last year and he hasn’t shown the impeccable control he has in the past. Matt Koch pitched a perfect 8th inning and has been great since moving to the bullpen giving up 1 run in 19 innings.
Gavin Cecchini went 2-4 giving him 6 consecutive games with multiple hits and raising his slash line to .335/.390/.491 on the season. Cecchini also scored a run while knocking in his 23rd run but was left in the on-deck circle as Yeixon Ruiz flew out to end the game. Michael Conforto was 1-3 while also walking in the 5th with two runners on and the pitcher having no interest in giving in to him. Conforto threw a runner out at 2nd trying to stretch a single to a double and had the close play at home as well. Josh Rodriguez made Trenton pay for walking Conforto in the 5th with a 2-run single that at the time gave the B’Mets a 3-2 lead. Jared King had a good night at the plate going 2-3 with a walk, run scored and knocking in his 23rd run of the year. King is now 4-6 in June after hitting just .173/.222/.191 in the month of May. Aderlin Rodriguez was 2-4 pushing his hitting streak to four games, he is 8-16 in that span. Box Score
Luis Cessa (4-3, 3.09) gets the start as the B’Mets host Trenton at 6:35
Bradenton 5, St. Lucie (27-26) 4
St. Lucie starter Kevin McGowan gave up 5 runs to the Marauders in the 1st inning for their only runs of the game but the Mets were unable to complete the comeback. The Mets scored 1 in the in 4th and 3 in the 6th giving them a chance in the 9th in which they hit three lines drives but none of them fell for hits. McGowan bounced back to throw 4 scoreless inning after the 1st and finished up going 5 innings allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks. It was McGowan’s 4th loss of the year raising his ERA to 5.13. Robert Coles (2) and Josh Smoker (1) combined to pitch the last three innings giving up no runs while keeping St. Lucie in the game.
Dominic Smith collected two more hits (no doubles which is unusual) extending his hitting streak to 16 games. In less than a month Smith has raised his line from .143/.194/.159 to its current .277/.315/.409 while being one of the youngest hitters in the league. Jeff McNeil was 2-4 with his 7th double and knocking in is 14th run while boosting his Florida State League leading average to .346. Amed Rosario was 1-4 with his 7th steal, 12th RBI, and his 13th double which is good enough for 2nd in the FSL (Smith 1st w/18). Stefan Sabol was 2-4 with a RBI, R, SB, 2B, and is now hitting 7-21 with 6 RBI’s since his promotion. L.J. Mazzilli was 1-5 on the night, he is 4-13 since being activated for the year. Box Score
John Gant (0-0, 1.50) makes his 2nd start in St. Lucie as they take on Palm Beach at 6:35.
Savannah (26-27) 5, Asheville 4
Casey Delgado was signed last week out of the Frontier league and so far all he does is win ball games moving to 2-0 after last night. Making his first start (2nd appearance) in affiliated pro ball Casey went 6 innings giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits while walking none and striking out four. Alberto Baldonado pitched two perfect frames in relief with two strikeouts and has now given up just 14 hits in 27.1 inning this year. James Duff pitch a scoreless 9th inning to pick up his 3rd save of the season.
The Sand Gnats scored four runs in the first three innings thanks in part to Tomas Nido who was 2-4 with his 3rd HR in the 3rd inning. Wuilmer Becerra was 2-5 with a run scored having now hit safely in 7 of his last 9 games. His slash line is now .283/.326/.489, not bad for a throw-in. Luis Guillorme was 0-5 dropping his batting average below .300 for the first time since April 28th. Eudor Garcia was 1-5 with his 7th double of the year while Jon Leroux was 1-5 extending his hitting streak to 5 games. Box Score
The Sand Gnats start a series with Greenville tonight at 7:05 with Martires Arias (3-3, 3.68) getting the start.
DSL Yankees1 21, DSL Mets1 (3-1) 2
The Mets made 6 errors in the field and needed second baseman Rafael Valdez & catcher Daniel Cedeno to pitch the last three innings.
Injury News
Dilson Herrera and Travis d’Arnaud will play for St. Lucie tonight on their rehab assignments while Vic Black’s rehab has moved to AAA Las Vegas. Las Vegas outfielder Kyle Johnson suggested on his own twitter account that he will be out until after the All-Star break with his hand injury.
