Mets Minor League Recap: Tovar Homers Twice, Vegas Wins 12th Straight

Las Vegas (17-8) 10, Albuquerque 2 F/7 Game One

The 51’s won their 11th straight game as Steven Matz was not dominant but still managed to get his 4th win by going 6 innings, giving up two runs on nine hits while striking out seven over his 87 pitch outing. Matz fastball was sitting in the 91-94 range while he had a good curveball working he seemed to throw feeler changeups than his last couple of outings. Matz has now won 4 starts in a row sporting a 2.04 ERA on the season with a 1.19 WHIP and has struck out 38 hitters over 35.1 innings. Matz also chipped in with a RBI single and is hitting .300 on the season. Jack Leathersich came in to get the last three outs and was perfect striking out one hitter and lowering his ERA to 2.25. The offense came from an unlikely power source in Wilfredo Tovar who went 3-3 with two HR’s and had 4 RBI’s. Here is video of one the HR’s by Tovar. Darrell Ceciliani reached base four times including his 5th double and came in to score three times while playing CF and hitting 2nd. Matt Reynolds was 2-5 with a RBI (24) and scored a run while Brooks Conrad was 3-4 with three RBI’s. Box Score

Las Vegas (18-8) 3, Albuquerque 1 F/7 Game Two

The 51’s completed the double header sweep to tie a franchise record with their 12 straight win.Logan Verrett made his return to the Mets organization starting game two but was only able to throw one inning after pitching in relief for the Rangers. In his one inning of work he walked one gave up two hits allowing one run. Duane Below came in and pitched 1.2 innings of relief to pick up the win (2-1) allowing two base runners recording zero strike outs. Below has had a strong season as the 51’s long man sporting a 1.42 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 12.2 innings and 5 appearances. John Church, Scott Rice, and Chasen Bradford combined to throw the final 4.1 scoreless innings with Bradford getting his 3rd save. Rice extended is scoreless streak to 8 innings giving up only 2 hits and 4 walks with 8 strike outs over that span. With his 1.2 scoreless Bradford stretched his scoreless streak to start the season to 13 innings with a 0.77 WHIP and the league hitting .196 against him. The 51’s bats cooled collecting only 5 hits with Danny Muno getting two of those (both doubles). Reynolds had the only RBI for the 51’s and finished 1-4 bringing his slash line to .327/.388/.525 including hitting .364 over his last 10. Tovar finished his strong night going 1-3 with a run scored and stole two bases(7) lifting his line to .303/.346/.487 on the year. Box Score. Las Vegas will go for the franchise record 13 straight win with Tyler Pill on the mound at 8:35 ET against Albuquerque.

Binghamton (15-10) 3, Portland 1

Seth Lugo pitched very well on his way to his 2nd win of the season holding the Sea Dogs to one run over 6.2 innings on six base runners and striking out six. Lugo has yet to lose this season now sporting a 1.37 ERA having struck out 19 hitters in 19.2 innings pitched. Lugo was hitting 91-93 MPH on the gun and got eight outs via the ground ball. Adam Kolarek pitched his third consecutive shutout appearance going 1.1 innings with a clean line. Paul Sewald came into pitch a perfect 9th inning with one K to get his 5th save and is yet to be scored on in 14.1 innings to start the year. Josh Rodriguez continued his hot streak going with two hits, run scored, and his 18th RBI of the season. T.J. Rivera went 1-4 with a RBI and a run scored to lower his season average to .385. Jayce Boyd reached base twice (H,BB) while Gavin Cecchini was 1-3 with a two-out RBI single. Brandon Nimmo took and 0-4 lowering his average on the year to .292. Box Score. Rainy Lara (2-0, 2.91) will be on the mound for the B’Mets tonight at 6:35 ET vs. the Sea Dogs.

Palm Beach 4, St. Lucie (13-13) 1

Miller Diaz got the start for the Sand Gnats and received his 2nd loss of the year going 6 innings allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and thee walks while striking out six. Julian Hilario and Mike Hepple combined to throw three perfect innings of relief striking out six batters as they both lowered their ERA’s to under 2. St. Lucie produced only 5 hits on the night with Maikis De La Cruz collecting two of them knocking in the Sand Gnats only run. Champ Stuart and Yeixon Ruiz each had a walk and a single while Jhoan Urena went 1-3 bringing his average up to .221. Michael Conforto, Dominic Smith, and Victor Cruzado combined to go 0-12 on the evening with Conforto lowering his average to .288. Box Score. Marcos Molina host Palm Beach today in a unusual 10:30 AM ET start.