Savannah 5, Augusta 0

Behind a brilliant pitching performance, the Savannah Sand Gnats blanked the Augusta GreenJackets 5-0 Friday night at Historic Grayson Stadium to sweep the best-of-three Southern Division Championship Series two games to none. Savannah outscored Augusta 15-2 in the two games.

Savannah pitchers recorded 19 strikeouts against just one walk in the two-game sweep.

Starter Steven Matz faced one over the minimum in his seven innings in which he retired 21 of the 22 batters he faced. He threw first pitch strikes to 18 of 22 opposing hitters, struck out eight and did not issue a walk. Paul Sewaldworked around an infield single in the eighth and Beck Wheeler retired the side in order in the ninth.

The Gnats took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Eudy Pina tripled and scored when Maikis De La Cruz hit into a fielder’s choice.

Savannah broke the game open with a three run third inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, centerfielderBrandon Nimmo drilled a triple up the right-centerfield gap to score three runs to put Savannah ahead 4-0.

Nimmo was 2-for-3 and 4-for-7 with four RBI in the series. Pina, who was 2-for-3, reached base three times for the second straight game from the leadoff spot.

In the seventh, De La Cruz’s triple to left-center scored Pina for a 5-0 lead.

Four of the Gnats’ seven hits Friday went for extra-bases, including three triples.

The Gnats will begin the South Atlantic League Championship Series at the home of the Northern Division Champion Monday night. Game two will be Tuesday.

After an off-day Wednesday, the series will shift to Savannah for Game three on Thursday. If necessary, games four and five will be Friday and Saturday nights in Savannah.

Thoughts from Satish

Savannah received excellent pitching from both Gabriel Ynoa and Steven Matz in their consecutive victories over Augusta. However, I wanted to take a minute to focus on Matz and his stellar work for Savannah. He finished the year with a 2.62 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 106.1 innings — a 10.2 K/9 rate.

He allowed just a single hit last night over seven shutout innings while striking out eight, effectively making arguably his best start of the year in Savannah’s most important game of the year The native New Yorker is an easy guy to come to appreciate, and he seems to have a solid grasp of the game. Here’s Matz post-game:

“Usually, the first time around, I try to establish the fastball. The second time around, I’ll try mixing in some first-pitch breaking balls, and that’s been huge for me. Since that [curveball] has developed, and it’s really come along the past four outings, I’ve been throwing that first-pitch breaking ball for a strike.

It’s really showed its benefits, like today. I threw a couple of them and the changeup, too, the second and third time around. I’ve been using everything lately.”

Well, when you throw the kind of heat that Matz does, it’s easy to see why he would pitch the way he does. Honestly, he sounds like he’s a confident pitcher right now and he definitely should be. A part of me wishes they would skip St. Lucie and toss him into Binghamton next year because of his lost time recovering from injury, but I’ll learn to be patient.

The post Matz Tosses A Gem As Gnats Advance To Championship Series Which Begins Monday appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Gnats’ bats delivering a thrilling comeback in game one of a doubleheader and Matt Koch was one pitch away from perfection in game two, as the Savannah Sand Gnats swept a doubleheader from the Augusta GreenJackets by scores of 3-2 and 3-1.

In the first game, with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning and down 2-1, Brandon Nimmo and Stefan Sabol each drew walks to put the tying and go-ahead runs on base. Then with two outs, Eudy Pina singled into left field to drive home Nimmo with the tying run. Cole Frenzel followed with another single into left to chase home Sabol with the winning run. Starter Marcos Camarena gave the Gnats a complete game effort, allowing two runs on seven hits for his fifth win of the season.

In game two, Matt Koch retired the first 18 batters in a row and was three outs away from a perfect game heading to the seventh and final inning. Leading off the seventh, GreenJackets leadoff man Rashawn Payne worked the count full before tripling up the left-center field gap, beyond the reach of Savannah left fielder Stefan Sabol to snap Koch’s bid for a perfect game.

Here are the stand-outs:

Cole Frenzel: 4-for-7, 2 2B, 3 RBI

Eudy Pina: 2-4, 2B, RBI.

Marcos Camarena: 7.0 IP, 2 R, 7 H, 0 BB, 2 K

Matthew Koch: 7.0 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K

I love walk off wins! #gnatpower

— Brandon Nimmo (@You_Found_Nimmo) July 28, 2013

The post Matt Koch Nearly Perfect, Retires 18 Straight, Savannah Completes Doubleheader Sweep appeared first on Metsmerized.

Savannah 6, Augusta 0

If you like a good pitcher’s duel, you might have found yourself in heaven if you could have watched this Savannah game. Rainy Lara was absolutely incredible in his performance over eight innings where he allowed no runs, two hits, and a walk. He struck out nine in perhaps the best pitching performance of his career. Currently, his ERA stands at 1.17, his opposing average is .192, and his BB:K ratio is 5:47 in 46.0 innings pitched.

I would assume he makes the jump to Binghamton extremely soon because he is absolutely dominating the SAL league right now. The Sand Gnats were unable to score a run until the 11th inning of this game, where they dropped a six-spot to confuse everyone watching. Two walks, two hits, and two errors in the wild inning combined for six runs, which was too much for Augusta to surmount in one frame, leading to their defeat.

Bret Mitchell and Beck Wheeler combined to finish the game for Savannah, with Mitchell vulturing the win from Lara after tossing two scoreless frames.

Key Stats

Eudy Pina: 1-for-5, 1 3B, 1 R

Jayce Boyd: 2-for-4, 1 BB, 1 R

Maikis De La Cruz: 1-for-1, 2 RBI, 1 R

Jeff Reynolds: 1-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 R

Rainy Lara: 8.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 9 K

Bret Mitchell: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K

Beck Wheeler: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K

The post Rainy Lara Absolutely Masterful With Eight Scoreless In 6-0 Win appeared first on Metsmerized.

Charleston 6, Savannah 3

It was a battle for Steven Matz in this game, who never really found his groove. He was saddled with the loss after he allowed five runs, four of them earned, and was lifted before he could finish the fifth inning. Julian Hilario allowed an inherited runner to score, which closed the book on Matz, and left Savannah in a 5-1 hole. Gregory Pron had doubled home Cole Frenzel in the fourth to put Savannah on the board.

Matz gave up seven hits and three walks, including a three-run home run in the bottom of the first that really set him back. It was a so-so performance overall as he looks to navigate his way through the SAL. Paul Sewald tossed a scoreless inning in relief, while Tyler Vanderheiden allowed a run in the eighth.

The Sand Gnats made a last ditch effort to come back in the ninth, where Eudy Pina drove in two runs with a double, but that threat was neutralized.

Key Stats

Eudy Pina: 1-for-5, 1 2B, 2 RBI

Jayce Boyd: 2-for-4, 2 2B, 1 BB

Gregory Pron: 2-for-4, 1 2B

Steven Matz: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 1 HR, 3 BB, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 K

Julian Hilario: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 1-1 Inherited Runners Scored

Paul Sewald: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K

Tyler Vanderheiden: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 HR, 1 ER, 1 K

The post Matz Struggles Out Of The Gate, Sand Gnats Lose 6-3 appeared first on Metsmerized.

Savannah 3, Rome 2

The third game of the four game series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Rome Braves was played Saturday at Grayson Stadium in front of 4,664 fans, which was their largest crowd since 2009. Both teams had 7 hits and Savannah won 3-2.

The Sand Gnats scored 2 runs in the fourth inning. Leading off the inning, Eudy Piña singled and moved to third on a double by Kevin Plawecki. A ground out to first scored Piña. Plawecki scored on a single by Maikis De La Cruz, who is batting .400 so far.

Rome scored their first run in the sixth inning on a walk, single, and a sacrifice fly. Savannah scored their third run in the sixth inning when first baseman Jayce Boyd hit a line drive home run over the left field fence, his third of the year.

In the 8th inning, a double by Blake Brown and a double by Josh Elander scored the Braves second run. Elander was 3-for-4.
Boyd was 2-for-4 for the Sand Gnats and is now batting .374.

Making his debut for Savannah, starter Robert Gsellman pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowed one run, gave up four hits, walked two, and struck out two. Relievers Julian Hilario, Hunter Carnevale, and Bret Mitchell combined for 3 2/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits.

Mitchell earned his 6th save.
The final game of the four game series will be played Sunday at 2:05pm at Grayson Stadium.

Key Stats

Eudy Pina: 1-for-4, 1 R

Jayce Boyd: 2-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R

Kevin Plawecki: 1-for-3, 1 2B, 1 R

Cole Frenzel: 1-for-3, 1 2B, 1 RBI

Robert Gsellman: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 2 K

Julian Hilario: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 K

Hunter Carnevale: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K

Bret Mitchell: 1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 K

The post Gsellman Strong In Sand Gnats Debut, Savannah Wins 3-2 appeared first on Metsmerized.

Savannah 3, Rome 1

Game one of the four game series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Rome Braves was played in front of 2,999 fans Thursday evening at Grayson Stadium.

Savannah outhit Rome 10-6 and won the game 3-1. Savannah has now won 9 out of their last 10 home games.

Rome scored first in the 2nd inning when first baseman Casey Kalenkosky led off the inning with a home run over the right field fence.

Savannah scored three runs in the sixth inning when catcher Kevin Plawecki led off with a walk. Third baseman Cole Frenzel was hit by a pitch. Right fielder Maiki De La Cruz singled to load the bases, and then Plawecki scored on a wild pitch.

Left fielder Greg Pron followed with a walk to load the bases. A sac fly scored the second run and the third run came in on a throwing error by the third baseman.

Playing his first game for the Sand Gnats, Maiki De La Cruz was 2-for-4 and scored a run. Frenzel was 2-for-3 and scored a run. DH Jeff Glenn was 2-for-3 and had an RBI and CF Eudy Piña was 2-for-5.

Savannah’s only left-handed pitcher, Steven Matz, (2-0) pitched 6.0 solid innings allowing only one run on six hits, one walk while striking out four.

Reliever, Hunter Carnevale, pitched 2.0 shutout innings. Bret Mitchell struck out two batters in the 9th to earn his 5th save of the season.

Game two of the series will be played Friday evening at 7:05 PM at Historic Grayson Stadium. The Gnats will send RHP Rainy Lara (4-1, 1.45) to the mound against RHP Mauricio Cabrera (1-2, 3.16).

Key Stats

Eudy Pina: 2-for-5

Kevin Plawecki: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB

Cole Frenzel: 2-for-3, 1 2B, 1 R

Jeffrey Glenn: 2-for-3, 1 2B, 1 RBI

Steven Matz: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 HR, 1 BB, 1 ER, 4 K

Hunter Carnevale: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K

Bret Mitchell: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K

The post Matz’s Solid Pitching Performance Leads To 3-1 Savannah Win appeared first on Metsmerized.

Last Night’s Quick Scores

• Las Vegas edged out Round Rock, 3-2. 
• Binghamton dropped to Trenton, 5-1. 
• St. Lucie blasted Daytona, 13-3. 
• Savannah topped Hickory, 9-6. 

Prospect Pipeline

• It was supposed to be an epic matchup of top pitching prospects in Trenton, between the B-Mets and the Trenton Thunder yesterday — the Double-A version of the Subway Series. Rafael Montero was on the hill for Binghamton, while Jose Ramirez took the hill for Trenton. If you look at the box score, it looks as if Ramirez did the share of dominating, but it was Montero who bounced back, and looked masterful for six innings. Montero now has 48 strike outs to just eight walks this season. You can read my recap on Montero’s performance last night, here.
• Montero wasn’t the only pitcher that bounced back last night. Collin McHugh was even more dominant, pitching seven complete innings, while giving up no runs and compiling five strike outs and no walks. Round Rock only managed five hits against McHugh. I actually had to double-check to make sure Las Vegas didn’t build a dome after seeing those numbers.
• Eudy Pina makes his Mets Minors Report debut today, and with good reason. Pina smacked two home runs in Savannah’s win yesterday morning. He also added a double and compiled four RBIs on the day.
• Phillip Evans has been flirting with the Mendoza Line, but he erupted for three hits in yesterday’s game, one of which was his first home run of the season.
• Cesar Puello provided all of the B-Mets offense with one swing of the bat yesterday. He crushed an 0-2 hanger from Jose Ramirez over the left field fence, which also extended his hit streak to 14 games.
• Travis Taijeron has been named Florida State League player of the week. Taijeron, an 18th-round pick in 2011 from Cal Poly Pomona, hit .474 with one homer and six doubles in six games through Sunday.
• Third baseman Aderlin Rodriguez also has heated up with the FSL club. Rodriguez is 7-for-17 with two homers and nine RBIs in his past four games, which has upped his season average to .218. (Rubin)
• Right-hander Jeff Walters, whose eight saves with Binghamton lead the Eastern League, has an interesting distinction. Walters was drafted five times — out of high school, twice out of junior college, then after his junior and senior years at the University of Georgia. He signed after being selected in the seventh round by the Mets in 2010. Told getting drafted five times must be some type of record, Walters said he actually knows another person who experienced it — his former high school pitching coach, Randy O’Neal, who ended up being the 15th overall pick in the 1981 draft by the Detroit Tigers the final time. (Rubin)
• Jack Leathersich now has 27 strikeouts in 15.0 innings pitched for Double-A Binghamton. For his young pro career in the Mets system, he now has an insane 166 K’s in 99.2 innings.
• Matthew Bowman pitched six innings and struck out seven to earn his first win in his Florida State League debut as the Mets defeated the Daytona Cubs 13-3 on Tuesday. Bowman was promoted from Savannah, where he went 4-0 with a 2.64 ERA in five starts.
• We want to welcome Matt Musico and Wally Murphy to MMO Minor League Team! Matt was formerly the Executive Editor of Rising Apple where he led the site to great heights. Wally has been covering the Savannah Sand Gnats for eight years and has never missed attending a home game in all that time. Two powerhouse additions to an already great minor league team. Welcome Aboard, guys!

Stat Lines of the Day

Eudy Pina: 3-for-5, 1 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R

Phillip Evans: 3-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4 R, 1 BB

Collin McHugh: 7 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K 

Transactions/Injuries

The Mets are taking it slow with Michael Fulmer as he returns from surgery to repair a torn meniscus. Fulmer has not pitched again in a game since throwing two innings in an extended spring training game last Monday.

Right-hander Luis Mateo is making progress with a throwing program after leaving his Double-A debut April 15 with elbow inflammation. He was due to throw a bullpen session either yesterday or today.

Brandon Nimmo still has not returned to the lineup since April 29 because of a hand contusion. The Mets now consider it more serious than initially thought and will have him seen by team doctors with a possible MRI as well. DL stint looming.

Carlos Vazquez assigned to Brooklyn Cyclones from St. Lucie Mets.

C Xorge Carrillo assigned to St. Lucie Mets from Brooklyn Cyclones (This one confused me, why not promote Kevin Plawecki?).

St. Lucie Mets placed C Albert Cordero on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to May 6, 2013.

Quote of the Day

The quote of the day comes via Twitter and was in response to Rafael Montero‘s performance last night:

In my three seasons of covering minor league baseball, tonight’s effort by Rafael Montero is the most impressive that ive seen

— Matt Kardos ⚾ (@mattkardos) May 8, 2013

I really can’t stress enough how impressive Montero was yesterday. It was easily the best start I saw from a pitcher this year. Most people were busy watching Matt Harvey, and didn’t get to watch Montero, and the box score doesn’t give Montero any justice. Watching Montero attack the hitters and be able to put the ball where he wanted made it look like he was a man among boys — he just looks like he doesn’t belong (in a good way). He has fluid and smooth mechanics that almost seem to put the hitters to sleep at the plate. Before they know it, Montero’s 94 mph fastball just went by and nipped the black ever so slightly…Strike Three! This guy is the goods.

Photo of the Day

Wow, these Mets Minors Reports are hot.

The post Mets Minors Report 5/8: Nimmo Still Out, Bowman K’s 7 In FSL Debut, Montero Is White Hot appeared first on Metsmerized.

Savannah 9, Hickory 6

Eudy Pina and Phillip Evans played their hearts out behind Gabriel Ynoa to ensure that his rough start against Hickory would not lead to a loss. Pina lead off the game with a home run for Savannah, who held a 1-0 lead until Ynoa served up a two-run shot to Jorge Alfaro in the bottom of the second.

Pina came through again for the Sand Gnats in the top of the third, where he launched another home run – this one a two-run shot, and saw it followed up later that inning by a Kevin Plawecki sacrifice fly. Ynoa would manage to last five innings, but it was a struggle for him, as he was taken deep on four separate occasions for a total of five earned runs over that span.

Phillip Evans helped to put a stamp on this victory in the top of the seventh, when he ripped a pitch to left field for his first home run of the year, plating Jeff Reynolds.

Beck Wheeler saw his awesome start to the season finally slow down just a little, as he allowed an earned run for the first time in 2013, leaving his ERA at 0.71. Bret Mitchell slammed the door in the ninth with a scoreless innings and two strikeouts for his fourth save of the season. Ynoa did end up with the win in this one – his fourth of the campaign.

Key Stats

Eudy Pina: 3-for-5, 1 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R

Chad Zurcher: 2-for-5, 1 R

Phillip Evans: 3-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4 R, 1 BB

Gabriel Ynoa: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 HR, 0 BB, 5 ER, 4 K

Julian Hilario: 1.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 K

Tyler Vanderheiden: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K

Beck Wheeler: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 HR, 1 ER, 2 K

Bret Mitchell: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 2 K

The post Ynoa Rocked For Four Home Runs, But Savannah Pulls Out 9-6 Win appeared first on Metsmerized.

Savannah 9, Hickory 2

Kevin Plawecki is an absolute monster and Rainy Lara pitched an excellent game. Should I go on?

Lara started the game for the Sand Gnats with the organizational ERA lead – and spoiler alert, he kept that title by the end of the game. He allowed merely an unearned run over seven spectacular innings, where he allowed just four hits and struck out six. Eudy Pina botched a play to allow a runner to reach via error in the bottom of the fifth, and Lara gave up an RBI single right after that. Lara has been on top of his game all season and his ERA now stands at a microscopic 1.45.

Savannah had only given him a single run of run support through the first seven innings, however, and it came on a wild pitch. In the top of the eighth, right after Lara’s last frame, the Sand Gnats rallied behind him for four runs, led by a two-run single by Chad Zurcher. A throwing error by Hickory’s Luis Marte allowed two more runs to cross the plate.

Then came the top of the ninth, and Kevin Plawecki, being the gracious man that he is, was worried that the game was a little too close for comfort at 5-1. So he proceeded to blast a pitch for a grand slam and all but lock up Rainy Lara‘s fourth win of the year. Hunter Carnevale handled the last two innings for the Gnats.

Key Stats

Eudy Pina: 1-for-4, 1 2B, 2 R, 1 BB

Chad Zurcher: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 R

Kevin Plawecki: 3-for-5, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R

Stefan Sabol: 0-for-1, 2 R, 3 BB

Phillip Evans: 1-for-3, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 SB

Rainy Lara: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 R, 0 ER, 6 K

Hunter Carnevale: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 HR, 0 BB, 1 ER, 3 K

The post Plawecki Is A God Among Men In 9-2 Savannah Victory appeared first on Metsmerized.

Savannah 5, Kannapolis 3

After a lengthy rain delay, the Savannah Sand Gnats made quick work of the Kannapolis Intimidators in a 5-3 victory at Historic Grayson Stadium on Thursday night. The two teams were delayed 1:32 by rain at the start of the game, and once play started, the Gnats needed just 2:04 to earn their eighth win in nine games on their current home stand.

With losses by both the Augusta GreenJackets and the Asheville Tourists, the Gnats are alone in first place for the first time all season.

The Gnats took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth. 1B Jayce Boyd led off with a sharp one-hopper to short that Jean Almanzar booted. C Kevin Plawecki drove home Boyd with a bouncing double down the left field line, his league-leading 16^th double of the year.

Trailing 3-0, Savannah evened the game with a three-run bottom of the fourth inning. CF Eudy Pina and 2B Yucary De La Cruz singled to begin the frame. Boyd plated both with a double up the right-center field gap, his 10^th of the year. Boyd scored the tying run on a wild pitch by Kannapolis starter Myles Jaye. Jaye was charged with the loss to fall to 3-1.

The Intimidators built a 3-0 lead through three innings against Savannah starter Gabriel Ynoa, who hung in though seven innings for his third win of 2013. The Intimidators used a pair of solo homeruns – by 1B Brent Tanner leading off the second inning and by LF Kale Kiser with one out in the third – to hurt Ynoa. However, the 19-year old hurler steadied himself and faced the minimum 12 batters over his final four innings. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter.

The Gnats look for a sweep, their second of the home stand Friday, at 7:05 pm when LHP Steven Matz (1-0, 1.96) takes on RHP Euclides Leyer (1-3, 4.18).

Key Stats

Yucary De La Cruz: 1-for-4, 1 R

Eudy Pina: 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB

Jayce Boyd: 2-for-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R

Kevin Plawecki: 2-for-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI

Gabriel Ynoa: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 HR, 3 ER, 8 K

Beck Wheeler: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K

(Team Report)

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