Sacramento 6, Las Vegas 0 (41-36) Box Score

• Gavin Cecchini SS: 2-4, .329
• Michael Conforto LF: 1-4, .286

Ty Blach held the 51s offense to six hits in a complete game shutout on 94 pitches (Maddux alert!). Cecchini was the only Las Vegas batter to pick up two hits, and Nevin Ashley doubled for the eighth time this season in the fifth inning.

• Duane Below LHP: 8 IP, 6 H, 4 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 7 K, HR, Loss (4-6, 4.20 ERA)

Binghamton Mets 3 (32-42) Richmond 2 Box Score

• Amed Rosario SS: 1 for 4, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 K, .412
• Dominic Smith 1B: 0 for 4, K, .259
• Maikis De La Cruz CF: 2-4, .221

Binghamton scored two runs in the eighth on Rosario’s two-out triple to put them in front and extend their winning streak to four games. Rosario is now 7-17 since joining the B-Mets. Wheeler nailed down his sixth save in as many opportunities.

• Rainy Lara RHP: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 K (4.30 ERA)
• Kevin McGowan RHP: 2.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 K, Win (2-0, 2.70 ERA)
• Beck Wheeler RHP: IP, 2 BB, 2 K, Save (6 saves, 4.75 ERA)

St. Lucie Mets 17 (37-35) Jupiter 0 Box Score

• Wuilmer Becerra DH: 3-5, 2R-HR (1), 5 RBI, 2B, 2 R, .316
• Kevin Taylor LF: 3-6, 4 RBI, 3 R, 2B, .293
• Michael Katz 1B: 0-6, 6 K, .203

St. Lucie put up their highest scoring total of the season by recording 11 runs over the first three innings, one in the seventh, and five more in the ninth. Becerra led the way with his first home run since August 14, 2015. Every Mets batter had at least two hits except for 1B Michael Katz who struck out in all six of his plate appearances. Knapp, Hepple, and Duff combined for the nine scoreless innings.

• Ricky Knapp RHP: 7 IP, 4 H, o R, 3 BB, 5 K, Win (7-4, 1.94 ERA)
• Mike Hepple RHP: IP (8.10 ERA)
• Jimmy Duff RHP: IP, 2 H, K (6.00 ERA)

Columbia Fireflies 1 Hickory 1 (Suspended) Box Score

Columbia and Hickory were suspended after five innings and the score tied. The game will be completed before Tuesday’s regularly scheduled contest. Joe Tuschak provided the only run for the Fireflies with his fourth home run of the season in the fifth, and Gaby Almonte struck out five batters in five innings.

Roster Note – Ivan Wilson has retired from baseball to pursue a football career. 

Brooklyn Cyclones 6 (5-6) Hudson Valley 5 (10) Box Score

• Jose Reyes 3B: 0-2, BB, K, E, .000
• Darryl Knight PR-1B: 3-4, 2 RBI, 3B (2), 2 R, .205
• Dan Rizzie C: 2-4, RBI, 3B (1), R, .320

The Cyclones walked off in the bottom of the tenth inning when Knight drove in the winning run on his third hit of the game. He had entered the game in the third inning when Dionis Paulinowas hit on the hand with a pitch. Nick Sergakis tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with a two-RBI single. Adam Atkins, who had been dealing with strep throat, made his professional debut with a scoreless eighth.

• Gabriel Llanes RHP: 6 IP, 6 H, 5 R (2 ER), 5 K (5.63 ERA)
• Taylor Henry RHP: IP, Win (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

Kingsport POSTPONED (Rain)

GCL Mets OFF

DSL Mets1 8 (8-11) DSL Rangers1 6 BOX SCORE

• Gregory Guerrero SS: 1-5, RBI, R, .282
• Guillermo Granadillo CF: 2-4, 2 RBI, 2B, SB (8)
• Rafael Guzman RHP: 2 IP, H, BB, K, Blown Save (2), Win (1-1, 3.00 ERA)

DSL Mets2 4 (7-13) DSL Rangers2 5 BOX SCORE

• Andres Gimenez SS: 1-4, BB, .377
• Hanser Ortiz 1B: 3-4, 2R-HR (1), 2 RBI, 2B, .243
• Raul Beracierta LF: 1-3, 2 R, .378

Misael Familia allowed a walk-off double that scored two in the bottom of the tenth inning.

The post Mets Minors Recap: Becerra Homers, Reyes Hitless in Brooklyn appeared first on Metsmerized.

Las Vegas 51s (38-33) 6 vs. Reno Aces 3

BOX SCORE

The 51s won their fourth in a row on Tuesday. Logan Verrett was scheduled to start but was scratched because the Colon injury and is on his way to New York.

• Dilson Herrera 2B: 2 for 5, 2 R, K .291/.339/.491
• Brandon Nimmo CF: 1 for 3, R, SB, 2 BB, K .332/.407/.506
• Eric Campbell 1B-3B: 1 for 4, R, RBI, BB, 2 K .281/.397/.484
• Travis Taijeron RF: 1 for 5, 2B, 3 RBIs .310/.391/.573
• Niuman Romero SS: 1 for 4, 2B, K .231/.281/.250

Travis Taijeron added a double to his league leading total, he has 28 and drove in three runs. He is now second in the PCL with 60 RBIs.

• Seth Lugo RHP: IP, H, 0 ER, K (6.40 ERA)
• Chase Huchingson LHP: IP, 2 H, 2 ER, BB, K (6.00 ERA)
• Zack Thornton RHP: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, BB (5.88 ERA)
• Chasen Bradford RHP: 2 IP, H, ER, K, W (4-1 3.74 ERA)
• Josh Smoker LHP: 1.2 IP, H, 0 ER, 4 K, Ninth Hold (5.74 ERA)
• Paul Sewald RHP: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, Eight save (4.05 ERA)

Seth Lugo got the start but only went one inning. Although this was technically a start, he has lowered his ERA from 7.28 to 6.40 allowing just one earned run in last nine innings since joining the bullpen. Chase Huchingson made his first outing since the 18th of April, h has been dealing with elbow soreness.

Altoona Curve 5 vs. Binghamton Mets (28-40) 2

BOX SCORE

The Binghamton Mets are in a tough stretch again losing their fourth in a row and seven of their last eight.

• Kyle Johnson CF: 1 for 3, 2B, RBI .214/.310/.310
• Dominic Smith 1B: 1 for 3, 2B, R, BB, K .261/.313/.371
• Jayce Boyd LF: 1 for 4, RBI, K .206/.280/.235
• Tyler Pill P: 1 for 2, 2B, R .273/.333/.364

Tyler Pill hit his fifth career double. The pitcher has hit .393/.407/.536 in his minor league career to go with one home run and ten career RBIs. Jayce Boyd drove in just his second run in 18 games.

• Tyler Pill RHP: 6 IP, 10 H, 3 ER, BB, 4 K, L (3-8 3.95 ERA)
• Alberto Baldanado LHP: IP, H, 2 ER, 2 BB (4.22 ERA)
• Luis Mateo RHP: 2 IP, H, 0 ER, 3 K (2.48 ERA)

Pill got his eight loss of the season which leads the Eastern League. Pill is an innings eater as he pitched six or more innings in 11 of his last 12 starts.

St. Lucie Mets (35-31) 5 vs. Palm Beach Cardinals 0

BOX SCORE

The St. Lucie Mets won their third in a row and seventh in the last nine beating Palm Beach for the third straight in the final game of the series.

• Champ Stuart CF: 2 for 5, R, SB, K .247/.328/.383
• Amed Rosario SS: 2 for 5, RBI, K .310/.360/.444
• Kevin Taylor LF: 1 for 4, 3B, RBI, R, BB, K .274/.374/.429
• Tomas Nido C: 1 for 5, HR, 2 RBIs. R, K .292/.326/.427
• Michael Katz 1B: 2 for 4 .220/.292/.257
• Jhoan Urena 3B: 1 for 4, HR, RBI, R .200/.270/.307

Tomas Nido hit his third home run of the season and Jhoan Urena hit his fourth. The St. Lucie Mets had a total of 12 hits in the victory.

• Scarlyn Reyes RHP: 6 IP, H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, W (4-7 5.60 ERA)
• Kelly Secrest LHP: IP, 0 H, 0 ER, First Hold (3.68 ERA)
• Robert Coles RHP: IP, 0 H, 0 ER, BB, Third Hold (3.00 ERA)
• Mike Hepple RHP: IP, H, 0 ER (7.88 ERA)

It was St. Lucie’s their second straight shutout and their sixth shutout this month. The St. Lucie pitching staff has allowed just two runs in there last six games. Scarlyn Reyes had his second straight start where he went six scoreless innings.

Injury Note – Patrick Biondi was placed on the 7-day disabled list, Tucker Tharp was promoted from the Brooklyn Cyclones. 

DSL Red Sox2 5 vs. DSL Mets2 (6-9) 1

BOX SCORE

The DSL Mets2 lost against the DSL Red Sox2, recording just seven hits and walking just two times.

• Rafael Valdez 1B-2B: 2 for 5, 2B, R, K .308/.372/.436
• Andres Gimenez SS: 2 for 3, BB .407/.500/.667
• Hanser Ortiz C: 0 for 2, RBI, SF .226/.295/.358
• Raul Beracierta LF: 2 for 4 .333/.419/.407
• Eulises Sanchez RF: 1 for 4, 3B .267/.308/.300

Andres Gimenez extended his on base streak to start his career to 14 games. Eulises Sanchez hit his first triple of his pro career.

• Jurgen Jimenez RHP: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, K, L (0-3 12.96 ERA)
• Rafael Encarnacion LHP: 3 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, 4 K (9.31 ERA)
• Daniel Guzman LHP: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER (2.51 ERA)
• Bladimil Vallejo RHP: 2 IP, 0 H, R, 0 ER, 2 BB, K (9.53 ERA)

SAL All Star game:

Three Columbia Fireflies players played in the SAL All-Star game as SAL North beat the SAL South 2-1.

P.J. Conlon LHP: IP, 2 H, ER, K, L. Conlon started for the South team

Alex Palsha RHP: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER

Vinny Siena 2B: 0 for 3, K

The post Mets Minor Recap: Verrett Scratched, Nimmo on Base Three Times appeared first on Metsmerized.

Reno 9, Las Vegas 0 (28-25)

• Gavin Cecchini SS 3 for 4 .318/.393/.403
• T.J. Rivera 3B 2 for 4, 2B .370/.406/.540
• Eric Campbell LF 1 for 4 .250/.308/.250

Cecchini accounted for half of the hits in the shutout. Herrera struck out three times in four at-bats.

• Sean Gilmartin LHP 5.2 IP, 8 H, 8 ER, 3 BB, 7 K 4.93 ERA, Loss
• Stolmy Pimentel RHP 2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER 2K 10.80 ERA

Pimentel allowed 2 runs to score on a wild pitch after relieving Gilmartin. This is not a typo.

Altoona 7, Binghamton 4 (21-32)

• Derrik Gibson 3B 2 for 5, 2 RBI, K .284/.372/.384
• Phillip Evans SS 1 for 4, RBI, K .333/.333/.440
• Jayce Boyd LF 1 for 3, BB, K .125/.263/.125
• Matt Oberste 1B 2 for 4, R .293/.347/.437
• L.J. Mazzilli 2B 1 for 3, RBI, 2 R, BB, K  .258/.342/.337

Oberste played first base for the first time since May 17th. Mazzilli is hitting .438 in his last 10 games.

• Tyler Pill RHP 6 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 6 K 4.43 ERA, Loss
• Logan Taylor RHP IP, 3 H, ER, 3 K 2.70 ERA
• Beck Wheeler RHP IP 2H, ER, K 6.04 ERA

Taylor continues to excel in relief with 47 strikeouts in 33.1 innings.

Brevard County 6, St. Lucie 4 (26-28)

• Champ Stuart CF 1 for 4, 3B, R, K .227/.316/.368
• Jonathan Johnson 2B 0 for 1 R, SF, 2 BB .306/.438/.388
• Amed Rosario SS 2 for 4, 2 3B, 2 RBI, K .301/.352/.455
• Tomas Nido C 2 for 4 .296/.329/.408, PB (4)
• Patrick Biondi RF 2 for 4 2B .258/.345/.299

Rosario continues his extra base streak after doubling last night with two triples tonight. He overtakes the lead for triples in the Florida State League. Nido continues to hit well in the Florida State League.

• Ricky Knapp RHP 6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, K, HRA 2.17 ERA
• Mike Hepple RHP 2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, BB, K 5.40 ERA
• Corey Taylor RHP IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, K 1.74 ERA, Loss

Hepple has struggled after being demoted from Binghamton. Taylor has proved he isn’t un-hittable after two runs allowed, losing the game.

Hagerstown 6, Columbia 2 (28-27)

• Kevin Kaczmarski RF 2 for 4, 2B, 2K .252/.335/.396
• David Thompson 3B 1 for 4, 2B, 2K .285/.348/.468
• Milton Ramos SS 1 for 2, RBI, BB .247/.329/.313
• Ivan Wilson CF 1 for 3, 2B, K .215/.299/.386, Outfield Assist

Ramos has been hitting much better as of late, with a .265 average in the last ten games to couple with his spectacular defense.

• Chase Ingram, 3.2 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 K 5.03 ERA, Loss
• Seth Davis 3.2 IP H, 2 BB, 7 K 2.32 ERA
• Craig Missigman 2 IP, H, K 2.89 ERA

Ingram has had a pitching slump, allowing four or more runs in his last five starts. Davis continues his great pitching striking out seven out of 14 batters faced.

DSL Mets teams start today at 10:30 AM. You can check out my breakdown of the rosters that include Gregory Guerrero and Andres Gimenez here.

The post Mets Minors Recap: Rosario Triples Twice, Cecchini Three Hits appeared first on Metsmerized.

Change is the only constant for a minor league baseball fan. Rosters come and rosters go as the needs of the major league club are tended to. Just when a minor league fan gets familiar and comfortable with their team’s roster, they arrive at the park to discover key personnel have been elevated. It’s a way of life in the minor league game.

In Binghamton, recent minor league seasons have been a pitching bonanza. Every season a different Mets phenom has anchored the B-Mets rotation. Matt Harvey in 2011. Zack Wheeler in 2012. Rafael Montero and Noah Syndergaard in 2013. Steven Matz in 2014. And even though he is no longer in the Met system, the Eastern League’s Pitcher of the Year, Michael Fulmer in 2015.

In fact, 2015 was a banner year for Binghamton pitchers. The B-Met staff finished 4th out of 12 Eastern League teams in ERA, 3rd in WHIP, tied for 2nd in saves, 4th in strikeouts and they allowed the 4th fewest hits. In Binghamton’s Pedro Lopez era, B-Met fans have come to expect their pitching to rank towards the top of the league every season.

With all that B-Met pitching excellence as a backdrop, I ventured to Binghamton’s Welcome Back Dinner last week filled with a sense of foreboding that the 2016 staff would simply pale in comparison against the mound work we have come to expect in recent seasons. I left the dinner pleasantly surprised that at least for the first part of the season, pitching once again should be a Binghamton strong point.

I found myself smiling in the autograph line to see Jacob deGrom’s ‘hair apparent’ sitting with the pitchers signing baseballs. Robert Gsellman had returned to Binghamton as the ace of the B-Met staff.

Pedro Lopez handed Gsellman the ball on Opening Night and the big right-hander showed why media reports have projected him as a future back of the rotation starter in the major leagues. Gsellman retired the first seven batters he faced, three with swinging strikeouts, before New Hampshire’s Melky Mesa lifted a solo home run to right-center field. That was the only nick in Gsellman’s armor with the B-Met ace going 5.2 innings allowing 2 hits and striking out 7 while walking two.

Historically, Gsellman is more noted for enticing batters to ground out than strike out. Gsellman’s combined ground ball rate last season pitching at St. Lucie and Binghamton topped 50 percent. At 6’4” and with an over the top pitching delivery. Gsellman’s 91-93 mph fastball arrives at home plate on a downward plane making it more likely batters will hit the ball on the ground.

Rainy Lara, another right-hander returns to Binghamton. Facing elimination in a 2014, opening play-off round in Portland, Lara earned a win, to keep the B-Mets season alive, a season when they would win an Eastern League championship. Last season, Lara had a steady hand in the B-Met rotation going 9-5 on the year.

One of my favorite B-Mets Tyler Pill is starting the new season again in Binghamton. Pill compiled 15 consecutive victories over the course of two seasons in the B-Met starting rotation. A two-way college starter at Cal State Fullerton, Pill outsmarts, not overpowers batters. After going 9-5 as a B-Met and winning his final nine decisions in 2014, Pill rejoined the team once again during last season’s pennant race and won all six of his decisions finishing toward the top of the Eastern League in several pitching categories.

Pill, who batted .354 with 7 home runs and a .535 slugging percentage in 2010 at Cal State credits much of his pitching success to the lessons he learned in the batter’s box. And, Pill can still hit going 19-45 at the plate during his minor league career good for a .422 batting average. And, get this, 5 of those 19 hits have been for extra bases with Pill holding an eye popping 1.004 OPS.

Rounding out the starting rotation, Pedro Lopez is expected to use veteran knuckleballer Mickey Jannis,  6’8” left-handed free agent Andrew Barboas, and right-hander Logan Taylor. Taylor pitched an inning of relief during Friday’s B-Met opener to pick up the save.

Lopez has to be excited about his options in the bullpen beginning with the athletically gifted Akeel Morris. Morris, 23, made one appearance with the Mets last season and struck out 81 batters in just over 61 innings at two levels of the minor leagues while registering a 2.05 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP.

Another right-hander, Luis Mateo has racked up big strikeout totals over his minor league career fanning 212 batters in 181 innings pitched. At 6’6” right-hander Mike Hepple paints an imposing picture on the pitcher’s mound. In his first two seasons of professional baseball Hepple’s ERA is a stingy 2.34. Opposing batters hit only average .227 against the new B-Met right-hander.

Lopez can call on a trio of left-handers; Kelly Secrest, who has never allowed a home run in 82 innings of work, David Rosebloom with a career 9.9 strikeout rate per 9 innings, and Kyle Regnault who saved 7 games last year for St. Lucie in 8 chances. Right-hander Beck Wheeler, 5-1 last season in Binghamton, is back hoping his nasty curveball will mean more pitching success.

Weather permitting, the B-Mets are itching to get back to work squaring off against New Hampshire again on Sunday.

The post Mets Minors: Solid Pitching Staff Bolsters B-Mets’ High Expectations appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Salt River Rafters finished their Arizona Fall League season yesterday with a 4-2 win over the Scottsdale Scorpions to finish with a 16-13 record.

Right-handed reliever Beck Wheeler finished his strong AFL showing with a scoreless 6th inning issuing a walk while striking out three. He finished with a 2.00 ERA and 1.33 WHIP while striking out 13 in nine innings of work. He also picked up two wins in the seven games he appeared in.

Jeff McNeil made the start at shortstop but was 0 for 4 with a strikeout from the leadoff spot. He finished his fall season hitting .230/.309/.246 with seven RBI, four stolen bases and ten runs scored in 61 at bats. He played shortstop, second base, third base, and one game in left field.Batting behind him was L.J. Mazzilli who played second base while going 0 for 2 with two runs scored, walk, and a sacrifice fly at the dish. He finishes a disappointing fall campaign hitting only .138/.235/.207 with four walks, four RBI, and four runs scored in 29 at bats.

Dominic Smith sat out the last game and finished the season hitting .362/.483/.511 with six runs, four doubles, home run, six RBI, and 12 walks in 47 at bats. He did miss two weeks with an oblique injury before returning to play two of the last three games. He was named to the Fall Stars roster but was unable to play because of his injury. He also participated in the Bowman Hitting Challenge and you can watch video of that here.

Kyle Regnault finished off an overall great 2015 season with a 1.17 ERA and 0.78 WHIP with 12 strikeouts in 7.2 innings for the Rafters. The left-hander allowed just four hits and two walks during that span.

Mets minor league knuckleballer Mickey Jannis had a solid showing in the AFL as well making six starts for the Rafters going 1-1 with a 2.48 ERA and 1.34 WHIP. He struck out 17 compared to 13 walks in his 29 innings of work. Here is some insight and a video showing Jannis pitching during the AFL.The fourth pitcher of the Mets group in the fall league was right-hander Mike Hepple who went 1-0 with a 3.24 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 8.1 innings. He walked four and struck out just two in the seven games he appeared in.

Gavin Cecchini had a short stay with the Rafters playing only four games before injuring his shoulder which also kept him from playing with Team USA in the first annual Premier 12 tournament. Cecchini went 5 for 13 (.385/.529/.462) with five runs scored, four walks, stolen base and a double. I chose both Cecchini and Smith for my Mets minor league all-star team which you can read about here on MetsMinors.net.

The post AFL Season Recap: Dominic Smith and Mickey Jannis Shine For Mets appeared first on Metsmerized.

Photo by MLB.com

The Salt River Rafters beat the Mesa Solar Sox 4-2 to stay within a game and a half of the first place Scottsdale Scorpions with two games left. The Rafters and Scorpions do play on the last day of the regular season.

Mets first base prospect Dominic Smith returned to the lineup for the first time since November 2nd, he was out with a strained oblique. Smith batted third and was the designated hitter as he went 2 for 4 with a run batted in. He is now batting .395/.518/.558 with four doubles, homerun, and 12 walks in 13 games this fall.

Mike Hepple pitched a perfect 7th inning to pick up his 2nd hold of the fall for the Rafters. Over 8.1 innings Mike has a 3.24 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP in seven games. Jeff McNeil made an appearance as a pinch runner late in the game for Smith.

Here are the stats for the the Mets Fall League participants:

• Kyle Regnault – 7 innings, 3 hits, earned run, walk, ten strikeouts with 1.29 ERA and 0.57 WHIP in seven games.
• Mickey Jannis – 29 innings, 26 hits, eight earned runs, 13 walks, 17 strikeouts with 2.48 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in six starts. Here you can see video from his last start.
• Beck Wheeler – 8 innings, eight hits, two runs, three walks, ten strikeouts with a 2.25 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in six games.
• Gavin Cecchini – 5 for 13 with four walks and five runs scored in four games before injuring his shoulder.
• L.J. Mazzilli – 4 for 27, two doubles, three walks, stolen base, .148/.233/.222 in nine games.
• McNeil – 13 for 53, ten runs, double, seven RBI, four stolen bases, .245/.333/.264 in 18 games. He has played shortstop, second base, third base, and left field in the AFL.

For more Mets minor league coverage head over to MetsMinors.net where we have started naming our prospect All-Star team.

The post Dominic Smith Returns To Arizona Fall League Action appeared first on Metsmerized.