At each start by Las Vegas left-hander Steven Matz, the anticipation of his impending call up to the Mets is palpable. Everyone acknowledges that he is ready. He has nothing more to prove at this level. According to Newsday’s Marc Carig on Thursday’s Mets radio broadcast, every start Matz makes for Las Vegas at this point is being wasted. He should be helping the big club.
And yet, Matz had a job to do Thursday night at Cashman Field against the Reno Aces.
After Matz pitched a scoreless first, the 51s picked up a quick run in the bottom of the inning via a leadoff walk by second baseman Wilfredo Tovar and a two-out single by first baseman Brooks Conrad.
All seemed well as the lefty hit his spots with his fastball and enticed batters to swing and miss at his off-speed and breaking pitches. He struck out the first batter in the third. But then a solo home run by Reno left fielder Garrett Weber tied the game at 1-1. Matz proceeded to walk the second baseman Danny Worth, and then surrendered a double to right fielder Peter O’Brien. Worth was held at third, but scored on a fielder’s choice by Nick Evans. Another walk and two more singles brought in two more runs, before Matz retired catcher Mike Pagnozzi to end the inning. Reno sent 9 batters to the plate, scoring 4 runs on 4 hits and two walks.
In the top of the fourth, Matz headed out to the mound determined to wipe away any bad taste left in his mouth from that 4-run inning. He struck out the side in order. But his day was over making it his shortest outing of the year. He left trailing 4-1.
The offense then set about making up that deficit, one run at a time. In the bottom of the fourth, centerfielder Alex Castellanos led off with a double. But it took a two-out hit by third baseman T.J. Rivera to bring him home.
Right-hander Cody Satterwhite came on in relief of Matz and pitched two scoreless innings to keep the 51s close. Vegas scored two in the bottom of the fifth on consecutive singles by shortstop Matt Reynolds, catcher Johnny Monell, and Conrad. A sacrifice fly by Travis Taijeron tied the game. The 51s bunched some hits again in the sixth. Rivera doubled, pinch hitter Dan Rohlfing singled and Tovar drove in the go-ahead run with a line drive to center.
Now leading 5-4, Wally Backman called upon Chase Bradford, who pitched a 1-2-3 seventh, striking out two, but got into trouble in the 8th. After allowing a double to third baseman Jamie Romak, Bradford hit centerfielder Todd Glaesmann with a pitch. Cody Ransom followed with single to load the bases. After striking out pinch hitter Danny Dorn, Bradford gave up a single to Nick Buss who had entered the game as a pinch hitter in the sixth, and two runs scored. After an intentional walk to pinch hitter Blake Lalli, Bradford was able to get out of the inning getting Worth to pop up in foul territory and O’Brien to ground out. But the Aces and taken the lead 6-5.
In the bottom of the inning, Tovar led off with a walk, his third of the game and fourth time reaching base in five plate appearances. A single by Reynolds moved Tovar to third and he scored on a wild pitch to tie the game once more. Reynolds advanced to third on a groundout by Monell. The Aces chose to intentionally walk Conrad, but continued wildness by Reno pitcher Kevin Munson made any strategy in that decision moot. Munson walked pinch hitter Nelfi Zapata, Taijeron and left fiedler Jayce Boyd in succession, forcing in two runs. A single by Rivera scored another as everyone moved up a base. Tovar came up for his second time in the inning and drove in two more runs with a single. After five walks and three hits, the 51s led 11-6.
John Church came on to pitch a scoreless ninth to close out the victory.
Matz went 4 innings giving up 4 runs (4 earned) on 5 hits, with three walks and six strikeouts. He received a no-decision. Bradford got the win after blowing the save. Tovar was 2-3 with three walks, two runs scored, driving in three and stealing two bases. Rivera was 3-5 with two RBI and Reynolds and Conrad each also had two hits, Conrad driving in two.
Las Vegas will continue the series against Reno on Friday with Tyler Pill getting the start.
(All photos by Jessica Santana)
Love Matz but the Gee and Niese situation have been treated poorly by this organization.
The Mets drastically hurt the value of both players. They publicly displayed that neither player had any significant value to the team. Other teams dont offer you much when said players are shown to be insignificant pieces to their teams.
Teams looking to trad give up more when they feel they have to offer more to pry said players away. Noone wants to offer much for a player that you publicly show disregard for.
Anyway aside from Matz there is nothing to monitor in Vegas. The rest of that team is full of scrubs and at best bench warmers.
I Once had high hopes for Taijeron, but he is what he is a all or nothing hacker. Jayce Boyd is Dave Magadan-lite(if thats possible) from the right side of the plate. Punch & judy first basemen are equivalent to non-alcoholic beverages