Colorado Springs Sky Sox 14, Las Vegas 51s (22-18) 6
Las Vegas got off to a quick start against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox but could not hold on to an early lead. The 51s got rocked by the Brewers Triple-A Affiliation 14-6.
The 51s got four in the first inning, Dilson Herrera singled to lead off the game, Brandon Nimmo followed with his second triple of the season to score Herrera. T.J. Rivera drove in Nimmo with a RBI ground out to make it 2-0 51s. With one out and nobody on Johnny Monell walked, Roger Bernadina doubled and Ty Kelly drove both runners in with his 12th double of the season.
Stolmy Pimentel got the start in place of Sean Gilmartin (summoned to NY) and continued his season long struggle. He allowed two runs right back in the bottom of the first. Shortstop Orlando Arcia drove in the first run of the inning with a triple. He later scored on a RBI single from catcher Manny Pina to cut the deficit to 4-2.
The Sky Sox got another run closer in the bottom of the second. Pimentel walked second baseman Nate Orf. After a sac bunt and a wild pitch, Orf was on third with only one out. Lead off hitter Yadiel Rivera drove Orf in with a sac fly.
In the fifth the Sky Sox scored seven runs against Pimentel and Jeff Walters. Pimentel allowed three singles and one run before Jeff Walters came in relief with two one and one out. Pimentel dropped to 0-4 with a 10.66 ERA as he keeps on struggling in the 51s rotation.
Walters did not fair any better allowing five hits and four runs (three earned) while getting the final two outs in the seven-run fifth. Josh Smoker pitched a scoreless sixth, he allowed one hit and one walk. He was helped out by an outfield assist from Travis Taijeron throwing out a runner at third.
After a perfect seventh for Dario Alvarez, he allowed three runs in the eight. He now has 9.98 ERA this season with a 2.09 WHIP despite striking out 27 batters in 15.2 innings.
In the top of the ninth the 51s got two runs back thanks to a Rivera two-run home run. It was Rivera his fifth home run of the season as he had another strong day going 3-5 with three runs batted in. He is now batting .367 on the year good for third in the league and his 39 RBI are eight more than anyone else has. Over his last seven games he has gone 17 for 32 with 15 RBI and eight runs scored.
Bernadina had the other multiple hit day for the 51s going 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. Kelly went 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored, he still leads baseball with his .403 average. Nimmo was 1 for 3 with a triple, RBI and run scored. He has now hit safelt in 10 of his last 11 games.
Akron RubberDucks 8, Binghamton Mets (17-22) 7
The Binghamton Mets lost the series opener against the Akron RubberDucks 8-7. The Double-A affiliate from the Cleveland Indians scored three runs in the first to get an early lead. Clint Frazier doubled, Bradley Zimmer drove Frazier in with a RBI single and first baseman Nellie Rodriguez followed with a two-run home run all against Rainy Lara who struggled again.
Lara allowed a solo homerun in the third from Frazier and he had a RBI hit in the fifth to make it 5-0 RubberDucks. In the sixth Lara allowed his third home run of the game, a solo shot to right fielder Jordan Smith. Lara went six innings allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits. He walked none and struck out three. Lara his ERA raised to 5.65
The B-Mets started the top of the seventh with a 6-0 deficit but they scored seven runs in the top of the seventh to get a 7-6 lead. Dominic Smith singled to open the seventh, Maikis De La Cruz doubled and Victor Cruzado drove in two with a double. Two batters later L.J. Mazzilli cleared the bases with his third double of the year to make it 6-5. Derrik Gibson tripled home Mazzilli to tie the game and later scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch to make it 7-6 Binghamton.
However, the B-Mets bullpen could not hold the lead as Mike Hepple allowed a run in the bottom of the seventh on a wild pitch to tie the game at seven. In the eighth, Luis Mateo allowed a RBI double to second baseman Todd Hankins. The run was charged to Hepple who did not fair well again, allowing two runs in 1.2 innings. Hepple has allowed ten runs in his last 8.1 innings, taking his second loss of the season. His ERA raised from 1.59 to 5.30 in his last 8.1 innings.
In the loss, Smith went 2-4 raising his average to .286 and Cruzado went 2-3 with a RBI. Mazzilli, who made our Who’s Hot, Who’s Not list, busted out of a slump with a two-hit game and three RBI.
Daytona Tortugas 1, St. Lucie Mets (21-19) 0
The St. Lucie Mets where shutout in the series opener against the Daytona Tortugas 1-0. The Cincinnati Reds Advanced-A team scored the only run in the third off Josh Prevost.
In the third, Prevost allowed a double to catcher Garrett Boulware, Jonathan Reynoso followed with a single to pitcher Prevost, moving Boulware to third. The next batter, Blake Butler, hit a ground ball to St. Lucie third baseman Kevin Taylor who threw to catcher Tomas Nido to get the out at home. A batter later Blake Tharan drove in the only run with a RBI single.
The St. Lucie Mets managed to get only six hits, three of the them were from Luis Guillorme who raised his average to .228. It was Guillorme second three-hit game in his last three starts. Wuilmer Becerra had the only St. Lucie extra base hit, he doubled in the sixth in a 1 for 4 game. Becerra lowered his average to .367 on the season.
Prevost was outstanding in a pitcher’s duel against Tyler Mahle. Prevost dropped to 2-5 on the year going 6.1 innings allowing just one run on seven hits, while walking one and striking out four. Alberto Baldonado was outstanding in relief with 1.2 scoreless innings. He lowered his ERA to 0.93 as the lefty keeps impressing with St. Lucie. He has allowed just one run in his last 15.2 innigs.
Charleston RiverDogs 2, Colombia Fireflies (20-21) 1
You can read the full recap of the Fireflies loss from our own Al Rabon who covers the Columbia team for us.
