El Paso 4, Las Vegas 1 (17-15) Box Score

Dilson Herrera hit a solo shot as the first batter of the game for the 51s but after that they could muster only three hits in the final eight innings. They were shutdown by former big league starter Jeremy Guthrie who went seven innings to get his first win of the year. Herrera went 2 for 3 with a walk and is now hitting .301/.327/.515 for the season with four homers in his last nine games.

The only other Vegas hitter to reach base more than once was Travis Taijeron who was 1 for 2 with a walk and got hit by a pitch. Ty Kelly was 1 for 4, lowering his average to .418 keeping him narrowly above Wuilmer Becerra for the best average in the entire minor leagues. Brandon Nimmo went 0 for 3 with a walk, sac bunt and had his third outfield assist of the year from center field.

If you are thinking about potential Wilmer Flores replacements, T.J. Rivera (0 for 4) is hitting .330/.364/.524 and Matt Reynolds (0 for 3, walk) is batting .246/.306/.377 for the season.

Veteran lefty Duane Below took the loss despite seven solid innings in which he allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five. The bullpen combination of Erik Goeddel, Josh Edgin, Chase Bradford and Jeff Walters allowed two runs in two innings on four hits, three walks and a HBP.

Injury note: Gavin Cecchini, who was placed on the disabled list Tuesday, took ground balls yesterday and should be able to return on Saturday.

Reading 9, Binghamton (14-16) 6 Box Score

The B-Mets were getting blown out until Matt Oberste stepped up to the plate in the eigth inning with the bases loaded and blasted a grand slam to make it a 7-5 game. Later in the inning with the bases loaded again, Dominic Smith pinch hit and missed a grand slam by a few feet. He would have to settle for a sac fly and his 24th RBI of the season.

Reliever Beck Wheeler allowed two runs in the bottom of the eighth and Binghamton went down in order in the ninth to lose their fifth straight game. Starter Mickey Jannis got roughed up in five innings, allowing seven runs on six hits and four walks. He has not been able to command the knuckleball since his first start, walking 19 batters in 23.2 inning since.

Righty Luis Mateo bounced back from a rough outing last time out with a perfect sixth inning with two strikeouts. He has been throwing a good breaking ball recently and was getting some late action on his fastball last night. He could be an intriguing bullpen piece in the not so distant future.

The offensive star of the night was obviously Oberste who was 1 for 4 with a walk and the grand slam, his second homer of the year. Center fielder Maikis De La Cruz went 2 for 4 with a double, walk and scored two runs. Derrik Gibson had two hits and a runs scored out of the leadoff spot.

St. Lucie (18-14) 5, Jupiter 2 Box Score

Amed Rosario came into the ninth inning without a hit but he got the biggest one of the night when he doubled home the eventual game-winning run. He would later come around to score on a RBI single by Wuilmer Becerra to make it 5-2 and Robert Coles pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save of the season.

Rosario finished the night 1 for 4 with a walk, run scored, fifth double and 23rd run batted in. Over his last nine games he has walked six times compared to just two strikeouts. Becerra ended up going 3 for 5 with his 15th RBI and upped his average to .415 for the year.

Left fielder Kevin Taylor had another great game, going 2 for 3 with two walks (one intentional in the 9th in front of Becerra) and two runs scored. He now has a ten game hitting streak and has seven straight games with exactly two hits. For the season he is batting .386/.494/.571 with more walks (13) than strikeouts (11).

Starter Corey Oswalt got a no-decision but had a quality start, he pitched six innings of two-run ball on six hits and a walk with five strikeouts. Reliever Tim Peterson picked up his first win of the season with two scoreless innings in which he struck out three. He now has a 0.63 ERA and has 24 strikeouts in 14.1 innings. Binghamton is definitely calling his name.

Columbia Fireflies (18-14) had the day off , they will host the Asheville Tourists (14-16) with Tommy McIlraith (1-2, 4.85 ERA) on the mound tonight.