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MMN Recap: Fireflies Late Rally Gives Them Fourth Straight Win

By Jack Ramsey

May 6, 2018 No comments

Anthony Kay/Photo by Ed Delany

Salt Lake (19-11) 11, Las Vegas (11-19) 5   Box Score

The 51s had a decent day offensively, scoring five runs on seven hits. Asche got his first hit and home run as a member of the Mets organization, while the slumping backup catcher Plaia had a productive day at the plate. Smith is still trying to find his power stroke, but he continues to get on base at a consistent rate. Cecchini, who had been red-hot, went 0-4. Phillip Evans also provided an RBI on a groundout in the eighth.

  • RHP Corey Oswalt (L, 2-2, 6.62 ERA): 2.2 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 3 BB, K
  • RHP Logan Taylor (0-0, 6.61 ERA): 3.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, BB, 4 K
  • RHP Corey Taylor (1-0, 5.06 ERA): 1.0 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
  • LHP Kyle Regnault (0-1, 7.80 ERA): 1.0 IP, H, 2 R, BB, K

Oswalt, who is competing for a spot on the Mets, and had been holding his own in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, finally gave in. He pitched a scoreless first inning, and gave up nothing more than a solo homer in the second. But the third inning spiraled into a disaster after three singles, a double-steal (one of which was home plate), three walks and two wild pitches. He could only get two outs in the inning, as Logan Taylor relieved him to finally get out of it.

Taylor did give up a couple runs, but he still provided 3.1 innings of solid relief. The other Taylor, Corey, came in behind him and threw a scoreless inning. Regnault continued his struggles by walking the first batter he faced and giving up a home run to the second, but he settled down to get the next three guys out. It was overall an ugly night of pitching with the biggest concern being Oswalt completely losing his control and imploding in that third inning.

New Hampshire (17-9) 4, Binghamton (13-13) 2 (F/7)  Box Score

The Rumble Ponies only mustered two hits in seven innings of play. One of those two hits, however, was a long ball from red-hot second baseman Jeff McNeil. Jeff hit his sixth home run of the young campaign, which brings him within two for the team lead. His average, OBP, OPS and SLG are also second on the team. Outfielder John Mora and Eastern League Player of the Month Peter Alonso walked and were two of only three other base runners. The Ponies left nine on base and went 4-14 with runners in scoring position.

The Fisher Cats kept busy on the bases, with eight men reaching in the first five innings. Austin McGeorge faltered in two-thirds of  an inning, giving up two crucial runs and letting four Fisher Cats reach. Adonis Uceta shut the door on the sixth and threw a scoreless seventh, striking out three in the process.

St. Lucie (12-16) 7, Palm Beach (16-13) 4 Box Score

St. Lucie jumped on the Cardinals early in the game, scoring four before the fourth inning. Three Mets recorded a multi-hit game, with three others reaching via hits. Luis Carpio doubled in the third, his third of the year. Gene Cone also recorded two base hits, raising his season average over .300. Five different Mets drove in a run, all of them getting one a piece.

Stephen Nogosek continues to impress early on, making the Addison Reed trade seem better and better each time he throws. Joseph Zanghi threw another scoreless inning, pushing his scoreless streak to start the season to 13 innings.

Columbia (16-13) 9, Lakewood (15-14) 7 Box Score

What a win! The Fireflies have their game of the year, scoring eight unanswered in the sixth, seventh, and eighth to shock Lakewood. Eight of the nine starters reached base for Columbia; catcher Scott Manea the only exception. Blake Tiberi brought in another multi-hit game, and Rigoberto Terrazas had two hits in five at bats and an RBI. Both Quinn Brodey and Giovanny Alfonzo hit a long ball, their fourth and first respectively. Jeremy Vasquez continued to get on base, extending his streak to 28 games.

  • LHP Anthony Kay: 6.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 6 K (1-1, 3.42)
  • RHP Conner O’Neil: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (3-0, 4.o5)
  • RHP Stephen Villines: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (1-2, 6.75)

It wasn’t the prettiest start in the world for top prospect Anthony Kay, but it got the job done. Kay now has 3.42 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and has held opponents to a .221 average in 26.1 innings with 24 strikeouts.

Conner O’Neil will get credit for the win, although he didn’t pitch well including allowing an inherited runner of Kay’s score. Stephen Villines shut the door on any comeback hopes for the BlueClaws with a scoreless ninth in which he struck out a pair. Stephen picked up his third save of the year.

Las Vegas portion of recap done by Mojo Hill.