Tacoma Rainiers (35-27) 5, Las Vegas 51s (25-39) 3 Box Score
- Amed Rosario SS: 1 for 4, .337/.379/.494
- Dominic Smith 1B: 0 for 4, .315/.364/.465
- Jayce Boyd DH: 2 for 3, R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, .235/.316/.412
The 51s only had four hits in the game, two of which came off the bat of Boyd. Boyd also drove in all three runs, with the first run coming on an RBI double in the fifth and the last two runs coming on an eighth inning home run.
- RHP Rafael Montero (0-2, 2.48 ERA) 6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
- LHP Kyle Regnault (1-0, 0.00 ERA) 1.0 IP, 2 BB, K
- RHP Hansel Robles (0-0, 7.56 ERA) 1.0 IP, H, ER, 2 K
Montero had his worst AAA start of the season, giving up four runs and showing some control issues by walking four batters in six innings. Regnault has not given up a run with Las Vegas in 2017, but has shown some control issues, walking eight batters in 7.1 innings. Robles, who continues to struggle after being demoted to AAA, gave up a home run in the eighth inning.
Binghamton Rumble Ponies (34-23) 4, Harrisburg Senators (25-36) 3 Box Score
- Tomas Nido C: 2 for 4, 2 R, 2B, RBI, BB, .280/.326/.460
- Kevin Kaczmarski RF: 1 for 3, 2 R, 2B, 2 BB, .299/.395/.390
- Kevin Taylor LF: 2 for 4, RBI, BB, .310/.411/.408
The Rumble Ponies pushed across four runs in the eleven inning victory. The first two runs of the game came in the fourth inning on back to back RBI hits by Nido and Taylor. Binghamton would not score again until the eleventh, when a Matt Oberste bases loaded walk and a Patrick Biondi sacrifice fly plated two runs. Nido, would followed up a poor April with a great May, has been even better in June. He has a 1.127 OPS so far this month.
- RHP Casey Delgado (4-4, 5.65 ERA) 4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
- RHP Corey Taylor (3-3, 3.38 ERA) 2.0 IP, 2 H, BB, 2 K
- RHP Tim Peterson (2-2, 1.64 ERA) 2.0 IP, H, 2 K
Delgado came off the disabled list to make his first start since May 26 and pitched decently, although a high pitch count (83 pitches) limited him to just four innings of work. Taylor has only given up one earned run in his last 13.2 innings pitched.
Lakeland Legends (26-33) 1, St. Lucie Mets (30-31) 0 Box Score
- John Mora CF: 2 for 4, .244/.305/.345
- Patrick Mazeika C: 0 for 3, BB, K, .305/.390/.470
- Wuilmer Becerra LF: 1 for 4, 2 K, .265/.324/.361
Despite getting ten men on base with seven hits and three walks, the Mets couldn’t score a single run. J.C. Rodriguez had three hits in the game. Mazieka has been in a bit of a slump and has hit only .216 over his last ten games.
- RHP Marcos Molina (2-3, 1.26 ERA) 7.2 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 8 K
- RHP Justin Brantley (2-1, 4.82 ERA) 0.1 IP
Molina was dominant in the game, pitching into the eighth inning while only allowing one run. However, due to the Mets scoring no runs, he took the loss. Molina has allowed no more than two runs in any of his five starts this season.
Columbia Fireflies (36-25) 3, Charleston RiverDogs (30-33) 2 Box Score
- Tim Tebow LF: 1 for 3, 2 RBI, .225/.313/.348
- Reed Gamache DH: 2 for 2, RBI, SF, .200/.290/.288
- Michael Paez 3B: 1 for 3, HBP, 2 K, .291/.386/.503
The Fireflies scored three times on nine hits, all of which were singles. Every player in the Columbia lineup had a hit except for catcher Ali Sanchez.
- RHP Gabriel Llanes (4-3, 2.93 ERA) 8.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, BB, K
- LHP Adonis Uceta (2-0, 2.08 ERA) 0.1 IP
Llanes came one out shy of a complete game, giving up two runs in 8.2 innings. Llanes has been getting great results this season despite striking out very few batters. He has only 32 strikeouts in 70.2 innings and has struck out no more than six batters in a game this season. He has been shown good control and done a good job keeping the ball in the park, walking only 11 batters and giving up only one home run.
Collectively is Molina a starter or reliever potentially? Did his delivery improve much since his injury?
I assume he did since that probably led to him getting TJ. I think he could be a really good starter for Mets in the next 2 years or so.
His delivery has definitely improved. Whether it’s improved enough for him to stay a starter is still up in the air for me. I still think he’s more likely a reliever long term, but I’m more optimistic about his chances now than I was a few years ago
He’s a starter. Given the amount of sp’s the Mets have i could see molina starting out in the pen as soon as next year.