Las Vegas 51s 4 – Fresno Grizzlies 2 Box Score
- LF Phillip Evans 0-2, 2 R, 2 BB, .263/.330/.386
- 1B Dominic Smith 2-4, R, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, .334/.388/.512
- 2B Jio Mier 1-3, R, 2B, .295/.353/.459
Smith continued his second half tear knocking in all four runs. In July, he’s now hitting .385/.429/.723 with seven doubles, five homers, and 18 RBI. Evans is on fire with a 1.090 OPS in July.
Amed Rosario missed a second straight game with a bruised right index finger.
- Tyler Pill 7.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
- Kevin McGowan (BS, 5) (W, 5-3) 1.0 IP, H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB
- Chasen Bradford (S, 10) 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, K
After struggling over his last three starts, Pill rebounded nicely having his first scoreless outing since April 30th. This was the first time in nearly a month McGowan has allowed an earned run.
Binghamton Rumble Ponies 2 – Akron Rubber Ducks 1 (Game 1) Box Score
- DH Kevin Taylor 1-3, R, .315/.405/.409
- C Tomas Nido 1-3, RBI, .253/.289/.387
- SS Gustavo Nunez 1-3, 2B, RBI, .268/.305/.338
The Rumble Ponies snatched a victory away despite being two outs away from being shut out. Nunez’s double was the only extra base hit of the game. It was also the last hit of the game.
- P Chris Flexen (W, 6-1) CG, 7.0 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 3 BB, 7 K
Until the rally in the bottom of the seventh, Flexen appeared to be the hard luck loser. Instead, he’s racked up his fifth straight win.
Akron Rubber Ducks 11 – Binghamton Rumble Ponies 4 (Game 2)
- LF Kevin Taylor 2-3, 2 R, 2B, .315/.405/.409
- CF Champ Stuart 1-3, R, 2B, 2 RBI, .235/.338/.358
- 3B Dale Burdick 1-3, 2 RBI, .200/.268/.360
The Rubber Ducks were already up 11-0 before the Rumble Ponies began pulling runs in the board.
- P Andrew Church (L, 0-1) 4.2 IP, 10 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 6 BB, 3 K
- P Kelly Secrest 1.1 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 2 K
- P Tyler Moore 1.0 IP, BB
Despite struggling in St. Lucie this year with a 5.14 ERA, Church was called up to make this start. Catcher Tyler Moore had to pitch to help the Ponies bullpen out.
St. Lucie Mets 5 – Jupiter Hammerheads 0 Box Score
- 1B Peter Alonso 1-3, R, HR, 2 RBI, .255/.324/.489
- CF Tim Tebow 2-4, 2B, RBI, .306/.390/.514
- 3B Jhoan Urena 1-3, R, BB, .299/.385/.448
The Mets took full advantage of a first inning error with an Alonso RBI single, and a Tebow RBI double. That was sufficient to put the Hammerheads away.
- Merandy Gonzalez (W, 4-1) 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R. 0 ER
- Austin McGeorge (H, 2) 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
- Craig Missigman 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, K
After an uncharacteristic start where he allowed more than one earned run for just the third time all season, Gonzalez was back to his dominant self in this start.
Columbia Fireflies 16 – Lexington Legends 2 Box Score
- SS Andres Gimenez 3-5, 2 R, 2B, BB, 2 RBI
- LF Jacob Zanon 2-6, 4 R
- C Dan Rizzie 5-6, 2 R, 2B, 3 RBI
On a day where every Firefly got at least one hit and scored at least one run, Rizzie was that standout star of the day with his first career five-hit game. In fact, he’s never had more than two hits in a game, and this was just his ninth multi-hit game in his career.
- Chase Ingram (W, 1-0) 5.0 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 6 K
- Joseph Zanghi 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
- Matt Pobereyko 2.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, BB, 3 K
Ingram pitched well in his first start with Columbia since coming off the Disabled List.
Brooklyn Cyclones 3 – Staten Island Yankees 1 Box Score
- SS Leon Byrd 1-3, BB, RBI
- 3B Reed Gamache 0-2, R, BB
- 2B Walter Rasquin 3-4, 2 R, 2 2B
Rasquin continues to take for the Cyclones. He has a four game hitting streak, and he has a hit in 18 of the 20 games he has played this season.
- Martin Anderson 5.0 IP, 5 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 5 K
- Marcel Renteria (W, 1-1) 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
- Cannon Chadwick (S, 1) 2.0 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Chadwick has yet to allow a run in his six professional appearances, and he’s earning that Cannon name striking out 12.2 batters per nine.
The sooner they trade Duda, the better we can get a better view of Dominic Smith. Of course I’d like Duda to go on a tear to up his value.
Flexen has all but earned a chance to be called up to Triple A and possibly has an outside shot to get a look in rotation next spring.
Alonso is on a HR pace. Shame he might just be at 1st bc he’s not that great of a 1st baseman to begin with. I read he played a little 3rd but I don’t think that will happen. If he stays healthy & keeps this pace he could be a call up next September.
Overhyping and jumping the gun again. First, he’s only been hot for a month. And you’re speaking as if this is what he will continue to do each and every month for the rest of his career. He won’t. There are ebbs and flows to a baseball season, and a player’s career. The league will figure out a way to slow him down. Then he’ll slump, and he’ll have to figure out how to overcome the way they are pitching him.
Second, the only way he gets a call-up in Sept 2018 is if Dominic Smith turns into a total flop. Alonso is not eligible for Rule 5 until after the 2019 season. There is no reason, basis, or incentive for the team to add him to the 40-man roster (more than) a year early and start spending options on him (more than) a year early.
Besides that, it is totally unrealistic simply assume that each and every one of these players will continue to excel and pass thru every level quickly and unscathed. They stumble. They slump. They have to learn things along the way. A player who moves one level a year is fairly rare. And even those guys often need more than a year at AAA before getting over the hump to the majors.
Maybe this could be the route they get a CF. some of these guys in the minors will never be Mets but trade pieces. If he starts showing 30+ HR potential it would be hard to trade that but I get what you mean. Smith I hope becomes 1st baseman for 7 years.