Syracuse  (12-7) 2, Buffalo (4-11) 0 Box

• Drew Gagnon (2-0, 0.51 ERA): 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 6 K, 2 BB
• Arquimedes Caminero (0-0, 0.00 ERA): 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K
• Ryan O’Rourke (0-1, 3.72 ERA): .1 IP, K

Gregor Blanco‘s first-inning dinger was all that Drew Gagnon needed. The righty twirled seven masterful innings, scattering only three hits. Gagnon has allowed only one run in 17.2 innings to start off the year and with a few more similar outings, he could be Queens in short order. Talking about pitchers that have impressed early in the season, Caminero has thrown seven scoreless frames to start off the year.

• DH Gregor Blanco: 1-3, HR, R, RBI, BB .235/. 316/.412
• 1B Travis Taijeron: 0-2, 2 BB .255/.391/.725

Gregor Blanco got the game started off on the right foot with a first-inning homer. Jacob Waguespack silenced the Mets’ bats until the fourth inning when consecutive singles and a sacrifice bunt put two runners in scoring position with one out. However, due to a Danny Esponisa running miscue, the Mets weren’t able to extend their lead. Tim Tebow is now five for his last 30.

Binghamton (9-4) 11, Akron (7-11) 6 Box

• SS Andres Gimenez: 1-4, H, RBI, BB .283/.345/.453
• C Ali Sanchez: 2-5, R, 3 RBIs, BB .297/.333/.378
• 1B Patrick Mazeika: 3-6, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB .205/. 314./.295
• 2B Sam Haggerty: 3-6, R, RBI .300/.364/.450

The RubberDucks simply didn’t have a chance. The Rumble Ponies set the tone early, putting up a four-spot against Sean Brady in the first inning. The two table setters, Haggerty and Gimenez, started the game off with a walk and a single respectively before three consecutive doubles quickly put the game out of reach. After scoring another run in the third, Bingo batted around in a six-run fourth inning. The first seven batters reached base with Ali Sanchez‘s two-run double representing the big knock.

After starting the season off slow, MMN’s No.1 ranked prospect Andres Gimenez has collected ten hits in his last 23 at-bats with three doubles and a homer. The 3-4-5 batters of Michael Paez, Patrick Mazeika, and Ali Sanchez did the majority of the damage, combining for seven hits, six RBIs, and five runs.

• David Peterson (1-1, 3.77 ERA): 5.2 IP,  8 H, 3 R, 8 K, BB
• Joshua Torres (1-0, 6.48 ERA): 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 K
• Stephen Villines (0-0, 0.00 ERA): 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 0 ER, BB

With a rather comfortable lead from the onset, Peterson wasn’t at his sharpest but still pitched relatively well. He worked in-and-out of jams all night with the first inning representing his only clean frame. Peterson threw 67 out of his 94 pitches for strikes and recorded a season-high eight punchouts.

Li-Jen Chu‘s homer off of Peterson was only the third homer that Peterson’s given up in his pro career. Villines gave up runs for the first time this season, but due to an Alfredo Escalera error to lead off the inning, his ERA is still at zero.

Lakeland (8-9) 4, St.Lucie (10-9) 1 Box

• LF Jacob Zanon: 1-4, RBI .364/.462/.455

As expected, Casey Mize, the first overall player drafted in the 2018 amateur player draft, completely stymied the Mets for eight innings. After Carlos Cortes‘ second-inning single, Mize proceeded to retire the next 20 batters. Although he only struck out four batters, Mize induced 13 ground-balls. In the ninth inning, Jacob Zanon doubled in Mitch Ghelfi to slice the Flying Tigers’ lead in half. With Zanon representing the game-tying run on second, Wladimir Pinto struck out Quinn Brodey to end the game.

• RHP Kyle Wilson (1-2, 4.91 ERA): 4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 K, BB
• RHP Yeizo Campos (1-0, 1.74 ERA) : 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 K, BB
• RHP Briam Campusano (1-1, 1.98 ERA): 2 IP, H, 0 R, 2 K

Casey Mize is always a tough act to copy and MMN folk hero Kyle Wilson simply wasn’t up to the task. Wilson struggled from the onset, giving up a two-run homer to his second batter faced, Brady Policelli. After falling into a two-on, out-out jam in the fifth, Yeizo Campos was brought. Even though Campos allowed an inherited runner to score, he’s been really impressive so far in 2019.

West Virginia (11-6) 10, Fireflies (7-11) 3 Box

• DH Shervyen Newton: 1-2, 2 BB, .167/.375/.333
• 1B Zach Rheams: 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, .286/.359/.429
• LF Wagner Lagrange: 2-4, HR, R, RBI, .317/.364/.463

The Fireflies were being no-hit until the seventh inning when Ronny Mauricio struck a single into center field. A batter later, Zach Rheams smacked his first homer of the season. With Pete Alonso now entrenched in the Majors, Rheams is now one of the best power hitters in the system.  In his second game back from the injured list, Shervyen Newton recorded his first hit of the year, knocking a double into right field in the eighth inning.

Newton, MMN’s No.9 ranked prospect, turns 20 today!

• RHP Jaison Vilera (1-2, 8.44 ERA): 1.2 IP, 4 H, 7 R, 5 ER, K, 4 BB
• RHP Chris Viall (0-1, 5.63 ERA): 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, K, BB
• LHP Andrew Mitchell (0-0, 1.08 ERA): 2 IP, H, BB
• RHP Billy Oxford (0-0, 7.00 ERA): 2 IP, 3 H, R, 3 K
• RHP Ezequiel Zabaleta (0-0, 2.00 ERA): 1 IP, H, 0 R, K

After allowing eight runs in three and a third innings two starts ago, Vilera hoped to turn off a new leaf last night. However, the 21-year-old continued to struggle, having a career-worst outing against Jarred Kelenic and the Power. Vilera didn’t make it past the second inning and struggled with his command, walking four batters. He gave up two runs in the first inning and got tagged for five more the following frame.

Chris Viall continues to be an enigma. There was hope that he would emerge as a quality late-inning option after a move to the pen this year and while the results haven’t panned out yet, his high-tempo fastball ensures he’ll be given many chances as possible.