El Paso Chihuahuas (41-44) 5, Las Vegas 51s (32-53) 1 Box Score
- Gavin Cecchini 2B: 2 for 3, BB
- Amed Rosario SS: 1 for 4
- Dominic Smith 1B: 0 for 4, K
Smith’s hitting streak ended as you might notice. Rosario has gone 5 for 14 his last 3 games with no strikeouts. That is certainly a good sign for the young shortstop. He will be playing in the Futures Game this coming Sunday.
- RHP Ricky Knapp (3-10, 6.06 ERA): 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
- RHP Beck Wheeler (3-3, 7.54 ERA): 2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, BB, K
- RHP Hansel Robles (0-1, 7.23 ERA): 1 IP, K
Robles has not been scored upon in 4 of his last 5 outings. Good signs for the hard throwing but erratic righty.
Altoona Curve (42-39) 6, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (44-35) 0 Box Score
- Luis Guillorme 2B: 1 for 4
- Kevin Kaczmarski RF: 1 for 3, BB
- David Thompson 3B: 1 for 3
Not much offense for the Rumble Ponies as they mustered only five base runners the whole game. Kaczmarski has a .376 OBP on the year but his slugging percentage is .361. After a .824 OPS in May, Tomas Nido had a .623 OPS in June and a .265 OPS thus far in July.
- RHP Marcos Molina (0-4, 4.74 ERA): 5.2 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, K
- LHP Ben Griset (3-0, 2.17 ERA): 1.1 IP, H, K
- RHP Scarlyn Reyes (1-0, 4.97 ERA): 1 IP, K
Molina struggled over 5.2 innings. It was his first bad outing in Binghamton and has walked two in every AA start this year. Most importantly, he’s been healthy since coming back from tommy-john surgery.
Charlotte Stone Crabs (36-43) 7, St. Lucie Mets (35-45) 6 Box Score
- Michael Paez 2B: 1 for 4, Run RBI, BB, K
- Peter Alonso 1B: 1 for 4, Run, BB, K
- Jhoan Urena 3B: 3 for 5, Run, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB
The St. Lucie Mets lost in eleven innings. Paez continues to mash since his promotion and Alonso continues to improve as he returns from his hand injury. Tim Tebow has a 1.107 OPS thus far in St. Lucie.
- RHP Justin Dunn (4-5, 4.74 ERA): 5 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
- RHP Justin Brantley (3-2, 5.65 ERA): 2 IP, BB, 3 K
- LHP Aneury Olivo (0-1, 2.57 ERA): 4 IP, 3 H, ER, 3 BB, 6 K
Dunn struggled with command and that has been a theme for him. Definitely needs to show more with that before he takes the next step. Olivo tried his best to give St. Lucie a chance before the team finally fell in the eleventh.
The Columbia Fireflies were suspended in their game.
Tri-City Valleycats (5-9) 9, Brooklyn Cyclones (3-11) 5 Box Score
- Reed Gamache 2B: 1 for 3, 2 RBI, BB
- Quinn Brodey LF: 2 for 5, RBI, 2 K
- Ricardo Cespedes CF: 2 for 5, Run
It was Ricardo’s first appearance at Brooklyn this year. The team scored four in the second but were not able to score much else outside one more run in the fourth. They have really struggled this year.
- RHP Darwin Ramos (0-2, 6.57 ERA): 4 IP, 3 H, 3 R (0 ER), BB, 4 K
- RHP Cannon Chadwick (0-0, 0.00 ERA): 2 IP, 2 H, BB, 2 K
- RHP Connor O’Neil (0-1, 10.13 ERA): 1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, K
- RHP Gregorix Estevez (0-0, 8.31 ERA): 0.1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 4 BB
The Cyclones had a 5-3 lead in the eighth inning before giving up six runs to lose the game. O’Neil and Estevez were the culprits in the loss.
DSL Mets2 (17-9) 7, DSL Rangers2 (16-11) 6 Box Score
- Jhoander Saez CF: 1 for 5, K
- Shervyen Newton SS: 1 for 5, Run, 3B, 2 K
- Jeison Rodriguez RF: 3 for 5, Run, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 K
Newton tripled to lead off the ninth inning to spark a rally. They scored two runs and took the lead for good that inning.
- RHP Andres German (0-1, 5.32 ERA): 2.2 IP, 2 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, K
- RHP Victor Isturiz (0-2, 11.32 ERA): 0.1 IP, H
- RHP Jose Guerrero (2-0, 1.17 ERA): 3 IP, H, ER, 3 BB, 2 K
- LHP Daniel Guzman (2-1, 2.08 ERA): 3 IP, 3 K
German struggled through three innings and needed lots of bullpen help. Guerrero and Guzman really carried them going a combined six innings and only giving up one run.
GCL Mets (3-5) 5, GCL Astros (3-4) 2 Box Score
- Guillermo Granadillo CF: 1 for 3, Run, BB, K
- Hansel Moreno 3B: 2 for 4, 2 Runs, 3B, K
- Mark Vientos SS: 2 for 4, Run, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K
Vientos had his first big game in his professional career. Here are to many more for the Mets number two pick. Granadillo has a 1.202 OPS this season.
- RHP Jaison Vilera (1-0, 1.64 ERA): 6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, BB, 4 K
- RHP Jose Moreno (0-0, 0.00 ERA): 2 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K
- LHP Moises Sierra (0-0, 0.00 ERA): 1 IP, 2 BB, K
The pitching was solid and Vilera continues to move quickly. Sierra’s struggles with command from college. Moreno was called up from the DSL before this game.
Kingsport Mets (4-7) 5, Bristol Pirates (3-10) 4 Box Score
- Gavin Garay DH: 1 for 4, Run, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K
- Anthony Dirocie CF: 1 for 3, Run, HR, RBI, BB, K
- Dionis Paulino RF: 2 for 3, Run, BB, K
Dirioce has been a power machine this year. He already has three home runs on the season after his previous season-high being two. Garay has struggled this far in his professional career but should improve as he progresses.
- RHP Jose Geraldo (1-1, 5.14 ERA): 4 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
- RHP Billy Oxford (1-0, 9.00 ERA): 1 IP, H, BB, K
- RHP Ryan Selmer (0-0, 0.00 ERA): 2 IP, 2 H, BB
- RHP Yeudy Colon (0-0, 1.29 ERA): 2 IP, H, 4 K
Geraldo struggled again in his third start but was picked up 2017 draftees. Selmer and Oxford were very good and Oxford got himself a win. Colon was electric in two innings.
Worth sitting through 98-degree weather into the eighth inning last night in St. Lucie despite gut-punching Mets’ 11-inning loss. Winning run scored on sac fly to short right. RF Wuilmer Becerra made strong throw to plate but we’ll never know if runner would have been safe or out. 1B Peter Alonso inexplicably cut off throw. Either he assumed runner wouldn’t try to score or forgot the runner was on third. Teammates and crowd gasped, then looked at him dumbfounded. He wanted to crawl into a hole.
Here are other observations:
*SP Justin Dunn doesn’t resemble a first-round draft pick. Will be shocked if he’s ever major league talent. He was never dominant but effective in four of five innings. Compounded his own problem by dropping toss in rundown play that allowed run to score and open gate for 5-run inning.
*RP Justin Brantley, who followed Dunn, had similar build and stuff. Also from NY state. Couldn’t see big difference between them.
*RP Aneury Olivo, tagged with loss, seemed to have most promise. Coach Viola must work with this kid.
*Comparative team size between St. Lucie and Charlotte was apparent. Mets had three players bigger than average size. Charlotte had three average players and rest were enormous. Charlotte C Brett Sullivan, average size especially for catcher, was best player on field.
*Charlotte stole six bases (by five runners) against C Anthony Dimino, who didn’t have a clue while at bat either.
*Alonso should be player included in Mets trade with AL team. A zero on defense. Looked unsure of himself at 1B throughout game and couldn’t handle hard ground ball hit right at him.
*Jhoan Urena clearly is Mets’ best position prospect on this team. Couldn’t rate his 3B defense off this effort but his bat is solid. Two booming doubles among three hits. His clutch double in eighth tied score.
*Crowd loved LF Tim Tebow and cheered every move. He almost fractured a wall in left field going for a foul ball. Made a nice diving catch to end bleeding in five-run third. The catch was identical to the one Yo Cepedes failed to make against Nats on Monday night that cost the game for big-league Mets. After leading off 11th inning with single, Tebow pulled for pinch-runner. Didn’t understand that move. Tebow may not be good but we’ve all seen that he’s a winner.
*Becerra made an even better diving catch in right field. He has the size and displayed all the tools. But needs to be max-focus, max-effort player to make it.
*Saw good things from recently promoted 2B Michael Paez, a Dustin Pedroia wannabe.
*Got my first in-game foul ball after almost 65 years thanks to a nice player on Stone Crabs, who tossed one to an old man with pleading eyes.
*Awesome post-game fireworks for a small town minor league game.
I wonder if Kaczmarski can play CF decent, if so he’s a guy who could possibly be a nice 4th OF/OBP guy. Although Nimmo might be that if he doesn’t get some Pop in that bat or fields CF better.
Nice to see Vientos have a good game and absolutely hope there will be more to come.
Milton Ramos was traded to Orioles for international bonus slot money
They haven’t used him in center since he left Columbia. Biondi got all of the starts in center in St Lucie last year while they were both there.