FRESNO 7, LAS VEGAS 2
Joel Carreno lost his third straight start start, and his fourth game in a row on Saturday, as Fresno beat Las Vegas 7-2. The loss was the 51’s fourth in a row and are 4-16 in their last 20. The Aces jumped all over Carreno in the first inning largely due in part to four straight hits to start the game. Carreno would continue on and finish the night throwing six innings giving up six runs on nine hits with six strikeouts. The 51’s were able to scratch a run across in the bottom of the first on an Allan Dykstra home run, but wouldn’t have an answer against Fresno’s Mitch Lively and the rest of the Aces staff the rest of the way. Dykstra finished the night 3-for-3 and the home run was his ninth of the season. The final game of the four game series against Fresno is scheduled for Sunday with Logan Verrett on the mound. The 51’s will hit the road for eight games after Sunday’s contest with stops in Colorado Springs and Oklahoma City. (box score)
NEW BRITAIN 6, BINGHAMTON 4
The Binghamton Mets drop their fourth straight on Saturday, losing to the New Britain Rock Cats 6-4. After winning five in a row back in May, the B-Mets have now lost eight of their last 10. Greg Peavey started the game for Binghamton and would struggle through 4.2 innings allowing four runs on nine hits. The Rock Cats would strike early scoring two runs in the first inning. The Mets would respond with a three-run fourth, but would eventually give up the lead for good in the seventh inning. Travis Taijeron would hit his 13th double of the season and would drive in two runs for Binghamton. The series finale is slated for Sunday with Tyler Pill on the mound looking to stop the bleeding for Binghamton. (box score)
DUNEDIN 4, ST. LUCIE 2
St. Lucie and Dunedin split their four-game series on Saturday after the Blue Jays beat the Mets 4-2. Steven Matz got the nod for St. Lucie and would give them six innings allowing all four of the Dunedin runs, enroute to his third loss of the season. One of the things that has been an issue for every Mets team in the organization is the ability to hit with runners in scoring position. St. Lucie had opportunities to get back into the game, but would end up 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position stranding eight on base. Jairo Perez went 2-for-4 with a triple, but Cam Maron and Cole Frenzel would drive in the only two for the Mets. St. Lucie returns to Tradition Field for a brief two game set against Palm Beach. Michael Fulmer is the scheduled starter for the opener. (box score)
SAVANNAH 4, CHARLESTON 0
John Gant pitches a gem winning his sixth game of the season. The Sand Gnats drop the RiverDogs 4-0. Gant pitched seven remarkable innings giving up just three hits. It was the third start in a row that Gant gave Savannah seven innings, not allowing a run in two of those outings. Gant struck out five and only walked one. The Sand Gnats got on the board in the top half of the first inning on a L.J. Mazzilli single that scored Gavin Cecchini. Savannah would add three insurance runs in the fifth with the game essentially already over at that point because of the pitching. Mazzilli would continue hitting picking up his second three-hit night in the last three games. He is hitting a balmy .442 in his last ten bringing his average up to .299. The series finale between Savannah and Charleston is set for Sunday with Chris Flexen on the mound. (box score)
METS MINORS PLAYER of the NIGHT
On a rather dreary night for the Mets minor league teams, one player stands out above the rest. John Gant’s performance on Saturday earned him the Mets Minors Player of the Night.