Drew Gilbert, Photo by Ed Delany of Mets Minors
With the full-season affiliates still on their All-Star breaks, the complex leagues were only in action on Wednesday night. The three Mets teams combined to go 1-2 and score a total of six runs. However, there were some good pitching performances, and one of the hitters in the Dominican Summer League continued a red-hot July. Find out who that player is and more below.
Florida Complex League
FCL Astros (23-26) 2, FCL Mets (22-28) 1
- 1B Orangel Rodriguez: 2-for-2, 2B, RBI (6) (.685 OPS)
- DH Jeffry Rosa: 1-for-3, K (.541 OPS)
- RF Simon Juan: 1-for-3 (.811 OPS)
- CF Drew Gilbert: 0-for-3, K (.364 OPS)
- 3B Jacob Reimer: 0-for-3, K (.273 OPS)
The Mets offense only managed four hits in the loss to the Astros on Wednesday. Rodriguez drove in the game’s only run with an RBI single in the top of the fifth. The 19-year-old has had a hit in each of his last three FCL games. Gilbert and Reimer did not have a hit as each of them continued their rehab assignments. Gilbert played the entire seven-inning game in center field.
- RHP Christian Rodriguez (3.89 ERA): 4 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 8 K
- RHP Jesus Anton (0-2, 9.95): 1 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 3 BB, 2 K
- RHP Andinson Ferrer (4.58): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, BB, 3 K
While the Astros stole five bases against the Mets’ pitching staff, the three New York pitchers held Houston to being 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. In the no-decision, Rodriguez put up a season-high eight strikeouts. This season, he has 48 strikeouts over 34.2 innings (12 outings).
Dominican Summer League
DSL Mets Orange (14-17) 2, DSL Phillies Red (9-22) 1
- LF Heriberto Rincon: 1-for-3, 2 SB, K (.552 OPS)
- 1B Enderson Asencio: 2-for-3, R, 2B, 2 SB, K (.656 OPS)
- 2B Starling Fernandez: 2-for-3, R (.666 OPS)
- 3B Fidel Pinango: 0-for-3, 2 SB (.524 OPS)
The Mets orange offense managed five hits on Wednesday, but they made an impact in terms of running the bases. Three different players recorded two stolen bases (six total on the day).
- RHP Deivy Paulino (2.86): 4 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 3 BB, 6 K
- RHP Yoralbert Cadiz (3-0, 2.41): 2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 3 BB, 3 K
- RHP Jose Lopez (1.59, 1st save): 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 K
The three Mets pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts in the seven-inning game with the Phillies offense not recording a single extra-base hit. Paulino has allowed one earned run or leas in each of his three outings in the month of July and has gone four innings or more in six straight appearances.
DSL Giants Orange (16-17) 4, DSL Mets Blue (12-19) 3
- 3B Yensi Rivas: 2-for-4, R, SB, K (.765 OPS)
- 1B Roybert Herrera: 3-for-4, R, 3B, RBI (9), SB (.884 OPS)
- RF Rainer Reyes: 1-for-4, R, 2B, RBI (20) (.946 OPS)
- DH Haniel German: 1-for-3, RBI (8), BB, K (.729 OPS)
- C Marcos Terrero: 2-for-3 (.695 OPS)
The blue Mets offense worked a comeback in the late innings, but it was enough in the end. German’s RBI single in the top of the sixth got the team on the board. In the seventh, the Mets tied the game on an RBI double by Reyes and an RBI single by Herrera. Hererra has had six multi-hit games this month and is batting .515 in 33 at-bats (nine games).
- RHP Leyvi Rodriguez (4.42): 4 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 6 K
- RHP Jermayne Verdu (3-2, 6.17): 2 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 4 BB, 4 K
Rodriguez had a solid start with the only run scored against him coming on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the fourth. The 18-year-old not only tied a season-high for his longest outing, but also his most strikeouts in an appearance. Verdu ended up allowing a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh.
