Nashville 10 vs Las Vegas (24-20) 4
The 51s weren’t able to beat Nashville for the second game in a row, losing to the Oakland Athletics Triple-A Affiliate 10-4.
Sean Gilmartin got the start for the 51s. He allowed a run in the second after a RBI ground out from Ryon Healy, scoring Andrew Lambo who doubled to lead off the second.
In the bottom of the second the 51s scored two runs to take the early lead. Nevin Ashley was hit by the pitch, Gavin Cecchini in his first game back followed with a double. Niuman Romero hit an infield single to loaded the bases with nobody out. Marc Krauss could not get a run in striking out, but Kyle Johnson picked him up with a RBI single to tie the game at one. It was Johnson his first hit and RBI since joining the 51s. The second run of the inning scored on a Dilson Herrera sac fly.
The 51s added a run in the third, T.J. Rivera singled to lead of the inning, Ashley was hit by the pitch in the second straight inning and Cecchini doubled to score Rivera. It was Cecchini’s his seventh double of the year.
Gilmartin could not hold the 3-1 lead as the Sounds scored four in the fourth and five in the fifth. After Gilmartin got the first two outs in the fourth he allowed four straight hits. The inning was capped by Sounds’ shortstop and former Mets minor leaguer Josh Rodriguez who hit a two-run shot, his first of the season to give Nashville a 5-3 lead.
After Gilmartin allowed a double and a walk in the fifth, Chad Pinder came to bat with two on and one out. Pinder hit a three run home run off Gilmartin to make it 8-3. A batter later Gilmartin allowed a base hit and was pulled for Zack Thornton. Gilmartin went 4.1 innings allowing nine runs on ten hits dropping to 4-2 with a 4.38 ERA. His ERA went up almost two full runs from 2.48 to 4.38 for the season.
Thornton allowed two hits and two runs in that inning, the first run was charged to Gilmartin to make it 10-3.
In the sixth, Cecchini led off with a base hit, his third hit of the game. He went 3 for 4 with two doubles and a RBI in his return in the lineup. He raised his slash line to .315/.402/.42 on the year. He was erased on a double play hit into by Romero. The next batter was Krauss, who hit his eighth home run of the season to make it 10-4.
Stolmy Pimentel pitched two scoreless in relief and Erik Goeddel struck out the side in the ninth. Herrera and Krauss both had two hits in the loss. Brandon Nimmo went 1 for 4 with a walk and extended his hitting streak to then games.
Richmond 3 vs Binghamton (18-25) 0
The Binghamton Mets where shutout by the Double-A Affiliate from the San Francisco Giants 3-0 in the series opener.
Wilmer Flores began his rehab assignment with Binghamton and collected two of the five total hits for the B-Mets. Flores struck out in the first, singled in the fourth and sixth for a 2 for 3 day, while playing seven flawless innings at first base.
Matt Oberste got the only extra base hit for Binghamton, he doubled in the bottom of the seventh in a 2 for 4 day. The other hit was for L.J. Mazzilli who replaced Flores as the second place hitter and went 1-1. The second spot in the B-Mets lineup went 3 for 4 while the rest of the lineup went 2 for 28.
Tyler Pill got the start and went six innings allowing two runs on five hits. He walked four and struck out four. He dropped to 3-4 with a 4.18 ERA for the season.
Pill allowed two runs in the fifth as he allowed an one out walk to opposing pitcher Alberto Mejia, followed by a base hit from Rando Moreno. Two batters later, Austin Slater drove in both with a two-run double.
Richmond added another run against Alberto Baldanado who made his first career appearance in Double-A. He was promoted before the game along with right-handed reliever Tim Peterson. Lefty David Roseboom struck out two in his 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.
Dominic Smith was given the night off and wasn’t even brought in defensively to replace Flores when his night was over. The B-Mets instead brought in Mazzilli who went to second, Phillip Evans shifted to third and Oberste went third to first.
Charlotte 6 vs St. Lucie Mets (23-21) 2
The St. Lucie Mets lost the series opener against the Class-A Advanced Affiliate from the Tampa Bay Rays by a score of 6-2.
The St. Lucie Mets had ten hits and walked five times, but could only score two runs as they went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position.
The Stone Crabs got ahead in the second as they scored two against Scarlyn Reyes. Reyes struck out the first hitter of the second but, he reached on a wild pitch. The next batter, catcher Nick Ciuffo singled on a deflected ball by Michael Katz. Alec Sole followed with a line drive single to load the bases with nobody out. Sac flies by designated hitter Jace Conrad and second baseman Riley Unroe made it 2-0.
That was all what Reyes allowed in seven innings. It was just the third time he pitched past the sixth. It was his second best start of the year as he allowed seven hits, two runs and two walks, while striking out three. He dropped his ERA from 7.22 to 6.42 and did not factor into the decision.
St. Lucie came back in the seventh with two runs. Patrick Biondi and Champ Stuart each single to start the inning before Luis Guillorme hit a sac bunt moving runners to second and third. Amed Rosario was intentionally walked to load the bases for Michael Katz. He worked out a bases loaded walk to make it 2-1. Wuilmer Becerra struck out swinging with the bases loaded for the second out. Next batter was John Mora and he walked as well to tie the game at two in the seventh. Tomas Nido flew out to end the inning.
Jimmy Duffy came in, in the top of the eight and was roughed up. He allowed four straight hits and departed without recording an out. Duffy was charged with the loss, dropping to 2-1 with a 6.87 ERA. He allowed three runs on four hits.
Paul Paez came in with runners on first and third with nobody out and two runs already in. He got the first hitter to fly out. With runners on second and third and one out Paez intentionally walked Sole. Conrad followed with a RBI Single to make it 5-2 Stone Crabs. Paez got out of the inning thanks to a 4-6-3 double play.
Paez allowed the sixth run for the Stone Crabs on a sac fly by first baseman Mac James, scoring Unroe who reached on a Rosario throwing error as the run was unearned. Paez came into the game having not allowed an earned run in 9.1 innings this season.
Guillorme and Rosario both walked to start the ninth but St. Lucie could not pull out a comeback. Rosario went 1 for 3 with two walks in the game, Guillorme went 1 for 2 with a walk and a sac bunt. Everyone in the Mets lineup had a a hit but Biondi had the only multiple hit game for St. Lucie as he went 2 for 4 while playing right field.
The St. Lucie Mets added relievers Mike Hepple and Kelly Secrest who were demoted from Binghamton as part of their bullpen shakeup.
Columbia (23-22) 14, Augusta 2
To read the full recap by Al Rabon the Fireflies lopsided victory click here.
