(TCPalm.com/Helene Haessler)
Las Vegas 6, Fresno 4
The Las Vegas 51s defeated the Fresno Grizzlies after a walk off two-run homer by Marc Krauss. Full report will be provided by Jenny Nieves.
Binghamton, New Hampshire Postponed
Game was postponed. No worries, there’s still 140 left.
St Lucie 6, Jupiter 5
The St. Lucie Mets led off the season with an exciting win in the bottom of the 9th. Marlins’ High-A affiliate Jupiter struck first with a run in the first off a double misplayed by Champ Stuart, and then an RBI single. St. Lucie tied in the bottom half with a walk by 2nd Baseman Luis Guillorme, who was driven in by a double Left Fielder John Mora. Hammerheads untied the game after a dropped ball by Wuilmer Becerra, that extended the inning, and then a run scoring on a single. No more scoring happened until the 6th inning, where Jupiter scored 2 on a Triple and then a fielding error by Rosario.
Jimmy Duff came in to relieve Kevin McGowan and induced a beautifully turned double play of Rosario and Guillorme to end the frame. Then St. Lucie came out firing with catcher Tomas Nido getting hit by a pitch and was immediately driven in by 3rd baseman Jhoan Urena‘s double. After a ground out and strikeout by Becerra and Stuart, Guillorme and Rosario both singled. Rosario then stole to give them runners on second and third with both scoring first baseman Michael Katz‘s single. Jupiter scored in the next inning on 3 singles. St. Lucie and Jupiter stayed tied until the bottom of the ninth when Amed Rosario sent a deep fly ball on his third pitch to the opposite field for a walk-off blast.
Hello Port St. Lucie, "allow me to reintroduce myself!" #DontBeSurprisedBeReady #GreatTeamWin #LGM #LoveMyTeammates pic.twitter.com/LdRF4nE5Iz
— Amed Rosario (@Amed_Rosario) April 8, 2016
Top Offensive Performances were supplied by both shortstops Guillorme (2 for 4, BB, RBI) being a spark plug, and Rosario (3 for 5, HR, SB), with Rosario getting the nod with the walk-off home run. 3B Urena had two walks and an RBI double. Catcher Tomas Nido went 2 for 3 with a hit by pitch.
Seton Hall product Josh Prevost had trouble with his command lasting only 3.2 innings, giving up six hits and two runs, one earned. He also struck out six with a few coming on good sliders. Kevin McGowan followed and gave up two runs in 1.2 innings, while Jimmy Duff gave up a run and five hits in 1.2 innings. Robert Coles finished the game out with two scoreless innings despite loading the bases with nobody out in the top of the 9th.
Charleston 5, Columbia 4
When you want to start out a new franchise, you want to set the tone. The Columbia Fireflies sure didn’t do a good job after blowing a 3-run lead in the bottom of the 9th to lose their first ever game. Chase Ingram looked great, slinging a very pretty curveball that got him many swings and misses against the Yankees’ A-ball Affiliate, the Charleston Riverdogs. In the 2nd inning, 3rd Baseman David Thompson delivered the first ever Firefly hit in history with a single to left field. In the 4th inning Columbia’s bats came alive with a couple of singles by 2B Vinny Siena, and 1B Dash Winningham. A wild pitch scored Siena for the first run in team history and then two batters later, C Tyler Moore singled in Winningham.
After left fielder Vicente Lupo was hit by pitch, SS Milton Ramos drove in a third run on a opposite field ground ball single. Ingram kept Charleston scoreless for the first 4 innings, before being relieved by Craig Missigman, who was very wild, throwing only 18 of 38 pitches for strikes. Missigman gave up a run on a bases-loaded walk in the 5th, but retired the next person on a fly ball to center fielder Ivan Wilson who made a sparkling leaping catch to limit the damage.
In the 6th, Columbia tacked on a 4th run when the DH J.C. Rodriguez scored on a opposite field line drive single by Ramos. Ramos also turned an excellent double play on the bottom of the 6th, with a diving snag of a line drive, and then doubled off the runner at first.
In the Bottom of the 9th, trouble ensued as the Fireflies Closer RHP Alex Palsha came on for the 3-run save giving up 2 walks and an RBI single. He then walked another two batters, including one home, before RHP Johnny Magliozzi allowed two to score on a pickoff play, allowing a Riverdogs walkoff. Magliozzi had the bases loaded with two outs with a full count and the Fireflies winning 4-3 when he stepped off and had the runner from second caught way off the base. Magliozzi stepped toward the runner at second while the runner from third took off for home and he threw home so wildly it allowed both runners to score. Ending the game in devastating fashion for the first game in Fireflies history.
Top Performances include Siena, (2 for 4, 2B) and Ramos (2 for 4, two RBI) who made several great plays at shortstop.
Chase Ingram did great on the mound (4 IP, 2 H, 7 K), as did LHP reliever Seth Davis (2 IP, BB, 2 K).
