*All results from games played on Monday, July 29th, 2013*
AAA -Las Vegas 51s (59-48)__________________________________
GAME ONE
SACRAMENTO 3, LAS VEGAS 8 (Box) / 7 innings
The 51 bats knocked around the Sacramento River Cats (I guess so) for eight runs on eight hits to lead Vegas to victory in this double-header shortened game. Matt den Dekker led the way offensively, driving in three runs and scoring twice. We're still in small sample territory here but the early returns from den Dekker are encouraging, particularly the walk-rate (less so the K-rate).
- RF Kirk Nieuwenhuis: 1-2, 2 R, BB
- SS Ruben Tejada: 0-3, RBI, K
- 2B Wilmer Flores: 1-4, 2 RBI
- DH Jordany Valdespin: 1-4, R
- CF Matt den Dekker: 2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, 3B
- RHP Matt Fox: 5 IP, 7 H, R, ER, BB, 3 K
GAME TWO
SACRAMENTO 4, LAS VEGAS 10 (Box) / 7 innings
Jordany Valdespin continued to destroy triple A pitching in the nightcap, launching his third home run since his demotion to lead the 51s to a 10-4 victory and a sweep of the double-header. It's likely Valdespin was also the spark for a benches clearing altercation that occurred in the top of the 7th. JV1 was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the sixth--I can't imagine why--and that was followed up by Armando Rodriguez beaning Grant Green of the River Cats which incited both benches to clear, according to Robert Brender. Rodriguez and Wally Backman were ejected, but so was Valdespin. I'm not sure what this means but it certainly seems as though Valdespin is still the hothead he was when he flew off the handle and called Terry a cocksucker. Shocking, I know.
- CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis: 1-4, R, RBI, 2B, K
- DH Wilmer Flores: 2-3, R, 2 RBI
- 2B Jordany Valdespin: 1-3, R, 3 RBI, HR (3), K, HBP; In addition to homering and sparking a brawl, JV1 was named PCL Player of the Week for the week ended Sunday.
- 3B Zach Lutz: 2-4, R, K
- LF Matt den Dekker: 2-3, R, RBI
- RHP DJ Mitchell: 4 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 4 K
AA -Binghamton Mets (66-41)_____________________________________
NO GAME (SCHEDULE)
- RHP Noah Syndergaard: Syndy was named Eastern League Player of the Week for the week ended July 28th, during which he went 11 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 15 K.
Hi-A -St. Lucie Mets (19-14 / 56-44)________________________________________
TAMPA 4, ST. LUCIE 5 (Box)
TJ Chism seemingly blew this game in the top of the ninth but St. Lucie battled back to score two of their own in the bottom half of the inning and grab a 5-4 victory. Both Tampa runs scored from second base on singles to the rehabbing Lucas Duda in left field, who was unable to prevent these runs from scoring. Sounds like the Duda I know and have lukewarm feelings toward. Rainy Lara continued his solid but unspectacular run in high-A, allowing two runs over seven innings while walking none and striking out just three.
- CF Kyle Johnson: 1-5, R, 2B, 2 K
- 2B T.J. Rivera: 2-4, R, RBI, 2B, K
- Rehab Alert LF Lucas Duda: 1-4, 2B, RBI, K
- Rehab Alert RF Cory Vaughn: 0-4, K
- DH Jayce Boyd: 1-3, BB, K; Boyd has a 15:12 strikeout to walk ratio since the promotion.
- C Kevin Plawecki: 1-3, R, 2B, BB; Plaweck has a similarly solid 12:9 strikeout to walk ratio.
- SS Matt Reynolds: 0-3, IBB, K; Post all-star game breakout hasn't happened, came into tonight batting .221/.296/.347 since the break.
- RHP Rainy Lara: 7 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Lo-A -Savannah Sand Gnats(16-16 / 59-42)__________________________________
SAVANNAH 4, ASHEVILLE 5 (Box)
Savannah had three leads in this one but couldn't make any of them stick as they lost 5-4. Eudy Pina and Maikis De La Cruz had two hits each to help guide the offense. As I check out the ages of some of the players on the Kingsport and Brooklyn rosters, I come to appreciate guys like Pina and De La Cruz more than I had previously. Neither is going to make any waves on the off-season prospect lists but what they have done this season--making a full-season squad, posting solid triple slashes--is commendable.
- CF Brandon Nimmo: 1-5, R, 2B, 2 K; It has not been fun following Nimmo for the past couple months.
- RF Eudy Pina: 2-5, 2B, 2 K
- RF Maikis De La Cruz: 2-5, R
- LF Stefan Sabol: 1-4, R, RBI, HR (8), K
- SS Phillip Evans: 0-4
- RHP Jake Kuebler: 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, BB, 3 K
Short-A - Brooklyn Cyclones (20-20)____________________________________
HUDSON VALLEY 0, BROOKLYN 4 (Box)
- SS Gavin Cecchini: 0-4
- 2B L.J. Mazzilli: 2-4, K
- LF Jared King: 1-4, R
- 1B Matt Oberste: 2-3, 2 R, RBI, HR (2), BB
- DH Alex Sanchez: 1-3, R, 2B, BB
- LHP Carlos Valdez: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 3 K
- RHP Akeel Morris: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 2 K; Still rocking 0.00 ERA over his first 25 innings. He's clearly in a mini-piggyback role, having not tossed more than 4.1 innings in any game this season. The walks are high but slightly better than his previous stints and made more palatable by his 31 strikeouts.
Rk - Kingsport Mets (23-14)_____________________________
KINGSPORT 4, ELIZABETHTON 0 (Box)
- OF Bradley Marquez: DNP and apparently Texas Tech bound:
Also thank you @Kingsport_Mets for the send off I ll b keeping up with u guys. Texas Tech here I come #WreckEm#NoDaysOff🏈⚾
— Bradley Marquez (@BradMarquez_4) July 29, 2013 - 2B Jeff McNeil: 3-5, 2B
- RF Victor Cruzado: 1-5, 3 K
- LF Joe Tuschak: 2-5, RBI, 2 K
- SS Yeixon Ruiz: 2-5, 3 R
- 3B Richie Rodriguez: 0-3, RBI, BB
- RHP Martires Arias: 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K
Rk - GCL Mets (9-24)_______________________________
GCL METS 2, GCL CARDINALS 5 (Box)
- 1B Dominic Smith: 0-3, 2 BB, K; Bopping along at a line of .247/.364/.382. Really like the plate discipline he's displaying.
- RF Wilmer Bucerra: 0-4, BB, K
- CF Ivan Wilson: 1-3, BB, K
- LF Vicente Lupo: 1-4, R, RBI, HR (3), 3 K
- Rehab Alert C Travis d'Arnaud: 0-3, K
- RHP Gaither Bumgardner: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, K
Star of the Night
Matt den Dekker is widely regarded as the best defensive outfielder in the Mets' system, and that was sentiment when Juan Lagares was in the minors as well. If he can cut down on the K's--a big if at this point--he can be a contributor in the Bigs.
Goat of the Night
2013 draftee Gaither Bumgardner.
