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*All results from games played on Thursday, July 11th, 2013*
AAA - Las Vegas 51s (48-44)__________________________________
TUSCON 3, LAS VEGAS 11 (Box)
Wilmer Flores had four hits--including two home runs and a double--and drove in four runs to lead the 51s to an 11-3 victory over Tuscon last night. The huge night brings Flores up to .325/.361/.537. Of course, this game was played in Vegas so, obviously, the only reason he had a big night was because of the park. Matt den Dekker also got a boost from the park as he hit his second homer in as many nights. Rafael Montero somehow defied the run environment, tossing two perfect innings as he tuned up for the Futures game this weekend.
- CF Matt den Dekker: 2-5, 3 R, RBI, HR (2), 2 K, SB
- 2B Wilmer Flores: 4-5, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2B, 2 HR (12)
- 1B Zach Lutz: 1-3, R, RBI, HR (10), 2 BB
- DH Mike Baxter: 0-4, R, BB, K
- C Juan Centeno: 1-4
- SS Ruben Tejada: 2-5, R
- RHP Rafael Montero: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
AA - Binghamton Mets (48-28)_____________________________________
Game 1
BINGHAMTON 6, PORTLAND 5 (Box)
This was a continuation of suspended game from a couple weeks ago. They picked up action in the 3rd inning with Cory Mazzoni on the mound and the bad news came fast as he called for a trainer in the 4th, threw a warmup pitch, and then exited the game. It was later reported that the issue is with Mazzoni's knee and that he heard a pop, which does not sound encouraging. It would be a real shame if Mazzoni's season was derailed by another injury, especially because it seems he's taken a step forward this year with his stuff, including a reported bump in velocity.
As for the rest of the game, the B-Met All-Stars led the way to victory, with Josh Rodriguez, Cesar Puello, and Allan Dykstra combining to go 4-12 with three runs scored, four runs batted in, a home run, and two walks. The homer came from Dykstra, who remains in AA after the break. I'm not entirely sure what the point of keeping him in Binghamton is, at least from a developmental standpoint.
- 2B Danny Muno: 1-4, RBI, BB, K
- 3B Josh Rodriguez: 2-5, R, RBI
- RF-CF Cesar Puello: 1-4, R, RBI, BB, 2 K
- DH Allan Dykstra: 1-3, R, 2 RBI, BB, HR (13)
- RF-LF Travis Taijeron: 1-4, R, 2 K
- SS Wilfredo Tovar: 2-3, 2 R, BB
- RHP Cory Mazzoni: 1.1 IP, H, K
AA - Binghamton Mets (55-33)_____________________________________
Game 2
PORTLAND 0, BINGHAMTON 4 (Box) 7 innings
Similar to Rafael Montero, Noah Syndergaard was on an innings/pitch count due to his impending involvement in the Futures game this weekend, and--also similar to Montero--he was very good, striking out three and walking none in his two innings. The bats were hit or miss in game two, with 13 hits and 10 strikeouts in 31 plate appearances. There wasn't much power involved with the hits--all of them were of the single base variety.
- 2B Danny Muno: 2-3, 2 R, RBI, K
- 3B Josh Rodriguez: 3-4, RBI, K
- CF Darrell Ceciliani: 2-3, R, K
- RF Cesar Puello: 3-4, 2 RBI, K
- DH Allan Dykstra: 1-4, 2 K
- SS Wilfredo Tovar:0-2, K
- RHP Noah Syndergaard: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Hi-A - St. Lucie Mets (9-11 / 47-40)________________________________________
ST. LUCIE 7, CHARLOTTE 6 (Box)
The St. Lucie Mets held off a late rally to hang on for a 7-6 victory Thursday night. Hamilton Bennett allowed three runs in the bottom of the ninth and handed TJ Chism a runner on second and one out as he departed. The situation proved to be no problem for Chism, who was able to induce a pop-out and a ground out to end it. Kevin Plawecki had three hits to lead the offense but the star of the game for me was the recently acquired Kyle Johnson, who had a homer and two walks. Starter Matthew Bowman struggled with his command, issuing five walks while striking out four over five innings. After a hot start following his promotion to high A, Bowman has hit a bump in the road recently, issuing 9 walks and 6 earned runs over his last 10.2 innings.
- RF Kyle Johnson: 1-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, HR (1), K
- LF Dustin Lawley: 1-4, R, BB
- C Kevin Plawecki: 3-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI
- SS Matt Reynolds: 1-3, R, RBI, 2B
- DH Jayce Boyd: 1-5, 2 K
- 3B Robbie Shields: 2-4, 3B, RBI, K
- RHP Matthew Bowman: 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 4 K
Lo-A - Savannah Sand Gnats (7-10 / 52-37)__________________________________
AUGUSTA 9, SAVANNAH 1 (Box)
Matthew Koch has been a bit of an enigma this season. On the one hand, he came into tonight having struck out 65 batters over 69.2 innings while walking just 4. That is, of course, ridiculous. However, he's been hit fairly hard, as evidenced by his 4.26 ERA and 7 home runs allowed. One theory is that he must be just pumping fastballs into the zone, and while most batters in A ball can't catch up with a plus fastball, many can, and do. Welp, that was case Thursday night in Savannah, as Koch was rocked to the tune of 6 hits and 7 runs in just 1.2 innings. Brandon Nimmo continued his offensive struggles, striking out twice in four plate appearances. In addition to the increase in strikeouts, Nimmo has just two extra-base hits in his last 88 plate appearance. Toby Hyde recently addressed the issue of Nimmo's struggles. We shouldn't overreact to a relatively small sample that may in fact be related to an injury as well as just general growing pains. We can, however, frown and be sad about it.
- 2B Chad Zurcher: 1-4, K
- CF Brandon Nimmo: 1-4, 2 K
- LF Maikis De La Cruz: 1-3, 2B, RBI, BB
- 1B Cole Frenzel: 0-4, K
- RF Eudy Pina: 0-4, 2 K
- DH Stefan Sabol: 1-4, K
- SS Phil Evans: 0-3, K
- RHP Matthew Koch: 1.2 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Short-Season A - Brooklyn Cyclones (10-14)________________________________
Game 1
BROOKLYN 0, AUBURN 7 (Box)
This was a make-up of last night's game.
- CF Patrick Biondi: 0-3
- SS Juan Carlos Gamboa: 0-3, BB, K
- 2B L.J. Mazzilli: 1-3, BB
- LF Jared King: 1-4, K
- DH Alex Sanchez: 0-4, K
- DH Tomas Nido: 1-4, 2 K
- C Colton Plaia: 1-3
- RHP Kevin McGowan: 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, K
Game 2
BROOKLYN 4, AUBURN 3 (Box) 7 innings
- CF Patrick Biondi: 0-3, BB, K
- SS Ismael Tijerina: 3-4, R, RBI, K
- 2B L.J. Mazzilli: 1-4, 2B, K
- LF Jared King: 1-3, 2B, BB
- 1B Matt Oberste: 2-4, 2 R, RBI, K
- RHP Dario Alvarez: 5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, BB, K
- RHP Dawrin Frias: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 5 K
Rk - Kingsport Mets (8-12)_____________________________
POSTPONED (RAIN)
Rk - GCL Mets (3-13)________________________________________
Game 1
GCL CARDINALS 7, GCL METS 6 (Box)
- 1B Dominic Smith: 0-3, R, 2 BB, 2 K
- CF Ivan Wilson: 1-5, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 K
- 3B Jhoan Urena: 2-3, R, 2 RBI, 3B, BB
- LF Vicente Lupo: 1-1, 3 BB
- 2B Branden Kaupe: 0-4, 2 K
- SS Luis Guillorme: 1-4, K
- RHP Casey Meisner: 3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, BB, K
GCL METS 3, GCL CARDINALS 4 (Box)
Game 2
- SS Luis Guillorme: 2-5, K
- REHAB ALERT DH Cory Vaughn: 0-4, BB, K
- 1B Dominic Smith: 0-4, R, BB
- RF Wuilmer Becerra: 0-3, R, BB, 2 K
- LF Vicente Lupo: 0-2, K
- CF Ivan Wilson: 2-4, RBI, 2 K
- RHP Jose Celas: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
2013 Amazin' Avenue Mets Top 50 Prospect Rankings
The 21-year-old Flores checked in at the no. 6 spot on the latest AA Mets Prospect Rankings. (Photo Credit: Bryan Green)
Star of the Night
Wilmer Flores must have been angered by the Klaw chat yesterday and decided to take out his aggression on baseballs. Law describes Flores as "a prospect, but not a great one." He points to the fact that he doesn't think Flores will stick at second as well as his home/road splits as reason for his skepticism. I get all that, but I think the fact that he is just 21 should mitigate some of those concerns.
Goat of the Night
This has to go to Koch, who got torched in less than two innings.
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