Mets Daily Farm Report - 7/19/13: deGrom and den Dekker lead 51s, Flores to DL

*All results from games played on Thursday, July 18th, 2013*

AAA - Las Vegas 51s (50-46)__________________________________

LAS VEGAS, RENO (Box)

Jacob deGrom allowed two runs over six and a third strong innings to lead the 51s to a 3-2 win Thursday night. For someone who started the year in high A St. Lucie, it's pretty impressive what deGrom has been able to accomplish thus far in AAA. The strikeout numbers aren't great, but the strikeout to walk ratio is good and his ERA is just an even 3. deGrom needs to be protected from the Rule V draft this off-season so he is definitely someone who figures into the plans for next season, either as a bullpen piece or a spot starter. Wilmer Flores sat this one out, still bothered by the ankle he injured just before the all-star break. He also was placed on the 7-day DL, so don't expect him to be back in the lineup for a few days.

• LF Mike Baxter: 0-5, 2 K
  
• SS Ruben Tejada: 2-5, R
  
• 3B Zach Lutz: 1-4, K
  
• 2B Jordany Valdespin: 2-4, 2 RBI, SB, CS
  
• CF Matt den Dekker: 1-3, R, RBI, HR (3), BB, K
  
• RHP Jacob deGrom: 6.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
  

AA - Binghamton Mets (59-36)_____________________________________

BINGHAMTON 4, NEW BRITAIN 3 (Box)

Mark Cohoon had a big challenge Thursday night, facing a New Britain squad featuring highly touted prospect Miguel Sano, whose power is thought to be among the best in the minor leagues. Cohoon was game for the challenge, pitching into the eighth, allowing 3 runs while striking out five, walking none, and, somehow, retiring Sano three times. And while Cohoon's performance was commendable, I probably buried the lede because Binghamton rallied from a two run, two-out, none-on deficit in the top of the ninth to win, 4-3. Justin Turner got things started with a single before advancing to the second on a wild pitch. A Josh Rodriguez walk followed by an Allan Dykstra single scored Turner and put the tying run on second. Cesar Puello then drew a walk--his fourth in his last 10 games (baby steps)--to load the bases, setting the stage for Rhyne Hughes who embraced the moment and singled to drive in both the tying and go-ahead runs. Jeff Walters came on for the ninth and was able to retire Sano along with two other batters to record the save.

• 2B Daniel Muno: 0-2, RBI, K
• LF Darrell Cecilliani: 2-3, R, 2B, K
• REHAB ALERT SS Justin Turner: 1-4, R
  
• 3B Josh Rodriguez: 0-2, R, 2 BB, K
• DH Allan Dykstra: 2-4, RBI, K
• RF Cesar Puello: 0-3, BB, 2 K; Being fed a steady diet of sliders according to Jeff Paternostro, who was in attendance. If there's a reason Puello is still in AA, this is one of them. We need to see how he adjusts to the league adjusting to him.
  
• CF Alonzo Harris: 0-2
  
• LHP Mark Cohoon: 7 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 5 K
  

Hi-A - St. Lucie Mets (14-11 / 51-41)________________________________________

ST LUCIE 2, BREVARD COUNTY 3 (Box)/10

This game started off well enough--the first two batters reached base and Jayce Boyd drove them in with a double--but ended limply with the St. Lucie Mets managing just four singles over the next 30 outs. Tim Byrdak--on rehab duty--got knocked around in the bottom of the 10th to end the misery and hand St. Lucie a 3-2 loss. Matthew Bowman had a solid outing, allowing one earned run over seven innings. It was a nice bounce-back performance after issuing five walks in his last start.

• RF Kyle Johnson: 1-3, R
• DH Jayce Boyd: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI
  
• LF Dustin Lawley: 1-4, 2 K
  
• C Kevin Plawecki: 1-4
  
• SS Matt Reynolds: 0-4, K
  
• RHP Matthew Bowman: 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Lo-A - Savannah Sand Gnats (10-14 / 53-40)__________________________________

SAVANNAH 3, WEST VIRGINIA 5 (Box)

Despite two hits from the struggling Brandon Nimmo, the Sand Gnats fell in West Virginia, 5-3. Nimmo walked and struck out twice to go along with his two hits. With the recent spate of strikeouts, coupled with observations of decreased bat speed and a lingering hand injury, it might make sense to shut Nimmo down for a few weeks.

• 2B Chad Zurcher: 0-4, BB, 3 K
  
• CF Maikis De La Cruz: 2-4, R, 2B
  
• LF Stefan Sabol: 1-4, RBI
  
• 1B Cole Frenzel: 1-4, R, 2 K
  
• CF Brandon Nimmo: 2-4, RBI, BB, 2 K
  
• DH Eudy Pina: 0-3, R, K
  
• RHP Marcos Camarena: 6 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
  

Short-A - Brooklyn Cyclones (13-17)

MAHONING VALLEY 6, BROOKLYN 2 (Box)

This game was broadcast on SNY and was a dull affair, lacking in observable talent to my untrained eye. One observation I was able to make; Dawrin Frias looks a lot like Bartolo Colon. Don't trust the MiLB photo, trust me.

• CF Patrick Biondi: 0-3, BB, 2 K
  
• 2B L.J. Mazzilli: 1-4, 2B, 2 K
  
• 1B Matt Oberste: 0-4
  
• DH Alex Sanchez: 1-4
  
• RF James Roche: 1-4, 2B, RBI, 2 K
  
• C Tomas Nido: 2-4
  
• 3B Anthony Chavez: 2-4, RBI, 2 K, E (9); noticeably bad defender
• LHP Dario Alvarez: 5 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
  

Rk - Kingsport Mets (11-12)_____________________________

GAME ONE

DANVILLE 2, KINGSPORT 12 (Box)/7

• 3B Yeixon Ruiz: 0-4, R
  
• LF Victor Cruzado: 1-3, 2 R, RBI BB
  
• RF Jeff Diehl: 1-3, 2 R, BB, K
  
• SS Amed Rosario: 1-3, K, CS (3)
  
• CF Bradley Marquez: 1-3, R, 2B, K
• C Jeyckol De Leon: 1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR (2), BB
  
• RHP Robert Whalen: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, BB, 7 K

GAME TWO

DANVILLE 5, KINGSPORT 8 (Box)/7

• 3B Yeixon Ruiz: 2-4, 2 R, RBI
  
• RF Victor Cruzado: 0-2, 2 BB
  
• PH-3B Pedro Perez: 1-1, R, BB
• CF Bradley Marquez: 2-3, 2 R, RBI, 2B, K
• LF Joe Tuschak: 2-3, R, 3 RBI, 3B, HR (2)
  
• RHP Martires Aria: 4 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

Rk - GCL Mets (6-17)_______________________________

GCL CARDINALS 1, GCL METS 6 (Box)/7

• DH Luis Guillorme: 0-2, 2 BB
  
• 1B Dominic Smith: 1-1, 2 RBI, BB
  
• LF Vicente Lupo: 0-3, 2 K
• REHAB ALERT LF Cory Vaughn: 0-1, R, RBI, BB, K
  
• 2B Branden Kaupe: 1-3, R
• RHP Marcos Molina: 7 IP, 5, R, ER, BB, K
  

Star of the Night

The star of the night goes to Matt den Dekker, who homered and walked in four plate appearances. In an extremely small sample den Dekker has been drawing walks at a solid clip. Of course, he's been striking out at a solid clip as well. His strikeout rate is probably the single most important thing to monitor going forward. If he can put bat to ball and strikeout less the 25% of the time, his defense and pop should be able to make him a positive contributor in the majors.

Goat of the Night

I'm going with Vicente Lupo, not so much for his 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, but more for his .185/.260/.277 line thus far. Too soon to draw conclusions, but it's possible it's unwise to get excited about DSL stats. Likewise, it's probably unwise to get worked up about GCL stats, especially 67 at-bats worth.

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