Mets Daily Farm Report, June 25, 2014: Tennessee-ya!

*All results from games played on Tuesday, June 24^th, 2014

Triple-A - Las Vegas 51's (47-32)_______________________________________

MEMPHIS 8, LAS VEGAS 10 (Box)

With a feel-good come-from-behind victory against the Redbirds, the 51s have won seven of their last eight games, and are 7-for-8 against teams from Tennessee. In the early going, it looked like Memphis was going to split the four game series, building up an 8-3 bulge after four innings. There's a reason Las Vegas has the best record in the Pacific Coast League, and the second only to the Syracuse Chiefs in all of AAA-level baseball- you can never count them out.

Reliever Heath Wyatt practically invited Las Vegas to mount a comeback in the 5^th, issuing four free passes. After issuing two walks, he got Cory Vaughn to ground into a double play, but Memphis wasn't as lucky when he issued his next two, loading the bases up- Juan Centeno lined a hit off of lefty Justin Wright- no relation to David, but coincidentally, another Virginian- into center for two runs. Brandon Allen pinch hit for John Church next, and he drove in another run- while the move worked out, it kind of makes you wonder: why Allen? He's hitting lefties well this season (.294/.410/.529 in 61 PAs), but his track record is very up-and-down; why not insert into the game someone who has more consistently hit lefties just as well, if not better?

With the bullpen holding the fort down, the combo of Centeno and a pinch hitter burned the Redbirds once again, this time in the 7^th. After the catcher drove another line drive into the outfield, Matt den Dekker was called to pinch hit. He smashed the first pitch he saw over the right field wall, a no-doubt-about-it home run that tied the game 8-8. After Vaughn flashed the leather in the top of the 8^th to keep the game tied, the 51s took the lead for the first time in the game in the bottom of the inning. Cory Vaughn drove in Andrew Brown and was himself driven in by Allan Dykstra. Buddy Carlyle gave up a hit to Minor League Guy to start the top of the 9^th, but he was able to get a fly ball out and a double play to end the game.

• 2B-3B Danny Muno: 1-4, R, BB, K
• SS Matt Reynolds: 2-4, 2 R, 2 2B, BB, 2 K
• RF Andrew Brown: 2-3, 2 R, 2B, 2 BB, RBI
• 3B-1B Josh Satin: 1-4, BB, K, RBI, E (7)
• CF Cory Vaughn: 1-5, K, 2 RBI
• 1B Allan Dykstra: 1-4, R, BB, K, RBI
• LF Anthony Seratelli: 1-4, R, 2B, BB, 2 K; Don't ask, I don't get it, either
• C Juan Centeno: 2-3, R, BB, 2 RBI
• PH Brandon Allen: 1-1, RBI
• PH Matt den Dekker: 1-1, R, HR (6), 2 RBI
• LHP Darin Gorski: 3 IP, 6 H, 6 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 1 K
• RHP Ryan Reid: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, E (1)
• RHP John Church: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K
• RHP Chase Bradford: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K
• RHP Buddy Carlyle: 2 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 0 K

Double-A - Binghamton Mets (45-32)_____________________________________

READING 0, BINGHAMTON 2 (Box)

Four Binghamton pitchers combined to shutout the Fightin' Phils last night in front of roughly 2,000 paid attendees. Greg Peavey went six innings, allowing four hits, while relievers Randy Fontanez, Adam Kolarek, and Cody Satterwhite combined to throw the final three. Severino Gonzalez, the Reading starter, was a real hard luck loser. He had yet to allow any baserunners before Dustin Lawley walked and Brandon Nimmo went yard in the 5^th to give Binghamton a 2-0 lead- the first oppo taco of his career! The B-Mets made those two baserunners count, parlaying them into their seventh win in their last eight games. They look to sweep the Phillies' affiliate tonight, on fireworks night.

• REHAB ALERT CF Juan Lagares: 0-4, 3 K
• SS Dilson Herrera: 0-3, K, E (1)
• 2B Brian Burgamy: 0-3
• 1B Matt Clark: 0-2, HBP
• 3B Dustin Lawley: 0-2, R, BB, K
• LF Brandon Nimmo: 1-3, R, HR (1), 2 RBI
• C Xorge Carrillo: 1-3, K
• RF Kyle Johnson: 0-3, K
• RHP Greg Peavey: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K, WP, HB
• RHP Randy Fontanez: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K
• LHP Adam Kolarek: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K
• RHP Cody Satterwhite: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K, WP, HB

Advanced-A - St. Lucie Mets (4-2 / 44-31)_____________________________________

ST. LUCIE 4, JUPITER 6 (Box)

Luis Cessa just did not have it last night from the get go. He gave up four runs on five hits in the bottom of the 1^st, navigated out of a base runner at second in the 2^nd, and then gave up a run in the 3^rd and 4^th to put St. Lucie in an early 6-1 hole. The offense came alive late, scoring a run in the 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th, but Jupiter relievers Casey McCarthy and Reid Redman shut them down in the 8^th and 9^th to stop the comeback. Still, they took the series, and they'll look to keep that momentum going against rivals Fort Myers

• SS Gavin Cecchini: 2-4, R, BB, K, RBI, SB (2), E (2)
• LF Maikis De La Cruz: 1-5, 2 K, 2 RBI
• 2B L.J. Mazzilli: 1-3, R, HR (2), BB, K, RBI
• DH Jairo Perez: 0-4, K
• 1B Aderlin Rodriguez: 0-4, 3 K
• CF Gilbert Gomez: 0-4, 4 K; Golden sombrero
• RF Eudy Pina: 3-4, 2 R, 2 2B, K
• C Albert Cordero: 1-4, K
• 3B Jeff McNeil: 1-4, K
• RHP Luis Cessa: 5 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• RHP Julian Hilario: 2 IP, 0 B, 1 BB, 2 K
• RHP Jake Kuebler: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K

Low-A - Savannah Sand Gnats (3-3 / 47-25)__________________________________

GAME ONE

SAVANNAH 1, CHARLESTON 6 (Box)

Ricky Knapp gave up a run in the bottom of the 1^st, but the Sand Gnats got that run right back, scoring a run of their own off of RiverDog starter Caleb Smith in the top of the 2^nd. The score stayed tied for most of the rest of the game, both teams getting their fair share of base runners but neither able to get that important run across the plate. With a high pitch count, Knapp was sent back to the mound to work the bottom of the 6^th, and that decision cost Savannah dearly. After getting the first out, he allowed a single and Gosuke Katoh RBI double. He got one more out, but was pulled in favor of John Mincone after walking Paul's nephew, Michael O'Neill. Mincone promptly gave up an RBI single and a three-run home run, turning what was a close game into a no-doubt victory for Charleston.

• CF Champ Stuart: 1-3, BB, K, SB (7)
• RF Patrick Biondi: 1-4, K
• DH Jonathan Leroux: 1-4, 2B, K
• 3B Nelfi Zapata: 0-4, K, E (2)
• 1B Dom Smith: 2-3, R, 2B; He might be a bit overshadowed by Nimmo, Plawecki, and Herrera, but Dom is holding his own in Savannah- excelling even
• 2B Jorge Rivero: 0-2, BB, K
• LF Stefan Sabol: 0-3
• SS Yeixon Ruiz: 2-3, 3B, K, RBI, E (1)
• C Jeff Glenn: 0-3, K
• RHP Ricky Knapp: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R (3 ER), 4 BB, 1 K
• RHP John Mincone: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR

GAME TWO

SAVANNAH 2, CHARLESTON  (Box)

The make-up game from Monday saw Dario Alvarez reach double-digit strikeouts in less than six innings of work for the second time this season. The left-hander allowed two hits and a walk in four plus innings of work while striking out ten. He struck out the side in the 4^th, getting Dustin Fowler and Eduardo de Oleo swinging and Reymond Nunez looking. In total, six of his strikeouts were swinging, while the other four were looking. Hunter Carnevale replaced Alvarez in the 5^th and kept the shutout going, and Akeel Morris finished things, earning his fifth save of the year by striking out the side- two swinging and one looking- in the 9^th. Jorge Rivero's double in the 2^nd inning gave Savannah the lead, and Matt Oberste scored on a wild pitch in the 9^th to give them an insurance run they ultimately wouldn't need- a classic case of stat padding.

• LF Patrick Biondi: 0-3, 2 K
• SS Yeixon Ruiz: 1-3
• RF Victor Cruzado: 1-3, K, SB (5)
• DH Dom Smith: 0-3, K
• 1B Matt Oberste: 2-3, 2 R
• 3B Jorge Rivero: 1-3, 2B, K, RBI
• C Colton Plaia: 1-3, K
• CF Champ Stuart: 0-3
• 2B Jonathan Johnson: 0-3
• LHP Dario Alvarez: 4.1 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 10 K; I just can't get on the Alvarez bandwagon, not yet.
• RHP Hunter Carnevale: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K
• RHP Akeel Morris: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K, SV (5); Not sure which I like better, the microscopic ERA, miniscule BAA, or the 5:1 K:BB ratio

Short-A - Brooklyn Cyclones (8-4)__________________________________

BROOKLYN 3, HUDSON VALLEY 6 (Box)

Brooklyn stopped Hudson Valley's momentum last week, and now it seems that turnabout is fair play, as the Cyclones dropped another one to the Renegades. Starter Alberto Baldonado got whacked around for six runs on eight hits. The Cyclones were initially able to keep pace with Hudson Valley, as they tied the score 2-2 in the top of the 2^nd inning, but Baldonado's struggles, combined with stingy pitching from Hudson Valley's hurlers from that point on, doomed Brooklyn. The only other run they scored was a Jhoan Urena solo shot in the 4^th, his second of the season. With the two-game series in the rear view mirror, the Cyclones will look to start a new winning streak, with the 1-11 Aberdeen IronBirds as their first victims.

• CF Tucker Tharp: 0-4, 2 K
• SS Amed Rosario: 3-4, E (5)
• C Tyler Moore: 1-4, K, E (1)
• DH Michael Katz: 0-4, K
• RF Michael Bernal: 0-4, R, K, SB (5)
• 3B Jhoan Urena: 2-4, 2 R, HR (2), 2 K, 2 RBI
• LF Joe Tuschak: 2-4, K
• 1B Jeff Diehl: 1-4, K, RBI
• 2B  Anthony Chavez: 0-3, 2 K
• LHP Alberto Baldonado: 2.2 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• RHP Brandon Welch: 3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 K, 2 WP
• RHP Josh Prevost: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K
• LHP Brad Wieck: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K

Rookie - Kingsport Mets (3-3)__________________________________

BLUEFIELD 5, KINGSPORT 6 (Box)

Kingsport came back in the bottom of the 9^th to snatch a victory away from the Bluefield Blue Jays, bringing their record on the young season to an even 3-3. Bluefield scored three runs off of starter Andrew Massie in the top of the 1^st, and one more in the 3^rd, giving them an early lead. Kingsport chipped away, scoring in the bottom of the 1^st, and then in the 5^th and 7^th innings to make it a close 4-3 game. Bluefield scored an insurance run in the top of the 9^th, giving them a two run lead with the Mets down to their last three outs. The rookies came through, though. With Luis Guillorme and Brandon Brosher on base, Pedro Perez lined a two out line drive into center that scored them both and tied the game. The next batter, Wuilmer Becerra, lined a hit of his own into right that scored Perez and won the game.

• 2B Branden Kaupe: 1-4, R, BB, K
• SS Luis Guillorme: 1-4, 2 R, BB, 2 K, E (4)
• 3B Eudor Garcia: 1-4, 2 K, HBP, E (1)
• DH Brandon Brosher: 2-4, R, BB, K
• CF-LF Oswald Caraballo: 1-5, 2 K, RBI
• 1B Pedro Perez: 2-5, R, 2 2B, K, 2 RBI, E (1)
• RF Wuilmer Becerra: 2-5, K, RBI
• LF Vicente Lupo: 0-0, BB, SB (2), 2 E (1, 2)
• LF Jean Rodriguez: 1-3, R, K
• C Miguel Leal: 2-4
• RHP Andrew Massie: 6 IP, 5 H, 4 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 4 K, WP, BLK
• RHP Martires Arias: 3 IP, 0 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 6 K, BLK

Rookie - GCL Mets (3-1)__________________________________

GCL METS 17, GCL MARLINS 2 (Box)

The best way to guarantee a win? Score eleven runs in the 8^th inning. The GCL Mets get some points off for allowing two runs in the bottom of the 9^th to lose the shutout.

• CF John Mora: 1-4, 3 R, BB, K, SB (3)
• REHAB ALERT SS Phil Evans: 2-3, K, E (1)
• SS Milton Ramos: 1-3, R, K
• DH Alfredo Reyes: 1-6, R, 2B, K, 3 RBI
• 1B Dash Winningham: 2-4, 3 R, BB, 2 RBI
• RF Hengelbert Rojas: 2-5, 3 R, BB
• C Dionis Rodriguez: 2-4, 2 R, 2B, K, 2 RBI
• 3B Gregory Valencia: 2-5, 2 R, 2 2B, K, 2 RBI
• LF-CF Enmanuel Zabala: 2-4, R, K, 3 RBI
• 2B William Fulmer: 3-5, R, 2B, 2 RBI, CS (1)
• REHAB ALERT RHP Dillon Gee: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K
• LHP Blake Taylor: 4 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 7 K, HB, BLK; Not a bad debut
• LHP Kevin Canelon: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K
• RHP Dan Herrmann: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
• RHP Nabil Crismatt: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K

Star of the Night

Call me crazy, and maybe it's the heat of the moment, but I'm going to give the Star of the Night to Matt den Dekker, for his game-tying pinch-hit home run. Dario Alvarez and his ten strikeouts certainly were impressive, but den Dekker's one-and-only swing of the night completely changed the momentum of the 51s game.

Goat of the Night

I should give it to Dan Herrmann for allowing a pair of runs in the 9^th inning of a 17-0 route, but John Mincone is going to be our goat, because, unlike Herrmann, the runs he gave up really mattered, and put a comeback out of reach for Savannah.