Eveland Strikes Out Ten Over Six to Lead 51s to Sixth Straight

The 51s continued their winning ways behind Dana Eveland Saturday night in El Paso. Both offenses were hot and defenses were sloppy early, but things cooled down after the 3^rd as a tight game unfolded. Although charged with four runs, Eveland really only gave up the two hard hit balls – a homerun to Jonathon Galvez in the 1^st and the double to Francoeur off the RF wall in the 3^rd. He ended up with ten strikeouts against one walk, continuing his strong work as a starter for the 51s. El Paso starter Juan Pablo Oramas was not at his sharpest, lasting only three innings, but his defense did not help him any either, committing two errors and dropping a pop up in foul territory while he was on the mound, Buddy Carlyle, Zack Thornton and Vic Black kept the Chihuahua’s off the board the last three innings, preserving the lead for a 6^th straight win – they’ve won 10 of their last 11, all of these promotions have not slowed them down.

Cesar Puello got things started leading off the top of the first with a single before stealing second base. After Josh Satin failed to advance him, striking out while taking three pitches, it appeared he would end up stranded at 3B. However, El Paso SS Tyler Greene dropped Andrew Brown‘s routine pop up in shallow LF. The Chihuahua’s answered in the bottom of the 1^st with a long HR off the bat of 3B Jonathon Galvez, right over the Peter Piper Pizza Porch overhang. The 51s pieced together four hits in the top of the second to score a run, with Satin providing the RBI single on an infield hit that Greene did a good job just to get to – possibly prevented a second runner from scoring by getting to it. The Chihuahua’s got two back in the bottom of the inning thanks to back-to-back errors by the 51s middle infielder – I guess they’re missing Wilmer Flores and Eric Campbell after all. Both plays were routine groundballs that would have ended the inning, but both Daniel Muno and then Satin threw the ball too high to be caught. The 51s scored three runs in the top of the 3^rd on back-to-back balls that were smoked by Xorge Carrillo and then Brandon Allen, giving the 51s a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Carrillo lined one over the head of Rico Noel in CF, one-hopping the wall and driving in Lutz from 1B. On the throw home, Carrillo advanced to 3B, and then went home when El Paso C Adam Moore’s errant throw sailed into the OF. Brandon Allen followed with an absolute bomb of a HR to another zip code beyond RF. El Paso got their last run in the bottom of the 3^rd when Moore drove in Brooks Conrad with a sac fly. The 51s added an insurance run in the top of the 8^th thanks to a two out Puello run. After being hit by a pitch in his leg for the second time in the game, Puello quickly stole 2B for the second time. He would score when Allan Dykstra slapped a single into LF.

If Cesar Puello doesn’t keep starting everyday then I am going to be pretty confused and a little annoyed. He is the most exciting position prospect left at AAA, and the highest-level position prospect of note until Brandon Nimmo in St. Lucie. He is now 8-13 since Monday, with two doubles, a homerun, two walks, two stolen bases, three HBP, and only one strikeout. Or look at his ten May games - .357/.500/1.036 in 37 PA’s. I know they are small sample sizes, but they are nice small sample sizes, and he’s a 23 year old OF with power and good speed in AAA.

Looking ahead, the series wraps up with a 3:05 PM ET start Sunday afternoon. Logan Verrett starts for the 51s opposite Keyvius Sampson. Believe it or not, Verrett has a better FIP in Vegas than top prospect Thor, and recently promoted Rafael Montero and Jacob ∂eGrom, as his BB% and HR/9 have been the best in the group. His ERA hasn’t been as good as ∂eGrom’s, but it’s right there with Montero and Thor too. He reminds me of Dillon Gee when he was in AAA, not that I’m saying he could be Dillon Gee, especially not the version of Dillon Gee who’s been stranding runners at an elite rate the past year. Catch up with Verrett’s last start here. Sampson has had one bad start where he was charged with 9 ER this season but has otherwise been pretty lights out, allowing 1 ER or less five times, 2 ER once, and 3 ER (4 total) the other start – gave up 1 ER on four hits in four innings against Las Vegas April 20. The righties main problem appears to be a walk rate that’s just too high, as he has 24 walks in 38.1 IP.

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Sunday, May 18, 2014