Thor Strong but Bullpen Blows Pitchers Duel Late

Las Vegas 51s @ Tacoma Rainiers

May 5, 2014

Noah Syndergaard @ Andrew Carraway

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E	LOB
Las Vegas	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	X	2	5	0	7
Tacoma	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	X	3	13	1	11

MiLB.com box score

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Noah Syndergaard – 5.2 IP, 7 H, ER, 3 BB, 8 SO, 95 pitches, 61 strikes (64%), 26 batters faced, 4 groundouts, 3 fly outs

Batters

Andrew Brown – 2-4, outfield assist, which saved a run in the 8^th

Taylor Teagarden – 1-4, R, RBI, HR, 3 SO – solo HR to give 51’s the lead top 8

Astro's Play By Play

Recap:

            After these two teams wrapped up Sunday’s game, they had a full nine-inning game on tap, featuring Mets top prospect Noah Syndergaard. After watching Tacoma pitcher Andrew Carraway steal the show for the first couple of innings, I decided to look up where he ranked among Mariners prospects, only to not find him listed, as he’s a bit old to have top prospect status still, though you wouldn’t have guessed it Monday night. That is not to take anything away from Thor, who struck out seven over his last 3.2 IP, including the first two in the top of the 6^th inning. Was frustrating to see him taken out after giving up a single in the 6^th just because his pitch count had reached 95, but that’s how the Mets are handling these guys for now.  This game was a pitcher’s duel until the very end, when the Rainiers appeared to take the lead in the 8^th, the 51s did take the lead in the top of the 9^th, and then Jeff Walters did not retire a single batter blowing the game in the bottom of the 9^th.

            Though maybe not as impressive overall as in his previous start, Thor was still very good, and has put together three straight good AAA starts, including two against the PCL-best offense that Tacoma features (51s and Rainiers 1-2 in most categories). A very weird play on the base-paths in the 3^rd contributed to the run he gave up – Xavier Avery should have been a dead duck on the paths between 2^nd and 3^rd base after a pitch wasn’t handled perfect by Teagarden, but Avery broke for 3B as Teagarden threw to 2B, making it before a second throw could get to 3B. Wish there had been radar readings, but the stadium guns were turned off for some reason. Tweets from various individuals at the games (not sure if they were scouts or I’d post them here) had Thor hitting 98 MPH and 100 MPH.

            It looked like the biggest play of the game was going to be in the bottom of the 8^th, on something you don’t see too often. Leury Bonilla was on 2B when Endy Chavez roped a liner heading towards the RF corner, which appeared to be a double. Andrew Brown, who has been surprisingly good in RF for the 51s, cut the ball off and made a great throw into 2B to get Chavez. Bonilla had been watching the play as he jogged down the 3B line, expecting Chavez to be safe and that he would score without a problem. Except, Chavez was tagged out, and Bonilla hadn’t crossed home plate yet, so the run didn’t count. I felt bad watching Bonilla standing near home plate before the feed cut to the stadium screen (that and fans in the stands are what MiLB.tv shows on commercial breaks – your kiss cam appearances and ‘awesome’ baseball stands dancing are, in fact, being seen online lol), he looked like the little kid who made a crucial mistake because he didn’t actually know what to do and is about to cry. Bonilla knew what to do there, and I imagine he will never make that mistake again.

As I said, the mistake look particularly bad after Taylor Teagarden hit a HR that just stayed fair down the LF line gave the 51s a lead in the next half inning. However, Jeff Walters continued his rough series against Tacoma by not recording an out among the five batters he faced in the bottom of the 9^th. Rainiers went single, single, single, walk (tie game), and then Ty Kelly walked in the winning run. It was a perfectly Metsian way to lose, which means Jeff Walters must be on his way to Citi Field. Sigh.

Looking ahead, the 51s play Tuesday night in Utah against the Salt Lake Bees. Dana Eveland is scheduled to pitch for Las Vegas, after his weekend start never happened, opposite Jarrett Grube, who is coming off a very strong 8.1 IP in his last start. Starting Eveland allows the 51s to push everyone else back a day, which is a good thing for staying fresh later in the season. First pitch in game one of the four game series is scheduled for 8:35 PM ET at Smith’s Ballpark. Looking forward to how they do MiLB.tv coverage in Salt Lake City!