51s Pen Blows It Again

Las Vegas 51s @ Albuquerque Isotopes

June 12, 2016

Duane Below @ Carlos Hernandez

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12		R	H	E
Las Vegas	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	0	1		4	11	3
Albuquerque	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	3		6	12	0

W: Flande (#-2, 4.38 ERA); L: Thornton (0-3, 6.44 ERA)

Boxscore

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Duane Below (3.51 ERA) – 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R (0 ER), 4 TB, 4 K (4 K/Sw), 10 GB: 4 FB: 3 LD, 88 Pitches (68 Strikes), 12 Swinging, 11 Called, 13.6% SwStr, 21.1% Whiff/Swing, 14.7 Pitches/IP, 22 BF

Chase Bradford (2.73 ERA) – 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 2B, 2 TB, 1 BB, 2 K (2 K/Sw), 3 GB: 1 FB, 21 Pitches (12 Strikes), 4 Swinging, 0 Called, 19% SwStr, 33.3% Whiff/Swing, 12.6 Pitches/IP, 8 BF

Josh Edgin (BS, 1, 0.00 ERA) – 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 TB, 2 GB, 3 Pitches (2 Strikes), 9 Pitches/IP, 2 BF

Paul Sewald (H, 2, 4.03 ERA) – 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 TB, 3 GB, 13 Pitches (8 Strikes), 2 Called, 19.5 Pitches/IP, 3 BF

Josh Smoker (BS, 2, 5.86 ERA) – 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 TB, 1 BB, 2 K (2 K/Sw), 4 GB: 1 FB: 2 LD, 37 Pitches (25 Strikes), 7 Swinging, 6 Called, 18.9% SwStr, 36.8% Whiff/Swing, 15.9 Pitches/IP, 10 BF

Zack Thornton (BS, 3)(L, 0-3, 6.44 ERA) – 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 HR, 6 TB, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 2 FB: 2 LD, 15 Pitches (11 Strikes), 2 Swinging, 2 Called, 13.3% SwStr, 22.2% Whiff/Swing, 22.5 Pitches/IP, 5 BF

Batters

SS - Gavin Cecchini - 1-5, 1 BB, 1 GIDP, 4% SwStr, 11.1% Whiff/Swing, 4.17 Pitches/PA

CF - Brandon Nimmo - 3-6, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 18.2% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 1.83 Pitches/PA

2B - Dilson Herrera - 1-5, 2 R, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 CS, 11.5% SwStr, 23.1% Whiff/Swing, 4.33 Pitches/PA

3B - T.J. Rivera - 1-5, 1 RBI, 1 SF, 1 K, 5.3% SwStr, 11.1% Whiff/Swing, 3.17 Pitches/PA

1B - Eric Campbell - 1-4, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, 17.4% SwStr, 50% Whiff/Swing, 3.83 Pitches/PA

LF - Ty Kelly - 3-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 3.4 Pitches/PA

PH – Marc Krauss - 1-1, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 Pitches/PA

Recapish

            In what has become an all too common pattern this season, the 51s took a late lead Sunday night only to see their pen blow it for a Las Vegas loss. The 51s actually had 3 late leads in this game, and the pen gave the runs right back each time.

            This game moved at a lightning quick pace while the starters were on the mound, although what else would you expect when a game is 1-0 after 7. Duane Below was very sharp, allowing only the unearned run in the 1^st after Eric Campbell simply missed catching the ball for the first out of the frame. The 51s had plenty of opportunities to tie this game up or even break it open against Isotopes starter Carlos Hernandez, but they just couldn’t come through with a big hit until after the pen took over.

            The most exciting part of the game for Mets fans came in the 8^th, when Brandon Nimmo and Dilson Herrera hit back-to-back triples to tie the game at 1. You can see from below that Nimmo’s was a true triple, while Herrera’s triple took a fortunate bounce and required a little extra hustle from Dilson. Unfortunately, the Isotopes would tie the game when Josh Edgin allowed an inherited runner to score in the bottom half of the frame.

            Ty Kelly had a huge game for Las Vegas, reaching base 4 times, but the 51s left him in scoring position the first 3 times he reached. He took a two out walk in the 9^th that led to a pitching change, and Marc Krauss greeted the new Isotopes reliever with a booming RBI double to CF that gave the 51s a 3-2 lead. Unfortunately, the Isotopes would tie the game when Josh Smoker allowed an inherited runner to score in the bottom half of the frame.

            Fast-forward to the 12^th and the 51s were again able to gain a one run advantage. This time Eric Campbell provided the RBI Soup to bring home Dilson and give Las Vegas a 4-3 edge. Manager Wally Backman then went to his 5^th reliever of the night, but Zack Thornton couldn’t get the job done either.

First, he gave up the lead, although his defense helped him do that. After a leadoff single, Brandon Barnes stole 2B and then advanced to 3B when Nevin Ashley’s throw went into CF. It wasn’t a bad throw, but nobody was covering the bag, and Gavin Cecchini couldn’t recover in time to save the throw from going into the outfield. Thornton would get the second out of the frame on a long fly out to LF, and it looked like this game would go on for at least one more frame, but then Tom Murphy launched his 7^th blast of the year to left center field to end the game.

After a disappointing series in Albuquerque, the 51s head home to host the Reno Aces this week. Gabriel Ynoa (7-1, 2.82 ERA) is scheduled to start the series opener, which is set for Monday night at 10:05 PM ET.

MiLB.tv Scoring Highlights

            Brandon Nimmo’s third straight 3-hit game started 2-2, as he singled in each of his first two AB’s - the second hit is shown from two angles.

            Gavin Cecchini’s first hit from the leadoff spot came in the 5^th inning.

            Nimmo and Dilson hit back-to-back triples with one out in the 8^th inning to get the 51s on the board. T.J. Rivera followed with a sac fly to give them a 2-1 lead.

            Marc Krauss doubled Ty Kelly home in the 9^th to give the 51s the lead back at 3-2.

            Dilson worked a one out walk in the 12^th, went to 2B on Rivera’s hit, and the scored on Eric Campbell’s first hit of the game.

MiLB.tv Defensive Highlights

            Brandon Nimmo had to go up the hill to make a catch in the first.

            T.J. Rivera ranged to his left for a nice play in the second.

            My Gavin Cecchini defense coverage has been light this season, but he was tested often in this one, so check out most of the balls hit his way. Brandon Nimmo had to go up the hill to make a catch in the first.

Pitcher Coverage

Duane Below

Table 1 – Below pitch stats by inning

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	Total
Total	21	11	14	12	14	16	88
Strikes	17	8	11	9	11	12	68
Swinging*	3	2	2	3	0	2	12

*13.6% Swinging strike rate; 21.1% Whiff/Swing

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— NASA (@NASA) June 13, 2016