51s Take Finale For 4-Game Series Win In Salt Lake

Las Vegas 51s @ Salt Lake Bees

June 20, 2016

Rafael Montero @ Nate Smith

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Las Vegas	0	2	1	0	0	0	4	0	1	8	10	1
Salt Lake	1	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	1	5	10	1

W: Montero (3-4, 5.78 ERA); L: Broussard (1-2, 7.11 ERA)

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Rafael Montero (W, 3-4, 5.78 ERA) – 6.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R (4 ER), 3 2B, 1 HR, 14 TB, 1 BB, 3 K (3 K/Sw), 10 GB: 7 FB: 4 LD: 1 PU, 88 Pitches (62 Strikes), 4 Swinging, 15 Called, 4.5% SwStr, 8.5% Whiff/Swing, 13.2 Pitches/IP, 27 BF

Josh Edgin (H, 4, 0.00 ERA) – 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 TB, 1 BB, 3 K (1 K/Sw), 2 GB, 28 Pitches (15 Strikes), 2 Swinging, 7 Called, 7.1% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 21 Pitches/IP, 6 BF

Jeff Walters (8.24 ERA) – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 TB, 1 BB, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 1 GB: 1 FB, 18 Pitches (11 Strikes), 2 Swinging, 4 Called, 11.1% SwStr, 28.6% Whiff/Swing, 18 Pitches/IP, 4 BF

Batters

LF - Brandon Nimmo - 1-4, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 14.3% SwStr, 30% Whiff/Swing, 4.2 Pitches/PA

1B - Eric Campbell - 1-2, 2 R, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 8.7% SwStr, 40% Whiff/Swing, 4.6 Pitches/PA

DH - Johnny Monell - 2-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 K, 5% SwStr, 11.1% Whiff/Swing, 4 Pitches/PA

RF - Travis Taijeron - 2-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 13% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 4.6 Pitches/PA

CF - Roger Bernadina - 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 1 SB, 13% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 4.6 Pitches/PA

C - Nevin Ashley - 2-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 K, 10.5% SwStr, 33.3% Whiff/Swing, 3.8 Pitches/PA

2B - Danny Muno - 1-4, 1 K, 8.3% SwStr, 16.7% Whiff/Swing, 3 Pitches/PA

Recapish

The Las Vegas 51s won their third straight game in Salt Lake to take the uncommon 4-game series win on the road Monday night. The 51s got some timely hitting and key performances out of the pen, which is not how the script was going just a few weeks ago.

For 51s starter Rafael Montero, the final line wasn’t pretty again, but there were finally some positive results to take from this start. First of all, he threw 70% strikes, which speaks to how well he was attacking the zone. Second, he was hitting 95-97 MPH throughout, which Wally Backman confirms here and I detail below. He’s been more 91-94 throughout the season, with most of his heaters coming on the lower end of that range.

All of Montero’s problems can be traced to two Bees batters in particular: Ji-Man Choi and Quintin Berry. Choi hit a solo blast to RF in the 1^st inning, added a sac fly in the 3^rd, made a nice over the shoulder catch near the stands in the top of the 6^th, and then hit a ground-rule double off the left-center warning track in the bottom half of the 6^th. Berry hit a pair of doubles off of Montero, though he only came around to score the 1^st time.

The 51s built up a 3-1 lead against Nate Smith early, but he settled down during the middle innings and left with a 4-3 lead after 6. The Bees took their 4-3 lead in the bottom of the 6^th inning but it didn’t even last one out in the 7^th. Eric Campbell tied the game with an RBI single and then Johnny Monell muscled up for a 3R blast to RF, which proved to be the difference in this game.

After being handed a 7-4 lead, Montero went out and was quick to get the first two outs of the frame, but Wally Backman came to get his starter after Berry’s second double of the game.

Josh Edgin finished off the 7^th with a strikeout and then froze the last two batters of the 8^th with a pair of runners on base. With the aid of a defensive indifference, the Bees got one back against Jeff Walters in the 9^th, but he held on for the win.

With this series wrapped up the 51s travel to Reno to open a series with the Aces. Logan Verrett is set to make his second start for the 51s this season, with first pitch scheduled for 10:05 PM.m

Game ender:

MiLB.tv Scoring Highlights

Travis Taijeron led off the 2^nd with a single and came around to score on a throwing error. Nevin Ashley was credited with a single on the play, and Taijeron was able to come around and score from 1B. He would’ve been out at home if the catcher held onto the ball, but he didn’t, which proved to be a two run swing for Las Vegas. That would’ve been the second out, but instead a Niuman Romero sac fly brought Ashley home for a 2-1 Las Vegas lead.

Brandon Nimmo led off the 3^rd with a single, went to 2B on a groundout, to 3B on a Johnny Monell single, and then scored on Taijeron’s second hit in as many innings.

Gavin Cecchini and Nimmo started the 7^th with walks and both came home before an out was recorded in the frame. Eric Campbell singled home Cheech to tie the game and Monell launched his 9^th homer of the seson to give the 51s a 7-4 lead.

Roger Bernadina singled home an insurance run in the top of the 9^th.

MiLB.tv Defensive Highlights

In one of the weirdest plays you’ll see, Eric Campbell couldn’t get the ball out of his glove, so he threw the glove, but the ball popped out when Rafael Montero caught the glove!

Pitcher Coverage

Rafael Montero

Table 1 – Montero pitch stats by inning

	1^st	2^nd	3^rd	4^th	5^th	6^th	7^th	Total
Total	20	6	13	8	15	19	7	88
Strikes	14	5	8	5	11	13	6	62
Swinging*	1	0	0	0	0	2	2	4

*4.5% Swinging strike rate; 8.5% Whiff/Swing

Pitch types and velocities courtesy of iscorecast

1^st inning

1) Rafael Ortega popped out to Romero (5/P)

i. 91 MPH Fastball – called strike 0-1

ii. 84 MPH Changeup – called strike 0-2

iii. 83 MPH Changeup – foul 0-2

iv. 93 MPH Fastball – foul 0-2

v. 83 MPH Slider – ball 1-2

vi. 84 MPH Slider – foul 1-2

vii. 85 MPH Slider – in play

2) Ji-Man Choi homered to RF (HR/L)

i. 93 MPH Fastball – called strike 0-1

ii. 93 MPH Fastball – ball 1-1

iii. 85 MPH Changeup – ball 2-1

iv. 86 MPH Changeup – ball 3-1

v. 95 MPH Fastball – in play

3) Nick Buss singled through the right side of the infield (S9/G)

i. 84 MPH Changeup – called strike 0-1

ii. 95 MPH Fastball – foul 0-2

iii. 84 MPH Changeup – in play

4) Kaleb Cowart struck out swinging (K/Sw)

i. 97 MPH Fastball – foul 0-1

ii. 95 MPH Fastball – foul 0-2

iii. 95 MPH Fastball – ball 1-2

iv. 84 MPH Changeup – ball 2-2
*Nick Buss caught stealing

v. 84 MPH Changeup – swinging strike 3

2^nd inning

1) Sherman Johnson lined a single into CF (S8/L)

i. 93 MPH Fastball – called strike 0-1

ii. 84 MPH Changeup – ball 1-1

iii. 84 MPH Changeup – foul 1-2

iv. 93 MPH Fastball – in play

2) Cal Towey flied out to Taijeron (9/F)

*Johnson picked off at 1B

i. 83 MPH Slider – in play

3) Brendan Ryan flied out to Taijeron (9/F)

i. 95 MPH Fastball – in play

3^rd inning

1) Juan Graterol walked (BB)

i. 91 MPH Fastball – ball 1-0

ii. 93 MPH Fastball – foul 1-1

iii. 85 MPH Slider – ball 2-1

iv. 86 MPH Slider – ball 3-1

v. 95 MPH Fastball – ball 4

2) Quintin Berry doubled (D4/G)

i. 96 MPH Fastball – foul 0-1

ii. 84 MPH Changeup – ball 1-1

iii. 86 MPH Changeup – in play

3) Ortega hit a groundout to Soup (3u/G)

i. 88 MPH Changeup – called strike 0-1

ii. 96 MPH Fastball – in play

4) Choi brought home Berry with a sac fly (SF7/F)

i. 96 MPH Fastball – foul 0-1

ii. 86 MPH Changeup – in play

5) Buss flied out to Taijeron (9/F)

i. 86 MPH Changeup – foul 0-1

ii. 97 MPH Fastball – called strike 0-1

iii. 86 MPH Slider – in play

4^th inning

1) Cowart hit a groundout to Muno (43/G)

i. 86 MPH Changeup – in play

2) Johnson hit a groundout to Soup (31/G)

i. 93 MPH Fastball – ball 1-0

ii. 92 MPH Fastball – ball 2-0

iii. 85 MPH Changeup – called strike 2-1

iv. 96 MPH Fastball – ball 3-1

v. 96 MPH Fastball – in play

3) Towey flied out to Taijeron (9/F)

i. 84 MPH Changeup – foul 0-1

ii. 95 MPH Fastball – in play

5^th inning

1) Ryan lined a single into LF (S7/L)

i. 81 MPH Slider – called strike 0-1

ii. 83 MPH Changeup – called strike 0-2

iii. 90 MPH Fastball – in play

2) Graterol hit a groundout to Cecchini (63/G)

i. 95 MPH Fastball – foul 0-1

ii. 85 MPH Changeup – ball 1-1

iii. 82 MPH Slider – foul 1-2

iv. 90 MPH Fastball – in play

3) Berry hit a groundout to Muno (43/G)

i. 95 MPH Fastball – called strike 0-1

ii. 87 MPH Changeup – foul 0-2

iii. 84 MPH Slider – ball 1-2

iv. 86 MPH Slider – ball 2-2

v. 85 MPH Changeup – foul 2-2

vi. 96 MPH Fastball – ball 3-2

vii. 83 MPH Slider – foul 3-2

viii. 96 MPH Fastball – in play

6^th inning

1) Ortega flied out to Nimmo (7/F)

i. 83 MPH Slider – called strike 0-1

ii. 85 MPH Slider – in play

2) Choi hit a ground-rule double to left-center field (GRD/F)

i. 86 MPH Changeup – ball 1-0

ii. 93 MPH Fastball – called strike 1-1

iii. 93 MPH Fastball – ball 2-1

iv. 85 MPH Fastball – in play

3) Buss reached on the weird error from Soup (E3/G) see above

i. 93 MPH Fastball – foul 0-1

ii. 85 MPH Slider – in play

4) Cowart brought Choi home with a single into RF (S9/G)

i. 86 MPH Changeup – called strike 0-1

ii. 97 MPH Fastball – ball 1-1

iii. 85 MPH Changeup – in play

5) Johnson struck out swinging (K/Sw)

i. 95 MPH Fastball – foul 0-1

ii. 92 MPH Fastball – ball 1-1

iii. 84 MPH Changeup – ball 2-1

iv. 82 MPH Changeup – ball 3-1

v. 83 MPH Changeup – called strike 3-2

vi. 84 MPH Changeup – foul 3-2

vii. 81 MPH Changeup – foul 3-2

viii. 83 MPH Changeup – swinging strike 3

6) Towey hit a groundout to Soup (3u/G)

i. 86 MPH Changeup – in play

7^th inning

1) Ryan struck out swinging (K/Sw)

i. 90 MPH Fastball – called strike 0-1

ii. 84 MPH Slider – ball 1-1

iii. 91 MPH Fastball – foul 1-2

iv. 82 MPH Slider – swinging strike 3

2) Graterol hit a groundout to Cecchini (63/G)

i. 82 MPH Slider – called strike 0-1

ii. 92 MPH Fastball – in play

3) Berry lined a double into RF (D9/L)

i. 83 MPH Changeup – in play

Josh Edgin

4) Ortega struck out swinging (K/Sw)

i. 92 MPH Fastball – ball 1-0

ii. 82 MPH Slider – foul 1-1

iii. 88 MPH Fastball – foul 1-2

iv. 78 MPH Slider – called strike 3

8^th inning

1) Choi singled into LF (S7/G)

i. 89 MPH Fastball – ball 1-0

ii. 90 MPH Fastball – ball 2-0

iii. 83 MPH Slider – called strike 2-1

iv. 92 MPH Fastball – called strike 2-2

v. 80 MPH Slider – ball 3-2

vi. 84 MPH Slider – foul 3-2

vii. 92 MPH Fastball – in play

2) Buss advanced Choi with a sac bunt (SAC/G)

i. 85 MPH Slider – in play

3) Cowart walked (BB)

i. 85 MPH Slider – ball 1-0

ii. 91 MPH Fastball – ball 2-0

iii. 82 MPH Slider – ball 3-0

iv. 90 MPH Fastball – called strike 3-1

v. 85 MPH Slider – ball 4

4) Johnson struck out looking (K/Lo)

i. 91 MPH Fastball – ball 1-0

ii. 86 MPH Slider – called strike 1-1

iii. 80 MPH Slider – swinging strike 1-2

iv. 78 MPH Slider – ball 2-2

v. 90 MPH Fastball – called strike 3

5) Towey struck out looking (K/Lo)

i. 84 MPH Slider – foul 0-1

ii. 78 MPH Slider – called strike 0-2

iii. 77 MPH Slider – ball 1-2

iv. 82 MPH Slider – ball 2-2

v. 91 MPH Fastball – ball 3-2

vi. 91 MPH Fastball – called strike 3

Jeff Walters

9^th inning

1) Ryan flied out to Taijeron (9/F)

i. 95 MPH Fastball – ball 1-0

ii. 90 MPH Fastball – called strike 1-1

iii. 81 MPH Slider – in play

2) Graterol walked (BB)

i. 91 MPH Fastball – called strike 0-1

ii. 95 MPH Fastball – ball 1-1

iii. 91 MPH Fastball – swinging strike 1-2

iv. 83 MPH Slider – foul 1-2

v. 82 MPH Slider – ball 2-2

vi. 95 MPH Fastball – ball 3-2

vii. 95 MPH Fastball – foul 3-2

viii. 83 MPH Slider

3) Berry singled through CF to bring home Graterol (S8/G)

i. 95 MPH Fastball – called strike 0-1

ii. 81 MPH Slider – ball 1-1

iii. 91 MPH Fastball – in play

4) Ortega struck out swinging -> Ashley picked Berry off at 1B (K/Sw) -> (PO/23)

i. 88 MPH Changeup – called strike 0-1

ii. 81 MPH Slider – ball 1-1

iii. 92 MPH Fastball – foul 1-2

iv. 86 MPH Slider – swinging strike 3

As Northern summer approaches, shadows of #Saturn's rings creep ever southward across the planet
📷 by @CassiniSaturn pic.twitter.com/AzTIgCglld
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