Lexington Legends @ Columbia Fireflies
April 21, 2017
Teams
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
|
7
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8
|
9
|
R
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H
|
E
|
|
Lexington
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0
|
0
|
0
|
0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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4
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1
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|
Columbia
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0
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0
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3
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0
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1
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0
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0
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1
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X
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5
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12
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0
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W: Gonzalez (3-0,
0.00 ERA); L: Watson (0-3, 6.75 ERA)
The Highlights:
Pitchers
Merandy Gonzalez - 7
IP, 3 H, 3 TB, 7 K (4 K/Sw), 7 GB: 6 FB: 2 LD: 2 PU, 88 Pitches (64 Strikes), 7
Swinging, 24 Called, 8% SwStr, 17.5% Whiff/Swing, 12.6 Pitches/IP, 24 BF
Taylor Henry - 2 IP,
1 H, 1 TB, 2 K (2 K/Sw), 3 GB: 1 FB: 1 LD, 22 Pitches (17 Strikes), 4 Swinging,
6 Called, 18.2% SwStr, 36.4% Whiff/Swing, 11 Pitches/IP, 8 BF
Batters
RF - Gene Cone - 2-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 4.5 Pitches/PA
2B - Luis Carpio - 1-4, 1 R, 1 GIDP, 5 Pitches/PA
SS - Michael Paez - 2-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 1 K, 10.5%
SwStr, 15.4% Whiff/Swing, 4.75 Pitches/PA
1B - Dash Winningham - 0-4, 1 RBI, 1 K, 6.2% SwStr, 20%
Whiff/Swing, 4 Pitches/PA
DH - Jose Miguel Medina - 2-4, 1 RBI, 6.7% SwStr, 20%
Whiff/Swing, 3.75 Pitches/PA
CF - Desmond Lindsay - 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 K, 3.5 Pitches/PA
LF - Tim Tebow - 3-3, 1 2B, 1 BB, 3.5 Pitches/PA
3B - Milton Ramos - 1-4, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 16.7% SwStr, 27.3%
Whiff/Swing, 4.5 Pitches/PA
C - Ali Sanchez - 0-3, 1 SAC, 1 K, 1 SB, 2.25 Pitches/PA
Recapish
A
night after being shutout in the opener, the Columbia Fireflies got their
revenge with a shutout of their own. Rising prospect Merandy Gonzalez continued
his torrid starts for the Fireflies with seven more shutout innings, bringing
him to 20.2 scoreless innings to start the season, with just 10 hits allowed
and an 18 K: 1 BB ratio during that time (!). Everyone’s favorite former QB had
his best night as a pro too, finishing a perfect 3-3 with a walk and double.
While
Tebow had the perfect night for Columbia, it was Michael Paez who had the
biggest offensive performance. He finished with two extra base hits (double and
triple), two runs batted in, and two runs scored – o, and he made a nice play
at SS in the 8th too. Gene Cone and Jose Medina each had a pair of
hits, and both were part of the Fireflies big 3rd inning rally (see
below for visuals).
As
for the star of the night, it was definitely the 21-year old righty on the
mound. After allowing a leadoff single, Merandy retired five straight before
the next single allowed. He then set down nine straight before another two out
single broke his streak. Finally, he finished his night by retiring the final
seven in a row. Along the way, only one base runner made it beyond 1B: the
leadoff hitter in the 1st.
This
series continues Saturday night at 7:05 PM, with Colin Holderman (1-0, 1.13
ERA) scheduled to start for Columbia. The Fireflies are looking to gain a 2-1
series edge, but more important is whether Holderman suffers any setbacks
related to what knocked him out of his last start after just 2+ IP. Holderman
finished with 11 K’s over 6 innings of one-hit ball in his first start. Enjoy some mean mascots before the game highlights.
 |
| Night at the Roxbury'd |
MiLB.tv Offense Highlights
Gene
Cone started the Fireflies 1st with a double but was stranded at 2B
for the frame.
Ali
Sanchez reached on an error to start the 3rd inning and then stole
2B to get in scoring position for Cone. Coney came through with his second hit
of the game, but Sanchez would be thrown out at home on the play. But the
Fireflies bats weren’t done yet. Luis Carpio dribbled a single through the
right side, which advanced Cone to 3B, and then both came home on Michael
Paez’s third double of the season. Paez would come around to score on Jose
Medina’s first of two singles in the game.
Paez
led off the 5th inning with a well-struck triple and then came home
on a Dash Winningham groundout. Medina added his second single in the frame but
would be stranded at 3B.
Desmond
Lindsay joined the hit parade when he led off the 8th inning with
his third double of the season. He would come home on a double play groundout
that Milton Ramos hit into.
MiLB.tv Defense Highlights
Merandy
made a pair of nice plays on bunt attempts during the first two innings.
It
was Michael Paez’s turn at SS Friday night, and he made a tough play look easy
in the 8th.
Clearly,
Milton Ramos’ defense is going to be top-notch whether he plays SS or 3B. He
made this nice play to end the game (and keep the shutout intact).
Pitcher Coverage
Merandy Gonzalez
Table 1 – Merandy pitch stats by inning
1st
|
2nd
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3rd
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4th
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5th
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6th
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7th
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Total
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Total
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16
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8
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9
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13
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18
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16
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8
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88
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Strikes
|
12
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5
|
7
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10
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13
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11
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6
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64
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Swinging*
|
1
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0
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0
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2
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3
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0
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1
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7
|
*8% Swinging strike rate; 17.5% Whiff/Swing
Merandy
carved his way through the Legends lineup like a warm knife through butter. He throws
his fastball and curveball in any count, and shows good control of both
pitches, which is more than enough for this level. He’s also not afraid to
double or triple up on that breaking ball, as you’ll notice in the fourth
strikeout below.
He only allowed one base runner to get beyond 1B, and that
was the first batter of the game, who was stranded at 3B in the 1st.
After allowing the leadoff hit, Merandy bounced back to strike out Gabriel
Cancel for the first out of the game.
Khalil Lee would be Merandy’s next victim when he was caught
looking for the second out of the 3rd.
Merandy struck out Chris DeVito and Emmanuel Rivera
back-to-back to end the 4th inning.
Amalani Fukofuka was the ninth straight set down by Merandy
for the second out of the 5th inning.
Lee went down looking again to start the 6th
inning.
And like good starters so often do, Merandy finished his night
with a strikeout before walking off the mound in the 7th – the
victim was Meibrys Viloria.
Bonus (from his first start)
Taylor Henry
Henry
needed only 8 pitches for the 8th, which is when he picked up both
of his strikeouts.
The bright landing platform left behind by our Opportunity @MarsRovers in 2004 is still visible 13 years later: https://t.co/XdSgWAbdqL pic.twitter.com/du52HVvH61— NASA (@NASA) April 21, 2017
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