Blake Taylor Outdueled As Fireflies Get No-hit | Astromets Mind

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Blake Taylor Outdueled As Fireflies Get No-hit

Lakewood Blue Claws @ Columbia Fireflies


May 6, 2017



Teams
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

R
H
E
Lakewood
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0

1
4
1
Columbia
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
1
W: Fanti (2-0, 1.48 ERA); L: Simon (0-1, 0.00 ERA); Save: Bettencourt (2)


The Highlights:

Pitchers

Blake Taylor (4.50 ERA) – 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 2B, 4 TB, 1 BB, 3 K (3 K/Sw), 1 GIDP, 6 GB: 7 FB: 1 LD: 3 PU, 79 Pitches (48 Strikes), 10 Swinging, 15 Called, 12.7% SwStr, 30.3% Whiff/Swing, 13.2 Pitches/IP, 21 BF
Jake Simon (L, 0-1, 0.00 ERA) – 3 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 TB, 1 BB, 2 K (1 K/Sw), 5 GB: 1 FB, 34 Pitches (20 Strikes), 2 Swinging, 10 Called, 5.9% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 11.3 Pitches/IP, 10 BF

Batters

SS - Andres Gimenez - 0-3, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 CS, 11.1% SwStr, 66.7% Whiff/Swing, 4.5 Pitches/PA
2B - Luis Carpio - 0-3, 1 BB, 11.1% SwStr, 33.3% Whiff/Swing, 4.5 Pitches/PA
DH - Michael Paez - 0-4, 1 K, 25% SwStr, 40% Whiff/Swing, 4 Pitches/PA
1B - Dash Winningham - 0-2, 1 BB, 7.1% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 4.67 Pitches/PA
RF - Jose Miguel Medina - 0-3, 1 K, 22.2% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 3 Pitches/PA
CF - Desmond Lindsay - 0-3, 3 K, 20% SwStr, 33.3% Whiff/Swing, 5 Pitches/PA
LF - Tim Tebow - 0-3, 2 K, 36.4% SwStr, 66.7% Whiff/Swing, 3.67 Pitches/PA
C - Ali Sanchez - 0-3, 2.33 Pitches/PA
3B - Milton Ramos - 0-3, 1 K, 22.2% SwStr, 50% Whiff/Swing, 3 Pitches/PA


Recapish


            Nick Fanti made history for the Lakewood Blue Claws Saturday night in Columbia, providing the heavy lifting in a no-hitter of the Fireflies. Fanti lasted 8.2 IP, outdueling a pair of Cola lefties that were on top of their game, and then just barely holding onto everything (the no-no, the shutout and the lead) at the end. Fireflies starter Blake Taylor made his best start of the year, battling rain to go 6 scoreless before yielding to lefty Jake Simon. The 20-year old Simon was making his SAL debut and pitched very well, but was charged with an unearned run during a 6-pitch 8th inning, which left him taking the loss on this night.
            Quickly recapping Fanti’s night, he retired the first 9 before issuing leadoff walks in both the 4th and 5th innings. He then retired 12 straight before an E5 gave the Fireflies their biggest scoring threat in the 9th.
            Blake Taylor struggled with control while adjusting to the SAL in April, but he was able to locate his breaking stuff better in this start, and the results speak for themselves. Taylor allowed a pair of singles and didn’t strike anyone out over the first 3 innings, but his teammates did make some nice plays behind him.





            Taylor then started the 4th with back-to-back strikeouts of Carlos Duran and Mickey Moniak before a pop out ended the frame.




            Lakewood put together a two out scoring threat against Taylor in the 5th. Edgar Cabral doubled just out of Jose Medina’s reach in right center field, and then advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Taylor wouldn’t budge though, striking out Jose Antequera to end the frame and keep things scoreless.


            After a quick 6th inning, Taylor was lifted for Simon despite a sub-80 pitch count, which suggests the Mets had planned Simon to go 3 IP tonight. Hopefully that means the Mets are stretching Simon out to starting, because he is someone who could put his name on the Mets prospect map this summer. The bad weather forced Cola TV to use the behind home plate camera view while Simon was on the mound, but even with that view one could see the sharp break on his curve. Simon struck out 2 of the first 3 batters he faced, and the other (a walk) was erased thanks to the arm of Ali Sanchez.




            Simon then had a really weird 8th inning, allowing an unearned run despite throwing just 6 pitches, and before he allowed a hit in 2017. Milton Ramos threw a routine grounder away, which opened the door for Lakewood to score, and they got that runner over and in on the next two pitches: sac bunt then sac fly. Given how shallow the sac fly was, a stronger throw from CF would’ve had a good chance to get the runner out at home, but Lindsay’s throw bounced and went first base side.




            Lakewood picked up a leadoff single against Simon in the 9th inning, but again that runner was erased thanks to the arm of Ali Sanchez. Simon finished the night by inducing a pair of groundouts to Gimenez.




            After doing nothing offensively all night, the Fireflies found themselves in a position to tie the game shortly after their half of the 9th started. Ali Sanchez’s dribbler to third base was thrown away – much like Ramos’ error – putting the tying run on 2B with nobody out. After failing to get a bunt down, Ramos was allowed to swing with two strikes, and he pulled a grounder to SS. It was frustrating that Ramos couldn’t provide a productive out, but made worse when the slow-footed Sanchez tried to reach third on the grounder, because he did not make it safely. After a strikeout, Luis Carpio worked a walk out of Fanti while pushing his pitch count to 113, which was probably already too high for Lakewood’s comfort. Trevor Bettencourt took over and struck out Michael Paez to end the game.


            Although they came up short at the end, the Fireflies can only tip their cap to Nick Fanti and pat their pitchers on the back after this one. The loss dropped Columbia to 14-15 on the season, so they will look to Harol Gonzalez (1-1, 7.65 ERA) to get them back to .500 when they play the series finale Sunday at 2:05 PM.


Pitcher Coverage


Blake Taylor


Table 1 – Taylor pitch stats by inning

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
Total
Total
7
12
12
13
24
11
79
Strikes
5
8
7
7
14
7
48
Swinging*
1
1
0
4
1
3
10
*12.7% Swinging strike rate; 30.3% Whiff/Swing rate




Jake Simon


Table 2 – Simon pitch stats by inning

7th
8th
9th
Total
Total
18
6
10
34
Strikes
9
4
7
20
Swinging*
2
0
0
2
*5.9% Swinging strike rate; 20% Whiff/Swing rate






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