Matz Perfect In His Rehab, Nimmo And Smith Collect Four Hits Apiece

El Paso Chihuahuas @ Las Vegas 51s

May 28, 2017

Kyle Lloyd @ Steven Matz

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
El Paso	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	0	0	5	6	1
Las Vegas	1	0	1	0	0	3	0	2	X	7	15	1

W: Bradford (1-0, 3.86 ERA); L: Fisher (0-3, 8.41 ERA); Save: Robles (1)

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Steven Matz (5.00 ERA) – 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 8 K (6 K/Sw), 3 GB: 4 LD, 73 Pitches (50 Strikes), 9 Swinging, 13 Called, 12.3% SwStr, 24.3% Whiff/Swing, 14.6 Pitches/IP, 15 BF

Alberto Baldonado (H, 3, 10.80 ERA) – 0.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 2B, 4 TB, 1 BB, 2 GB: 2 LD, 17 Pitches (10 Strikes), 3 Swinging, 2 Called, 17.6% SwStr, 37.5% Whiff/Swing, 51 Pitches/IP, 5 BF

Erik Goeddel (BS, 2, 8.02 ERA) – 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 HR, 4 TB, 1 BB, 4 GB: 3 FB, 26 Pitches (17 Strikes), 1 Swinging, 4 Called, 3.8% SwStr, 7.7% Whiff/Swing, 15.6 Pitches/IP, 8 BF

Chase Bradford (W, 1-0, 3.86 ERA) – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 TB, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 1 GB: 1 FB: 1 PU, 18 Pitches (12 Strikes), 2 Swinging, 2 Called, 11.1% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 18 Pitches/IP, 4 BF

Hansel Robles (S, 1, 0.00 ERA) – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 TB, 2 BB, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 1 GB: 2 FB, 20 Pitches (10 Strikes), 1 Swinging, 4 Called, 5% SwStr, 16.7% Whiff/Swing, 20 Pitches/IP, 6 BF

Batters

CF - Brandon Nimmo - 4-5, 2 R, 3 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K, 9.1% SwStr, 16.7% Whiff/Swing, 4.4 Pitches/PA

SS - Amed Rosario - 1-5, 1 RBI, 14.3% SwStr, 22.2% Whiff/Swing, 2.8 Pitches/PA

1B - Dominic Smith - 4-5, 3 RBI, 11.1% SwStr, 18.2% Whiff/Swing, 3.6 Pitches/PA

RF – Travis Taijeron - 0-3, 2.67 Pitches/PA

PH – Victor Cruzado - 0-1, 2 Pitches/PA

PH – Desmond Jennings - 0-1, 1 K, 60% SwStr, 100% Whiff/Swing, 5 Pitches/PA

C - Kevin Plawecki - 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 11.1% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 2.25 Pitches/PA

LF/RF – Josh Rodriguez - 1-3, 1 BB, 12.5% SwStr, 33.3% Whiff/Swing, 4 Pitches/PA

2B - Gavin Cecchini - 1-4, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 9.1% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 2.75 Pitches/PA

3B - Phillip Evans - 3-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 16.7% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 3 Pitches/PA

SP – Steven Matz - 0-2, 33.3% SwStr, 42.9% Whiff/Swing, 4.5 Pitches/PA

LF (Double-switch) – Jayce Boyd - 0-1, 2 R, 1 BB, 14.3% SwStr, 50% Whiff/Swing, 3.5 Pitches/PA

Recapish

The Las Vegas 51s finally snapped their losing streak Sunday afternoon before it could reach nine games, all it took was five perfect rehab innings from Mets starter Steven Matz to get it done. Matz was night-and-day different from his first rehab start with Las Vegas (GIF’s within, not below), when he struggled with command and Russ Langer was calling most of his pitches upper-80’s.

Unfortunately, MiLB.tv provides no good angles for watching the games at Cashman Field, so I can’t say how his stuff looked compared to that last outing, which is why I suggest you read this piece from Betsy Helfand for quotes from Matz, Manager Pedro Lopez, and pitching coach Frank Viola. However, the 51s announcer is the great Russ Langer, and he was calling out most of Matz’s pitches (pitch type for 56 of 73 pitches, and velocity for 29), which I have posted at the bottom. At one point during the 5^th, Langer noted that Matz had been 92-94 all day, which suggests he’s getting close to being ready to return.

Nearing his pitch limit after five, Matz finished up his work in the pen and turned the perfect game over to the Las Vegas bullpen with a 2-0 lead. The 51s had built their 2-0 lead thanks to Brandon Nimmo and Dominic Smith, who had red-hot days at the plate. Both finished with four hits, with three of Nimmo’s hits dropping in for doubles, and two of Smith’s singles bouncing off the wall. Nimmo doubled leading off the 1^st and scored on a wall ball single to LF off Smith’s bat. Nimmo later singled leading off the third, went to second on a groundout, and then scored on a Smith single through the middle.

Alberto Baldonado took over for Matz in the 6^th and his shaky transition to the PCL continued. El Paso struck for five runs in the frame, with Jose Pirela provided the big hit when he took Erik Goeddel deep for a grand slam.

Las Vegas was quick to even things up again, scoring three runs on three doubles in their half of the 6^th to tie the game at five. Kevin Plawecki led off the frame with a double and then came around to score on Phillip Evans fourth double of the year. Although there were only two outs in the inning at this point, El Paso’s defense went into sleep mode for the next two plays. Diego Goris committed a throwing error to keep the inning alive for Nimmo, and he benefited from the sun on a high pop up to left that fell in for an RBI double – it should’ve been caught.

Even though he allowed a grand slam in the 6^th, Erik Goeddel was sent out for the 7^th. He worked around a leadoff walk and E5 for a scoreless frame.

Chase Bradford took over in the 8^th and stranded a runner at second to keep the game tied.

The 51s broke through to retake the lead after an El Paso pitching change in the 8^th. Phillip Evans sparked the final rally with a leadoff single to RF. He was on second base when Amed Rosario came to the plate with a 14-game hit streak on the line and delivered with an RBI to make it 15 straight. Smith followed with his fourth hit of the game, which brought home Jayce Boyd (walk) for an insurance run.

Hansel Robles came in to close things out for Las Vegas in the 9^th. He retired the first two quickly on a pair of fly outs, but then made things interesting by issuing a pair of walks. Rafael Ortega followed with a single to LF that loaded the bases, putting the tying run at second base with Carlos Asuaje due up. Fortunately for the 51s faithful, Robles was able to settle down and strikeout Asuaje to end the threat and the game.

With this series even at one game apiece, the 51s turn to Ricky Knapp (2-5, 4.92 ERA) to gain an edge in the series and start a Las Vegas winning streak, something which hasn’t happened for a couple of weeks now.

Pitcher Coverage

Steven Matz

Table 1 – Matz pitch stats by inning

	1^st	2^nd	3^rd	4^th	5^th	Total
Total	12	16	8	17	20	73
Strikes	9	10	6	11	14	50
Swinging*	1	2	1	1	4	9

*12.3% Swinging strike rate; 24.3% Whiff/Swing rate

Pitch types and velocities courtesy of Russ Langer and the Las Vegas 51s broadcast

1^st inning

1) Rafael Ortega struck out looking (K/Lo)

i. 93 MPH Fastball – called strike 0-1

ii. Fastball – ball 1-1, outside

iii. – foul 1-2

iv. 93 MPH Fastball – called strike 3, outside corner

2) Carlos Asuaje struck out looking (K/Lo)

i. Fastball – ball 1-0, outside

ii. 93 MPH Fastball – foul 1-1

iii. 92 MPH Fastball – ball 2-1, high

iv. Breaking ball – swinging strike 2-2 “Good bite on it”

v. – foul 2-2

vi. 76 MPH Curveball – called strike 3, inside corner

3) Jose Pirela lined out to Smith (3/L)

i. 94 MPH Fastball – called strike 0-1

ii. Fastball – in play

2^nd inning

1) Jabari Blash struck out swinging (K/Sw)

i. Fastball – foul 0-1

ii. – foul 0-2

iii. 85 MPH Changeup – ball 1-2, outside

iv. – foul 1-2

v. 92 MPH Fastball – ball 2-2, inside

vi. Offspeed pitch – foul 2-2

vii. 92 MPH Fastball – swinging strike 3 “Belt-high”

2) Nick Schulz hit a groundout to Rosario (63/G)

i. 93 MPH Fastball – ball 1-0, high and away

ii. Changeup – ball 2-0, low

iii. 93 MPH Fastball – foul 2-1

iv. Fastball – ball 3-1, inside

v. – in play

3) Dusty Coleman struck out swinging (K/Sw)

i. – called strike 0-1, “At the knees”

ii. Fastball – ball 1-1, high

iii. Breaking ball – called strike 1-2

iv. 93 MPH Fastball – swinging strike 3

3^rd inning

1) Diego Goris lined out to J Rod (7/L)

i. 83 MPH Changeup – called strike 0-1

ii. – in play

2) Rocky Gale lined out to Nimmo (8/L)

i. – ball 1-0, inside

ii. – in play

3) Kyle Lloyd struck out swinging (K/Sw)

i. 93 MPH Fastball – called strike 0-1

ii. 94 MPH Fastball – called strike 0-2

iii. Breaking ball – ball 1-2, low and away

iv. – called strike 3

4^th inning

1) Ortega struck out swinging (K/Sw)

i. 77 MPH Curveball – called strike 0-1

ii. Fastball – ball 1-1, outside

iii. Breaking ball – called strike 1-2, outside corner

iv. Breaking ball – swinging strike 3, bounced

2) Asuaje hit a groundout to Cecchini (43/G)

i. 93 MPH Fastball – ball 1-0, low and outside

ii. 78 MPH Curveball – foul tip 1-1

iii. 94 MPH Fastball – foul 1-2

iv. 92 MPH Fastball – foul 1-2

v. – ball 2-2, low

vi. Breaking ball – foul 2-2

vii. Fastball – ball 3-2, outside

viii. Offspeed breaking ball – foul 3-2

ix. Fastball – foul 3-2

x. Fastball – in play

3) Pirela lined out to Taijeron – “hit the ball on the money but right at Taijeron” (9/L)

i. Breaking ball – ball 1-0, inside

ii. Breaking ball – ball 2-0, low

iii. – in play

5^th inning

1) Blash hit a groundout to Rosario (63/G)

i. 84 MPH Changeup – swinging strike 0-1

ii. 93 MPH Fastball – called strike 0-2, inside corner

iii. Breaking ball – ball 1-2, low

iv. Fastball – in play

2) Schulz struck out swinging (K/Sw)

i. Breaking ball – ball 1-0, low

ii. 94 MPH Fastball – called strike 1-1, inside half

iii. 94 MPH Fastball – ball 2-1, up and away

iv. – swinging strike 2-2

v. 92 MPH Fastball – swinging strike 3, “Chest-high heat”

3) Coleman struck out swinging (K/Sw)

i. Fastball – foul 0-1

ii. 93 MPH Fastball – ball 1-1, high

iii. Fastball – ball 2-1, high and away

iv. – foul 2-2

v. – foul 2-2

vi. – ball 3-2, high

vii. – foul 3-2

viii. 93 MPH Fastball – foul 3-2

ix. 92 MPH Fastball – foul 3-2

x. 94 MPH Fastball – foul 3-2

xi. “Something offspeed” – swinging strike 3, down and away

Saturn's small satellites, to scale: https://t.co/9NcMhIhyFj pic.twitter.com/zYxwwftt3z
— Planetary Society (@exploreplanets) May 28, 2017

Astromets Mind

Pages

Monday, May 29, 2017