51s Win Pitcher’s Duel In Iowa Opener

Las Vegas 51s @ Iowa Cubs

July 14, 2016

Darin Gorski @ Rob Zastryzny

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

W: Gorski (3-1, 3.65 ERA); L: Zastryzny (4-3, 4.88 ERA); Save: Henderson (1)

Boxscore

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Darin Gorski (W, 3-1, 3.65 ERA) – 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 4 TB, 2 BB, 4 K (4 K/Sw), 1 GIDP, 5 GB: 3 FB: 3 LD: 4 PU, 86 Pitches (49 Strikes), 9 Swinging, 14 Called, 10.5% SwStr, 25.7% Whiff/Swing, 15.2 Pitches/IP, 21 BF

Josh Smoker (H, 10, 5.31 ERA) – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 TB, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 1 GB: 1 LD, 6 Pitches (6 Strikes), 2 Swinging, 2 Called, 33.3% SwStr, 50% Whiff/Swing, 6 Pitches/IP, 3 BF

Chase Bradford (H, 4, 3.95 ERA) – 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 TB, 3 K (2 K/Sw), 2 LD, 25 Pitches (18 Strikes), 6 Swinging, 2 Called, 24% SwStr, 37.5% Whiff/Swing, 18.8 Pitches/IP, 5 BF

Jim Henderson (S, 1, 0.00 ERA) – 1 IP, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 1 GB: 1 PU, 14 Pitches (9 Strikes), 1 Swinging, 1 Called, 7.1% SwStr, 12.5% Whiff/Swing, 14 Pitches/IP, 3 BF

Batters

2B - Dilson Herrera - 2-5, 1 K, 7.1% SwStr, 12.5% Whiff/Swing, 2.8 Pitches/PA

1B - Eric Campbell - 2-3, 1 R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 12.5% SwStr, 33.3% Whiff/Swing, 4 Pitches/PA

3B - T.J. Rivera - 1-4, 1 K, 9.1% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 2.75 Pitches/PA

C - Kevin Plawecki - 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 9.1% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 2.75 Pitches/PA

SP – Darin Gorski - 1-3, 1 R, 2 K, 14.3% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 4.67 Pitches/PA

Recapish

            The 51s started their second half with a 3-2 win over the Iowa Cubs Thursday night thanks to some fine pitching and a pair of doubles off the bat of Eric Campbell. Starter Darin Gorski had his best effort since returning to the org, holding on to a shutout bid until there were two gone in the 6^th, and he helped himself at the plate by singling and scoring in the 5^th.

Mets Minors GIFs of the Week

Highlighting the best GIF’s from the last week in Mets minor’s action.

June 17-23, 2016

Even on an off day, Milton Ramos goes to work. pic.twitter.com/CMIjbecdI4

— Columbia Fireflies (@ColaFireflies) June 18, 2016

GIFs of the Week: 4/7-14, 4/15-21, 4/22-28, 4/29-5/5, 5/6-12, 5/13-19, 5/20-26, 5/27-6/2, 6/3-16

Minors Players of the Week: 4/7-4/17, 4/18-24, 4/25-5/1, 5/2-5/8, 5/9-15, 5/16-22, 5/23-29, 5/30-6/5, 6/6-12

Homeruns

            As it tends to do, the Soup has been heating up in the desert out West. Eric Campbell went deep for the Las Vegas 51s on Saturday.

            After the Fireflies tied the game up at 4 top-9, Ivan Wilson went oppo taco over a 36-foot wall to give them the 7-4 lead that they would win by on Sunday in Asheville.

            Gavin Cecchini had another strong week at the plate – 8-24, 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 2 K: 5 BB – and he added his fourth homerun of the year while on the road in Salt Lake on Sunday.

Ynoa And Taijeron Come Up Aces In Reno

Las Vegas 51s @ Reno Aces

June 23, 2016

Gabriel Ynoa @ Edwin Escobar

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Las Vegas	0	4	3	0	0	0	1	0	0		8	14	1
Reno	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	4	0		6	9	1

W: Ynoa (9-2, 3.40 ERA); L: Escobar (4-2, 4.71 ERA); Save: Smoker (1)

Boxscore

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Gabriel Ynoa (W, 9-2, 3.40 ERA) – 6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 3B, 6 TB, 2 BB, 8 K (8 K/Sw), 8 GB: 4 FB: 3 LD: 1 PU, 110 Pitches (73 Strikes), 11 Swinging, 20 Called, 10% SwStr, 20.8% Whiff/Swing, 16.5 Pitches/IP, 27 BF

Chase Bradford (3.71 ERA) – 0.1 IP, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 7 Pitches (5 Strikes), 1 Swinging, 0 Called, 14.3% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 21 Pitches/IP, 1 BF

Seth Lugo (6.72 ERA) – 1 IP, 4 H, 4 R (3 ER), 1 HR, 7 TB, 2 K (2 K/Sw), 2 GB: 2 FB: 1 LD, 26 Pitches (19 Strikes), 3 Swinging, 7 Called, 11.5% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 26 Pitches/IP, 8 BF

Josh Smoker (S, 1, 5.57 ERA) – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 TB, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 1 FB: 2 LD, 15 Pitches (12 Strikes), 4 Swinging, 3 Called, 26.7% SwStr, 44.4% Whiff/Swing, 15 Pitches/IP, 4 BF

Batters

SS - Gavin Cecchini - 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 3.8 Pitches/PA

CF - Brandon Nimmo - 2-5, 2 GIDP, 5.3% SwStr, 7.7% Whiff/Swing, 3.8 Pitches/PA

2B - Dilson Herrera - 1-5, 1 R, 1 GIDP, 2.4 Pitches/PA

3B - Eric Campbell - 2-4, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 4.8% SwStr, 14.3% Whiff/Swing, 4.2 Pitches/PA

RF – Travis Taijeron - 2-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 K, 22.2% SwStr, 44.4% Whiff/Swing, 3.6 Pitches/PA

C - Kevin Plawecki - 0-3, 2 R, 2 BB, 4.4 Pitches/PA

1B - Nevin Ashley - 3-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 K, 11.1% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 5.4 Pitches/PA

LF - Ty Kelly – 2-4, 1 BB, 3.8 Pitches/PA

P - Gabriel Ynoa - 1-4, 1 RBI, 2 K, 15.4% SwStr, 22.2% Whiff/Swing, 3.25 Pitches/PA

Recapish

            The Las Vegas 51s won their 6^th straight game to clinch their 4-game series with Reno Thursday night. Gabriel Ynoa was dealing for the 51s while Travis Taijeron was playing the role of bouncer, as in he was bouncing extra base hits all over the place en route to 4 RBI’s.

            Ynoa’s secondary stuff was looking as good as I can remember seeing it over the past 1.5 years, and he set a season high with 8 strikeouts. He only reached 8 strikeouts once with Binghamton in 2015, and he surpassed that total once each with St. Lucie (11 K’s) and Binghamton (9) during the 2014 season. The 11 swinging strikes were also a season high for Ynoa, and this was only the third time in 15 starts that he reached a double digit swinging strike total.

            The 51s jumped ahead big early thanks to a crooked number on the scoreboard in the 2^nd and 3^rd innings. Travis Taijeron and Nevin Ashley both hit two run bombs in the 2^nd inning, and then Taijeron added a two run double in the 3^rd.

51s Survive PCL Slugfest In Reno

Las Vegas 51s @ Reno Aces

June 22, 2016

Duane Below @ Braden Shipley

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Las Vegas	0	1	2	1	0	1	0	5	2		12	10	0
Reno	1	0	0	0	0	5	0	3	1		10	14	2

W: Walters (1-2, 837 ERA); L: Leone (3-1, 3.42 ERA); Save: Sewald (9)

Boxscore

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Duane Below (4.29 ERA) – 5.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 2B, 1 3B, 8 TB, 2 BB, 2 K (2 K/Sw), 7 GB: 8 FB: 4 LD: 0 PU, 89 Pitches (57 Strikes), 6 Swinging, 15 Called, 6.7% SwStr, 14.3% Whiff/Swing, 16.7 Pitches/IP, 23 BF

Jeff Walters (BS, 3)(W, 1-2, 8.37 ERA) – 1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R (3 ER), 4 TB, 4 GB: 1 FB: 3 LD, 29 Pitches (21 Strikes), 7 Called, 17.4 Pitches/IP, 8 BF

Josh Edgin (1.93 ERA) – 0.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 10 TB, 2 K (2 K/Sw), 2 FB: 2 LD, 23 Pitches (14 Strikes), 3 Swinging, 4 Called, 13% SwStr, 30% Whiff/Swing, 34.5 Pitches/IP, 6 BF

Paul Sewald (S, 9, 4.15 ERA) – 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 HR, 4 TB, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 1 GB: 2 FB: 1 LD, 18 Pitches (14 Strikes), 1 Swinging, 3 Called, 5.6% SwStr, 9.1% Whiff/Swing, 13.5 Pitches/IP, 5 BF

Batters

SS - Gavin Cecchini - 2-6, 2 R, 1 GIDP, 3.8% SwStr, 7.7% Whiff/Swing, 4.33 Pitches/PA

LF - Brandon Nimmo - 3-5, 2 R, 1 3B, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 5.6% SwStr, 12.5% Whiff/Swing, 3 Pitches/PA

2B - Dilson Herrera - 2-6, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 2 K, 12.5% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 2.67 Pitches/PA

CF - Roger Bernadina - 1-4, 1 BB, 1 K, 20% SwStr, 50% Whiff/Swing, 4 Pitches/PA

1B - Marc Krauss - 1-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K, 10.3% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 5.8 Pitches/PA

3B - Niuman Romero - 1-1, 3 R, 1 2B, 3 BB, 1 SAC, 4.6 Pitches/PA

Recapish

            The ‘Cardiac Kids’ held on during a PCL slugfest in Reno Wednesday night, winning their 5^th straight game by the final of 12-10. That’s 51s announcer Russ Langer’s moniker for the team when they are involved in this see-saw PCL slugfests, which seem to happen at least once a week and are always entertaining.

            After the Bartolo Colon early departure domino effect led to a bullpen start Tuesday, the 51s were hoping Duane Below could give them some serious length Wednesday. Unfortunately he had to leave with one out and Reno temporarily taking the game over in the 6^th. Per Langer, he had been dealing with a cut on his pitching hand during his last start, which affected the grip on his cutter (because of course it did). Langer wasn’t sure if the cut on Below’s hand had healed fully in time for the start, so he might not have had his full repertoire available again.

Bullpen Pieces Together 51s Fourth Straight Win

Las Vegas 51s @ Reno Aces

June 21, 2016

Seth Lugo @ Kyle Drabek

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

W: Bradford (4-1, 3.74 ERA); L: Drabek (3-6, 6.68 ERA); Save: Sewald (8)

Boxscore

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Seth Lugo (6.40 ERA) – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 TB, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 2 GB: 1 FB, 17 Pitches (10 Strikes), 1 Swinging, 4 Called, 5.9% SwStr, 16.7% Whiff/Swing, 17 Pitches/IP, 4 BF

Chase Huchingson (6.00 ERA) – 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 3B, 4 TB, 1 BB, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 2 GB: 1 FB: 1 LD, 25 Pitches (13 Strikes), 2 Swinging, 4 Called, 8% SwStr, 22.2% Whiff/Swing, 25 Pitches/IP, 6 BF

Zack Thornton (5.88 ERA) – 2 IP, 2 H, 1 2B, 3 TB, 1 BB, 1 GIDP, 5 GB: 2 FB, 52 Pitches (36 Strikes), 1 Swinging, 11 Called, 1.9% SwStr, 4% Whiff/Swing, 26 Pitches/IP, 9 BF

Chase Bradford (W, 4-1, 3.74 ERA) – 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 2B, 2 TB, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 3 GB: 3 FB, 31 Pitches (21 Strikes), 5 Swinging, 6 Called, 16.1% SwStr, 33.3% Whiff/Swing, 15.5 Pitches/IP, 8 BF

Josh Smoker (H, 9, 5.74 ERA) – 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 TB, 4 K (3 K/Sw), 2 GB: 1 FB, 32 Pitches (24 Strikes), 5 Swinging, 6 Called, 15.6% SwStr, 27.8% Whiff/Swing, 19.2 Pitches/IP, 7 BF

Paul Sewald (S, 8, 4.05 ERA) – 1.1 IP, 2 BB, 2 K (1 K/Sw), 1 GB: 1 FB, 33 Pitches (17 Strikes), 2 Swinging, 7 Called, 6.1% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 24.7 Pitches/IP, 7 BF

Batters

2B - Dilson Herrera - 2-5, 2 R, 1 K, 7.1% SwStr, 14.3% Whiff/Swing, 2.8 Pitches/PA

CF - Brandon Nimmo - 1-3, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 SB, 9.1% SwStr, 28.6% Whiff/Swing, 4.4 Pitches/PA

1B - Eric Campbell - 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 17.4% SwStr, 57.1% Whiff/Swing, 4.6 Pitches/PA

C - Johnny Monell - 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 8.3% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 3 Pitches/PA

RF - Travis Taijeron - 1-5, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 8% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 5 Pitches/PA

LF - Roger Bernadina - 1-4, 1 R, 1 K, 8.3% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 3 Pitches/PA

SS - Niuman Romero - 1-4, 1 2B, 1 K, 7.7% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 3.25 Pitches/PA

Recapish

            Mets starter Bartolo Colon left Tuesday’s start after facing just one batter and taking a comebacker to his hand, which left a lot of work for the Mets bullpen, and they appropriately received plenty of praise for a huge combined effort against the defending champs. Although they won’t receive the same level of praise, the 51s bullpen was also forced into extra duty as a result of Colon’s early departure, and they also combined for a huge effort to beat Reno 6-3.

            The 51s ended up using 6 relievers against the Aces, and they looked like a different crew than the last time Las Vegas visited Reno. Seth Lugo was still starting back then, and had one of his better starts of 2016, but the 51s pen blew multiple games late and was really struggling at the time. They’ve since have multiple pitchers turn things around, and that obviously continued nicely Tuesday night. Of particular note, Josh Smoker hit 98 at least once and 99 at least twice (per Russ Langer calls).
            There was also a cool story about the bullpen that came from the Reno announcers. The Aces visited Las Vegas last week and took 3 of 4 from the 51s, with single game outputs of 14 runs and 16 runs during the series. When the Aces announcer got to Cashman Field the day after Las Vegas lost 16-10, pitching coach Frank Viola was standing at the plate addressing his pitchers, and apparently he was not hiding his frustration with their recent performances. The 51s have allowed just 17 runs in 6 games since, so I think his message got through.