Montero Can’t Match Rehabbing King Felix In Tacoma Finale

Las Vegas 51s @ Tacoma Rainiers

June 11, 2017

Rafael Montero @ Felix Hernandez

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

W: Hernandez (1-0, 7.71 ERA); L: Montero (0-2, 2.48 ERA); Save: Machi (8)

Boxscore

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Rafael Montero (L, 0-2, 2.48 ERA) – 6 IP, 6 H, 4 R (4 ER), 2 2B, 1 HR, 11 TB, 4 BB, 5 K (5 K/Sw), 6 GB: 6 FB: 3 LD: 2 PU, 107 Pitches (68 Strikes), 11 Swinging, 17 Called, 10.3% SwStr, 21.6% Whiff/Swing, 17.8 Pitches/IP, 26 BF

Kyle Regnault (0.00 ERA) – 1 IP, 2 BB, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 2 GB, 22 Pitches (11 Strikes), 3 Swinging, 3 Called, 13.6% SwStr, 37.5% Whiff/Swing, 22 Pitches/IP, 5 BF

Hansel Robles (7.56 ERA) – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 HR, 4 TB, 2 K (2 K/Sw), 2 FB, 15 Pitches (11 Strikes), 3 Swinging, 3 Called, 20% SwStr, 37.5% Whiff/Swing, 15 Pitches/IP, 4 BF

Batters

CF - Brandon Nimmo - 0-4, 4 K, 4.5% SwStr, 12.5% Whiff/Swing, 5.5 Pitches/PA

SS - Amed Rosario - 1-4, 2 Pitches/PA

1B - Dominic Smith - 0-4, 7.7% SwStr, 12.5% Whiff/Swing, 3.25 Pitches/PA

3B - Josh Rodriguez - 0-4, 3 K, 23.8% SwStr, 55.6% Whiff/Swing, 5.25 Pitches/PA

RF - Travis Taijeron - 0-4, 2 K, 18.8% SwStr, 30% Whiff/Swing, 4 Pitches/PA

LF - Desmond Jennings - 0-2, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 16.7% SwStr, 75% Whiff/Swing, 4.5 Pitches/PA

DH - Jayce Boyd - 2-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 8.3% SwStr, 16.7% Whiff/Swing, 4 Pitches/PA

2B - Gavin Cecchini - 0-3, 2.67 Pitches/PA

C - Xorge Carrillo - 1-3, 2.67 Pitches/PA

Recapish

            The Las Vegas 51s ran into a wall named Felix Hernandez in the finale of their loooong eleven game road trip Sunday afternoon in Tacoma, and King Felix lived up to his billing while nearly matching Steven Matz’s perfect rehab performance from a few weeks ago. Rafael Montero wasn’t as sharp as he’d been in his previous PCL starts of 2017, issuing four walks and allowing an extra base hit in three straight innings as the Rainiers built a 4-1 lead. Las Vegas made it a 4-3 game with a two run rally in the 8^th, but then Tacoma added an insurance run and another former major league regular, Jean Machi, closed things out for a Rainiers series win.

Bees Walkoff With Another Comeback Win Over Las Vegas

Las Vegas 51s @ Salt Lake Bees

June 6, 2017

Rafael Montero @ Doug Fister

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

W: Magnifico (2-0, 6.17 ERA); L: Bradford (1-1, 4.10 ERA)

Boxscore

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Rafael Montero (1.57 ERA) – 7 IP, 3 H, 3 TB, 2 BB, 8 K (4 K/Sw), 1 GIDP, 10 GB: 5 LD, 95 Pitches (67 Strikes), 14 Swinging, 21 Called, 14.7% SwStr, 30.4% Whiff/Swing, 13.6 Pitches/IP, 25 BF

Hansel Robles (H, 1, 8.44 ERA) – 1 IP, 1 GB: 2 FB, 15 Pitches (9 Strikes), 2 Swinging, 1 Called, 13.3% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 15 Pitches/IP, 3 BF

Chase Bradford (BS, 4)(L, 1-1, 4.10 ERA) – 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 3B, 1 HR, 8 TB, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 1 GB: 2 FB: 1 LD, 17 Pitches (11 Strikes), 3 Swinging, 3 Called, 17.6% SwStr, 37.5% Whiff/Swing, 25.5 Pitches/IP, 5 BF

Batters

RF - Brandon Nimmo - 0-3, 1 BB, 7.7% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 3.25 Pitches/PA

SS - Amed Rosario - 0-3, 1 R, 1 HBP, 1 K, 7.1% SwStr, 16.7% Whiff/Swing, 3.5 Pitches/PA

1B - Dominic Smith - 3-4, 2 Pitches/PA

C - Kevin Plawecki - 1-4, 1 RBI, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 33.3% SwStr, 57.1% Whiff/Swing, 3 Pitches/PA

LF - Travis Taijeron - 0-4, 3 K, 22.2% SwStr, 66.7% Whiff/Swing, 4.5 Pitches/PA

CF - Desmond Jennings - 1-4, 3 K, 30% SwStr, 66.7% Whiff/Swing, 5 Pitches/PA

2B - Gavin Cecchini - 1-4, 1 2B, 1 K, 3.5 Pitches/PA

DH - Victor Cruzado - 1-3, 1 K, 20% SwStr, 50% Whiff/Swing, 3.33 Pitches/PA

3B - Phillip Evans - 0-3, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 2.33 Pitches/PA

Recapish

            The Las Vegas 51s let another win slip away in Salt Lake Tuesday night, dropping a second straight to the Bees after holding a lead in both. Rafael Montero and Doug Fister dueled it out for five innings (Montero lasted seven), and the 51s held a 1-0 edge when they had both left the game, but the Las Vegas pen couldn’t hold onto it.

Game Gets Away From 51s With Hansel Robles On The Mound In The 7th

Las Vegas 51 @ Reno Aces

June 1, 2017

Rafael Montero @ Aaron Laffey

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Las Vegas	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0		2	6	2
Reno	0	0	0	2	1	0	6	0	X		9	11	0

W: Laffey (2-0, 1.67 ERA); L: Montero (0-1, 2.25 ERA)

Boxscore

Feed me Seymour!

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Rafael Montero (L, 0-1, 2.25 ERA) – 5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 2B, 1 HR, 9 TB, 3 BB, 8 K (5 K/Sw), 1 GIDP, 7 GB: 3 FB: 3 LD, 100 Pitches (64 Strikes), 10 Swinging, 23 Called, 10% SwStr, 24.4% Whiff/Swing, 17.6 Pitches/IP, 25 BF

Kyle Regnault (0.00 ERA) – 0.1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K (0 K/Sw), 13 Pitches (6 Strikes), 3 Called, 39 Pitches/IP, 2 BF

Hansel Robles (19.29 ERA) – 0.1 IP, 5 H, 6 R (5 ER), 1 2B, 2 HR, 12 TB, 1 BB, 2 GB: 3 FB: 1 LD, 34 Pitches (19 Strikes), 1 Swinging, 3 Called, 2.9% SwStr, 6.2% Whiff/Swing, 102 Pitches/IP, 8 BF

Beck Wheeler (7.61 ERA) – 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 2B, 2 TB, 1 BB, 3 K (3 K/Sw), 3 LD, 24 Pitches (13 Strikes), 4 Swinging, 5 Called, 16.7% SwStr, 50% Whiff/Swing, 14.4 Pitches/IP, 7 BF

Batters

RF - Brandon Nimmo - 0-3, 1 BB, 2 K, 16.7% SwStr, 50% Whiff/Swing, 4.5 Pitches/PA

SS - Amed Rosario - 0-3, 1 BB, 3 K, 20% SwStr, 50% Whiff/Swing, 3.75 Pitches/PA

1B - Dominic Smith - 1-4, 1 2B, 2 GIDP, 2.75 Pitches/PA

LF - Travis Taijeron - 0-4, 1 K, 7.1% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 3.5 Pitches/PA

C - Kevin Plawecki - 2-4, 2 2B, 2.75 Pitches/PA

CF - Desmond Jennings - 1-4, 1 R, 1 K, 16.7% SwStr, 25% Whiff/Swing, 3 Pitches/PA

2B - Gavin Cecchini - 1-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 3.5 Pitches/PA

3B - Phillip Evans - 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2.75 Pitches/PA

SP – Rafael Montero - 0-1, 1 SAC, 1 K, 16.7% SwStr, 33.3% Whiff/Swing, 3 Pitches/PA

PH – Jayce Boyd - 0-1, 6 Pitches/PA

Recapish

            The Las Vegas 51s woes continued Thursday night as they began an 11-game road trip through the PCL in Reno with a 9-2 loss. The game was tightly contested until recently demoted Hansel Robles entered in the 7^th and his streak of bad pitching continued. Robles was charged with six runs (five earned), retired just one of eight batters faced, and the game was all but out of reach for Las Vegas when he left.

Late Double From Taijeron Seals It For The 51s

Albuquerque Isotopes @ Las Vegas 51s

April 29, 2017

Matt Flemer @ Rafael Montero

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

W: Wheeler (2-1, 4.38 ERA); L: Jiminian (0-2, 6.92 ERA); Save: Sewald (4, 2.08 ERA)

Boxscore

The Highlights:

Pitchers

Rafael Montero (1.74 ERA) – 5.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 HR, 5 TB, 3 BB, 9 K (5 K/Sw), 5 GB: 2 FB: 2 LD, 88 Pitches (60 Strikes), 13 Swinging, 19 Called, 14.8% SwStr, 31.7% Whiff/Swing, 16.5 Pitches/IP, 21 BF

Ben Rowen (9.00 ERA) – 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 2B, 4 TB, 7 GB: 1 LD, 31 Pitches (25 Strikes), 3 Swinging, 3 Called, 9.7% SwStr, 13.6% Whiff/Swing, 18.6 Pitches/IP, 8 BF

Beck Wheeler (W, 2-1, 4.38 ERA) – 1 IP, 1 K (1 K/Sw), 2 GB, 14 Pitches (9 Strikes), 1 Swinging, 3 Called, 7.1% SwStr, 16.7% Whiff/Swing, 14 Pitches/IP, 3 BF

Paul Sewald (S, 4, 2.08 ERA) – 1 IP, 1 H, 1 TB, 1 K (0 K/Sw), 1 FB: 1 LD: 1 PU, 15 Pitches (10 Strikes), 2 Swinging, 3 Called, 13.3% SwStr, 28.6% Whiff/Swing, 15 Pitches/IP, 4 BF

Batters

CF - Desmond Jennings - 1-3, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB, 5.3% SwStr, 16.7% Whiff/Swing, 4.75 Pitches/PA

2B - Gavin Cecchini - 0-3, 1 SAC, 9.1% SwStr, 14.3% Whiff/Swing, 2.75 Pitches/PA

SS - Amed Rosario - 2-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 SB, 9.1% SwStr, 20% Whiff/Swing, 2.75 Pitches/PA

1B - Dominic Smith - 2-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 CS, 5 Pitches/PA

RF - Travis Taijeron - 1-3, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 1 SF, 1 K, 15.8% SwStr, 37.5% Whiff/Swing, 4.75 Pitches/PA

LF - Jayce Boyd - 0-4, 1 K, 10% SwStr, 16.7% Whiff/Swing, 2.5 Pitches/PA

3B - Phillip Evans - 0-3, 1 K, 25% SwStr, 60% Whiff/Swing, 4 Pitches/PA

C - Xorge Carrillo - 0-2, 1 HBP, 2 K, 25% SwStr, 75% Whiff/Swing, 4 Pitches/PA

P - Rafael Montero - 2-2, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 Pitches/PA

Recapish

            Early efforts from Rafael Montero were nearly thwarted by an Isotopes 6^th inning rally, but then Travis Taijeron crashed a two-run double off the RF wall in the 8^th to give the 51s a late lead, and Paul Sewald swooped in for his fourth save of the year. The win improved Las Vegas’ record to 11-12, and they have a chance to even their series with a win against Albuquerque Sunday afternoon (or at noon if you’re reading this on the West Coast).

            In his now two starts since being demoted, Rafael Montero has torn up the PCL. Over 10.1 IP, he’s allowed just 2 R on 4 H with 16 K (10 K/Sw): 3 BB, with an 11.8% Swinging strike rate and 26.4% Whiff/Swing rate, while needing just 15.6 P/IP. Of the 19 balls in play against him, 9 have been groundballs (47%) and 1 has been a pop up. So, out of 39 batters faced, 26 (67%) have ended their PA against Montero with a strikeout, ground ball, or pop up.