PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (April 28, 2019) – The Florida Fire Frogs held on to the beat the St. Lucie Mets 3-2 on Sunday afternoon at First Data Field.

Florida starting pitcher Jasseel De La Cruz limited the Mets to two singles and one run over six impressive innings to get the win. He walked one and struck out six. The previous two starting pitchers for the Fire Frogs lasted only 3.1 innings combined.

New York Mets infielder Jed Lowrie (left knee) began a rehab assignment with St. Lucie. He played all nine innings, splitting his time between shortstop and second base. At the plate Lowrie went 0 for 4 with two long fly outs to center field.

The Mets took an early 1-0 lead when Matt Winaker’s sac fly plated Carlos Cortes in the second inning.

The Fire Frogs tied the game 1-1 in the fifth inning on a solo home run by Izzy Wilson.

The next batter Riley Unroe singled and advanced to second on a fielding error. Riley Delgado followed with a RBI single to drive in Unroe for 2-1 Florida lead.

Both runs came against Mets starter Kyle Wilson who took the loss. He gave up two runs and seven hits across four innings.

The Fire Frogs scored their final run in the sixth inning. Brett Langhorne ripped a triple and scored on a sac fly by Shean Michel to make it 3-1.

The Mets tried to rally late. Luis Carpio hit a one-out double in the eighth. Then with two outs Jacob Zanon doubled to right to bring in Carpio to cut the deficit to 3-2. Zanon was left stranded on second base.

Quinn Brodey worked a leadoff walk in the ninth but Florida reliever Brandon White retired the next three batters in a row to end the game.

Florida catcher William Contreras went 4 for 4 with two doubles, two singles and a walk.

The Mets (13-11) are off on Monday. They return to First Data Field on Tuesday to start a three-game series against the Palm Beach Cardinals.

Mack - 2019 Mets Transactions

Friday, 4-26:

      RHP Max Kuhns was activated from the St. Lucie IL. This was a move to fill the slot left open when fellow pitcher, Ryley Gilliam was promoted to the B-Mets.

Kuhns is a 24-year old righty that was drafted in the 21^st round (2016), out of Santa Clara University (CA). He had 17 appearances in 2017 for Columbia and produced a stat line of 1-0, 2.10, 0.90, with 37 strikeouts in 25,2 innings pitched. His injuries started last season when he only rehabs with the GCL-Mets, pitching six innings, in five starts (3.00).

This season, he once again started on the IL.

Let’s hope he’s 100% and ready to go.

      AA-Binghamton placed P Zack Jones on the 10-day IL. The Mets signed Jones in February. The 28-year old has had a tough road traveled starting with being the 4th round draft pick in 2012 for the Twins. The 2017 season was lost to a torn labrum and he wound up in Indy ball after being released.

The Met picked him up to bolster the B-Mets pen this year, but stats have not turned out well: 4-AP, 5-IP, 14.40, 2.60

      The Mets recalled P Corey Oswalt from AAA-Syracuse, in time to be shelled last night after replacing Jacob DeGrom, who also was activated so he could be shelled in the same game (I’m getting dizzy).

      The Mets optioned IF Luis Guillorme one more time to AAA-Syracuse. The oft-travelled Guillorme hit .167 in 18 at-bats for Mets and, with Jed Lowrie lurking in the shadows, we may not see Luis for a while…(didn’t I say that the last time he was sent down?)

      The Mets optioned RP Jacob Rhame to AAA-Syracuse. Rhame got in three games and posted an 8.10-ERA. He also returns to a league that isn’t afraid to charge the mound if one of his heaters heads toward a batter’s noggin.

Tom Brennan - STRUGGLING FIREFLIES

 

HOT FIREFLIES ARE SCARCE!

Something must be in the Columbia water.  

Some of those Fireflies players are really struggling so far.

Thru Friday, in 21 team games to date:

SS Sherveyn Newton entered the season with high promise and high strikeouts.  So far, though, he is 1 for 14 with 9 Ks after jumping two levels to Columbia, a small sample but alarming strikeout rate.

3B Brian Sharp is also fanning a ton, hitting .196 in 56 at bats, with a very high 28 Ks.

C Juan Uriarte missed all but one game in 2018, after hitting .305 in Kingsport in 2017.  

This year, Uriarte's bat is stone cold, with a 5 for 53 start with 19 whiffs.

IF Chandler Avant is 4 for 38, not good, self-explanatory, no clarification needed. 

Jose Miguel Medina? Just 8 for 44.

And there are six other guys only hitting between .220 and .233.

Wow.  Only Wagner Lagrange (.265) and Ronny Mauricio (.321) are hitting solidly.

On the pitching ledger, starters Jose Butto (7.02 ERA) and Jaison Vilera (8.44), and relievers Chris Viall (5.40) and Billy Oxford (6.30) have not started 2019 as successfully as the Mets would have hoped.

Overall?

The Fireflies are hitting .210 and fanning 10 times per game, with just 7 homers and a league-worst 62 runs in 21 games.  

It is a very young team, by and large, with a bunch of Brooklyn-skippers, and one can hope they will adjust and improve.

Pitching-wise, 7-14, 4.32 with more than a K per inning.  The record is no surprise, given the lack of run support. The ERA, excluding the aforementioned 4 pitchers, is quite good.

I'll take another look at the Flies in a month and hope to see much improved results.

Mack’s 2019 Mock Draft v3.0

                

Mack’s 2019 Mock Draft v3.0

      (compared to Mock v2.0)

   1.  (1)   C     Adley Rutschman     Oregon State       

   2.  (2)   SS   Bobby Witt Jr.      Colleyville HS (TX)  

   3.  (4)   C     Shea Langeliers      Baylor                

   4.  (3)   OF   Riley Greene          Hagerty HS (FL)    

   5.  (5)   SS   C.J. Abrams         Blessed Trinity (GA)      

   6.  (9)   LHP  Zack Thompson       Kentucky       

   7.  (10) LHP Hunter Barco         The Bolles School (FL)   

   8.  (7)   LHP  Nick Lodolo           TCU            

   9.  (6)   3B   Josh Jung            Texas Tech    

   10.           (15) SS/3B   Logan Davidson       Clemson        

   11.           (13) OF   Matt Wallner         Southern Miss       

   12.           (16) RHP  Matthew Thompson  Cypress Ridge HS (TX)

   13.           (12) RHP Brennan Malone      Porter Ridge HS (NC)    

   14.           (8)   IF   Rece Hinds           Niceville HS (FL)    

   15.           (11) 1B   Andrew Vaughn       Cal              

   16.           (20) IF   Braden Shewmake   TAMU          

   17.           (24) OF   Mike Toglia           UCLA           

   18.           (21) 1B   Michael Busch        North Carolina      

  

   19.           (23) OF   Jerrion Ealy          Jackson Prep (MS)  

   20.           (19) LHP  Graeme Stinson      Duke                  

   21.           (30) SS   Greg Jones           UNC Wilmington     

   22.           (18) RHP Daniel Espino    Bulloch HS (GA)     

   23.           (22) 3B   Drew Mendoza       Florida State        

   24.           (25) SS   Nick Quintana        Arizona              

   25.           (28) OF   JJ Bledsay           Vanderbilt           

   26.           (29) RHP Matthew Allen        Seminole HS (FL)   

   27.           (--) OF   Kam Misner           Missouri              

   28.           (17) SS Bryson Stott           UNLV                

   29.           (26) SS   Will Holland          Auburn               

   30.           (--) OF   Dominic Fletcher     Arkansas       

   31.           (14) RHP Tyler Dyson          Florida               

   32.           (--) OF   Corbin Carroll        Lakeside HS (WA)  

   33.           (--) OF   Zack Watson         LSU

   

    Profile on Mets Pick:

Matthew Thompson is a 2019 RHP/SS with a 6-3 184 lb. frame from Cypress, TX who attends Cypress Ranch HS. Slender young athletic build, long arms, lots of physical projection. Has simplified his mechanics in the last year, delivery is easy and directional, deep arm action and fluid and fast coming through, high 3/4's arm slot. Fastball topped out at 92 mph, has been up to 96 mph in the past, good angle to his fastball but mostly straight. Curveball is his best pitch, very tight spin with good power and depth, knee buckler at times for right handed hitters, throws strikes with his curveball. High ceiling young arm who should keep improving. Good student, verbal commitment to Texas A&M. Selected to play in the 2018 Perfect Game All-American Classic.

TICKET INVITE BACK FROM METS-BREWERS GAME ON FRIDAY, APRIL 26

FLUSHING, N.Y., April 26, 2019 – The New York Mets have announced that as a thank you to our fans, anyone holding a ticket for tonight’s rain delayed game can exchange their tickets marked “Friday, April 26 – Game 9” for a ticket – in an alternate location to any remaining 2019 Monday-Thursday regular season home game (excluding the Subway Series on July 2 & 3), subject to availability.  Restrictions may apply. 

Exchanges for tickets will be available beginning tomorrow morning at the Citi Field Box Office only. The Citi Field Ticket Windows will open at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.

For complete information, please visit mets.com/rain.

RUMBLE PONIES GAME NOTES: Games #17 & #18 - Rumble Ponies (9-5) vs. Sea Dogs (5-11) - 1:05 PM

Binghamton Rumble Ponies (9-6), T-1st Eastern Division, --- GA (New York Mets)		Portland Sea Dogs (5-11), 6th Eastern Division, 4.5 GB (Boston Red Sox)
	Saturday, April 27, 2019 • 1:05 PM NYSEG Stadium • Binghamton, NY G1: RHP Harol Gonzalez (1-0, 3.24) vs. RHP Denyi Reyes (0-2, 8.78) G2: LHP Anthony Kay (1-1, 1.89) vs. RHP Tanner Houck (2-1, 5.14)

PREVIEW: Following a rain out, the Rumble Ponies and Sea Dogs continue their four-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday

BINGHAMTON STARTERS: RHP Harol Gonzalez makes his second start of the season. The righty earned his first career Double-A victory, on his tenth attempt, by beating the SeaWolves on April 18. LHP Anthony Kay takes the hill in the nightcap.

OH NO, A NO-NO!: Sea Dogs pitchers Kyle Hart, Daniel McGrath, and Adam Lau combined to no-hit the Rumble Ponies on Thursday. It was the first time Binghamton had been no-hit since September 8, 2017 when the Trenton Thunder tossed a combined no-hitter in Game 3 of the Eastern Division Championship Series.

SANCHEZ STILL STREAKING: Ali Sanchez collected one of Binghamton’s two hits in Wednesday’s loss to Akron. The second-inning single extended his hitting streak to a team-best eight games. Andres Gimenez, Braxton Lee and Mike Paez all had their seven-game hitting streaks snapped with hitless performances on Wednesday.

GENTLEMEN, THE BATS: The Rumble Ponies have gone 2-for-53 at the plate in their last two games, suffering back-to-back shutout losses. The offensive funk comes directly after Binghamton racked up 33 combined hits against Akron on Monday and Tuesday night. The Ponies scored a combined 27 runs in those games.

TAKING ON THE DOGS: The Ponies are slated to play 22 games against the Sea Dogs this season spread out over five series. The Ponies went 12-11 against the Sea Dogs in 2018, including a 6-5 mark at NYSEG Stadium. Binghamton has had a winning season record versus Portland in the last four seasons, amassing a 49-35 record during the span.

HELLO AGAIN, BOLESY: Rumble Ponies manager Kevin Boles spent three seasons in Portland, managing the Sea Dogs from 2011 through 2013. Boles went 195- 229 in his time with Portland. Current Red Sox Jackie Bradley Jr., Xander Bogaerts and Brandon Workman all played for Boles while with Portland.

LINEUP REGULARS: Ponies infielders Sam Haggery and Andres Gimenez have been in the starting lineup in each of the last twelve games. With one exception, Haggerty has hit leadoff and Gimenez has followed him in the batting order.

HAGGERTY LEADING UP TOP: Sam Haggerty has hit in the leadoff position 12 times in Binghamton’s first 15 games. He leads the team with 18 hits and seven multiple-hit games, and has logged time at four different defensive positions.

BIRTHDAYS IN BUNCHES: The Ponies have three players celebrating birthdays this week. Starter Mike Gibbons turned 26 on Wednesday. Infielder Dario Pizzano turned 28 on Thursday. Reliever Joshua Torres turned 25 on Friday.

St. Lucie 7 - Florida 3

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (April 26, 2019) – The St. Lucie Mets broke a 1-1 tie by scoring six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to beat the Florida Fire Frogs 7-3 on Friday at First Data Field.

The first five batters of the sixth all reached base and scored. Cody Bohanek broke the tie with a RBI double to plate Luis Carpio. Mitch Ghelfi followed with a two-run single.

Later in the inning Carlos Cortes hit a sac fly so deep into right-center field that Hansel Moreno was able to tag and score all the way from second base. Ghelfi also scored from third base on the fly out. The two-run sac fly made it 6-1. Quinn Brodey completed the scoring by racing home from third base on a wild pitch.

The Mets picked a good time break out the offense because it got starting pitcher Kevin Smith the win. Smith limited the Fire Frogs to one run over six impressive innings. He scattered three hits and struck out a season-high seven. He has won his last two starts (two earned runs in 11.1 innings).

Bohanek went 3 for 4 with two RBI. Quinn Brodey and Jeremy Vasquez had two hits apiece.

Briam Campusano closed out the game by pitching the final three innings. He earned the first save of his Mets minor league career (49^th game).

The Mets (12-10) and Fire Frogs (7-15) tangle again on Saturday at First Data Field. The contest begins at 6:30 p.m. There will be postgame fireworks.

Charleston 8 - Columbia 3

Box Score

CHARLESTON, SC – Brian Sharp doubled and plated a run on Friday at Joe Riley Park. Columbia’s first baseman continued his strong series in Charleston. The Fireflies lost the second game of the series, though, 8-3.

Sharp notched a two-hit game on Thursday that included a triple. The lefty has three hits this series with an RBI and a run scored.

Columbia (7-14) fell behind 7-0 after six innings on Friday. It attempted to rally with three runs in the seventh and eighth frames, but Charleston (10-12) had built too large of a lead. Ronny Mauricio continued to put the ball into play. The short stop doubled on Friday and now has 25 hits through 19 games, good for fifth in the league.

SCORING SUMMARY:

Bottom 4: Eric Wagaman homers … Canaan Smith drives in a run with a double … Junior Soto strikes two-run home run over left-field wall. CHS 4, COL 0

Bottom 5: Josh Breaux and Kyle Gray single in runs. CHS 6, COL 0

Bottom 6: Breaux knocks in another run with a single up the middle. CHS 7, COL 0

Top 7: Wagner Lagrange and Jose Medina drive in runs. CHS 7, COL 2

Top 8: Ronny Mauricio doubles and later moves to third, tags and scores on Brian Sharp’s sacrifice fly. CHS 7, COL 3

Bottom 8: Wilkerman Garcia singles home Brandon Lockridge. CHS 8, COL 3

On Saturday, Columbia and Charleston continue their series. Right-hander Dedniel Nunez (2-1, 4.41) starts for the Fireflies and is expected to face RiverDogs righty Luis Medina (0-1, 10.80). First pitch is set for 6:05 ET at Joe Riley Park.

You can tune into the action at FirefliesLiveStream.com.