Pinstriped Performances: Baseball Was Also Played Today

A whole bunch of players who ordinarily appear in this space are reportedly gone, though the mega-trade that may bring Joey Gallo to the Bronx has still not been made official. In the meantime, there were three games for the remaining prospects, all of which involved varying levels of disaster.

Socrates Brito (Photo Credit: Matt Bufano)

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (46-24): …all’s well that ends well? The RailRiders suffered a complete meltdown and blew a six-run ninth-inning lead before winning their matchup with Syracuse 9-8 in the 10th.

• Star of the Game: Sócrates Brito – 2-for-5, 1 home run (8), 2 RBI, 2 runs scored, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, 1 stolen base. Brito drove in the RailRiders’ first run with a single in the first and also hit a solo home run in the third
• Pitching Star of the Game: Nick Green – 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 13 pitches (10 strikes). Green was able to record the final out of the ninth and pitch a clean 10th, all with men in scoring position. He was a worthy game winner
• Thomas Milone: 2-for-4, 2 runs scored, 2 walks
• Andrew Velazquez: 2-for-5, 1 double, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, 2 stolen bases. Velazquez might be the hottest hitter in this lineup right now – he’s hitting .329 in July
• Armando Alvarez: 2-for-4, 1 double, 2 RBI, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
• Matt Pita: 1-for-4, 1 home run (3), 1 RBI, 1 run scored. Pita has homered on back-to-back nights
• Matt Krook: 3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 6 BB, 2 K, 74 pitches (33 strikes)
• Greg Weissert: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 32 pitches (19 strikes)
• Nick Nelson: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 31 pitches (16 strikes)
• Adam Warren: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 47 pitches (22 strikes)
• Braden Bristo: 0.2 IP, 4 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, 35 pitches (19 strikes). A true nightmare of an outing for the 26-year-old

Shawn Semple. Photo by Matt Kardos

Somerset Patriots (44-29): Despite some power hitting and more strong work from Shawn Semple, the Patriots lost to Reading 5-4.

• Star of the Game: Michael Beltre – 2-for-4, 1 home run (13), 1 double, 3 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout. Beltre, one of the hottest Patriots at the moment, has an eight-game on-base streak going
• Pitching Star of the Game: Shawn Semple – 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 3 BB, 7 K, 75 pitches (44 strikes). Whether it’s as a starter or in relief, Semple has gotten the job done
• Brandon Lockridge: 3-for-4, 2 doubles, 1 run scored
• Oswald Peraza: 1-for-5, 1 stolen base
• Isiah Gilliam: 1-for-4, 1 home run (7), 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 3 strikeouts. Six of Gilliam’s seven home runs have come this month
• JP Sears: 3 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 69 pitches (44 strikes)
• Zach Greene: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 15 pitches (10 strikes)

Chad Bell (Photo by John Brophy/Pinstriped Prospects)

Hudson Valley Renegades (47-27): Burn the tapes and move on. The ‘Gades were demolished by Wilmington 19-6, with Anthony Volpe and Chad Bell the only bright spots of the evening.

• Star of the Game: Anthony Volpe – 3-for-5, 1 home run (4), 1 double, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored, 1 strikeout. Volpe is still here after the Gallo trade, and it’s a good thing too. The kid is simply a revelation this year and only seems to be getting better
• Jake Sanford: 1-for-4, 1 double, 1 run scored, 2 strikeouts
• Chad Bell: 3-for-4, 1 home run (9), 2 RBI, 1 run scored. Bell’s homer total trails only Josh Breaux and recently-departed Ezequiel Duran for the team lead
• Kyle MacDonald: 2-for-4, 1 triple, 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout
• Alex Vizcaíno: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 3 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 0 K, 30 pitches (15 strikes). Vizcaíno’s command is still eluding him as he works his way back from injury
• Sean Boyle: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 7 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 50 pitches (30 strikes)
• Charlie Ruegger: 2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 43 pitches (30 strikes)
• Carlos Espinal: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 34 pitches (20 strikes)
• Nick Ernst: 1.2 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 58 pitches (34 strikes)
• Kyle MacDonald: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 20 pitches (12 strikes). That’s right, a position player pitching! It seldom happens in the minors, but that’s how bad things were for HV in this one

Tampa Tarpons (48-23): The Tarpons and Cardinals had a doubleheader scheduled, but rainy weather led to its cancellation. One game will be made up tomorrow; a makeup date for the other has not been announced.

FCL Yankees (14-5): The FCL Yanks were also not spared from the Florida rain. Their matchup with the Blue Jays will be made up on August 9.