Pinstriped Performances: Cowles, Carela Help Tarpons Snap Skid

Tampa was the only affiliate to record a win on Friday, largely thanks to the heroics of their second baseman.

Carlos Espinal. Photo by Matt Kardos

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (11-22): The anemic Scranton offense managed just three hits and were shut out by Syracuse 3-0.

• Star of the Game: Carlos Espinal – 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 42 pitches (27 strikes). Espinal kept things close with some rock-solid long relief work and has put together two effective performances in three outings at Triple-A this season
• Oswald Peraza: 0-for-3, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
• Max McDowell: 2-for-3, 1 double
• Ryan Weber: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 24 pitches (16 strikes)
• Braden Bristo: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 30 pitches (21 strikes)
• Ron Marinaccio: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 12 pitches (8 strikes)
• Reggie McClain: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 14 pitches (6 strikes)

Patriots starter Randy Vasquez warms up before pitching against Hartford on September 11, 2021. Photo provided by Somerset Patriots.

Somerset Patriots (19-11): The Patriots rallied to knot the game at one in the bottom of the ninth, but went on to lose in walk-off fashion 2-1 in Altoona.

• Star of the Game: Randy Vasquez – 5.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 68 pitches (47 strikes). One of the more hyped prospects entering the year, Vasquez pitched out of the fifth inning for the first time and maintained his excellent 1.86 ERA, though he still has an unsightly 17:11 strikeout-to-walk ratio
• Anthony Volpe: 1-for-5, 3 strikeouts
• Brandon Lockridge: 1-for-3, 1 double, 1 run scored, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts
• Jeisson Rosario: 3-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 strikeout. Rosario singled home Brandon Lockridge as the tying run with two outs in the ninth inning
• Barrett Loseke: 3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 48 pitches (26 strikes)
• Derek Craft: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 6 pitches (6 strikes). Craft allowed two consecutive singles in the tenth, the latter of which drove home the automatic runner to win the game

Cooper Bowman takes batting practice during the Yankees’ mini camp (John Brophy/Pinstriped Prospects)

Hudson Valley Renegades (15-15): A six-run first inning for the IronBirds doomed the Renegades to an eventual 8-3 loss.

• Star of the Game: Cooper Bowman – 1-for-4, 1 home run (3), 3 RBI, 1 run scored. Though his team was already in an 8-0 hole, Bowman’s three-run bomb in the third inning lifted the hot-hitting shortstop’s season slash line to .238/.405/.464
• Trey Sweeney: 1-for-4, 3 strikeouts
• Austin Wells: 1-for-3, 1 run scored, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
• Eric Wagaman: 1-for-3, 1 double, 1 walk
• Beck Way: 2.2 IP, 8 H, 8 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 72 pitches (39 strikes). Way has served up four home runs in 21 innings after allowing five in 63 last season
• Charlie Ruegger: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 35 pitches (21 strikes)
• Rodney Hutchison: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 34 pitches (21 strikes)
• Nelvin Correa: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 30 pitches (20 strikes)

Marcos Cabrera looks on as he hits a home run in Lakeland (John Brophy/Pinstriped Prospects)

Tampa Tarpons (14-16): Benjamin Cowles’ offensive output and a strong effort from starting pitcher Juan Carela led the Tarpons to a 3-2 win over the Blue Jays to end their five-game losing streak.

• Star of the Game: Benjamin Cowles – 2-for-4, 1 home run (2), 2 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout. Cowles homered in the first inning to put the Tarpons on the board, then came through again with a one-out base hit in the seventh to score the go-ahead run
• Marcos Cabrera: 2-for-4, 1 run scored, 2 strikeouts, 1 stolen base
• Anthony Seigler: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
• Juan Carela: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 81 pitches (56 strikes). The impressive 20-year-old has now pitched into the sixth inning in three consecutive starts, striking out 18 and walking just three over that span
• Carlos Gomez: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 23 pitches (14 strikes). Gomez picked up his first win
• Zach Messinger: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 28 pitches (13 strikes)
• Jack Neely: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 16 pitches (9 strikes). Neely recorded his third save and looks to be tightening his grip on the closer role