Pinstriped Performances: Epic Meltdown

The Tarpons had a scarcely believable evening, while Scranton opened up a rivalry series in style and was the only affiliate to come out of Tuesday with a win.

JP Sears pitching for the Somerset Patriots on May 7, 2021. (Chris Jones)

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (11-19): Syracuse had no answer for Scranton pitching as the RailRiders downed the Mets 2-0 to open up the week.

• Star of the Game: JP Sears – 3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K, 57 pitches (37 strikes). Sears continues to dominate Triple-A and set the tone for a hugely successful afternoon for the Scranton staff
• Miguel Andujar: 2-for-3, 1 double, 1 run scored, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
• Phillip Evans: 2-for-3, 1 double, 1 RBI
• Matt Pita: 1-for-3, 1 home run (4), 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout. Pita’s eighth-inning solo shot proved the only run the RailRiders would need
• Jose Mujica: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 24 pitches (20 strikes)
• Reggie McClain: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K, 15 pitches (6 strikes)
• Shelby Miller: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 30 pitches (18 strikes). Miller earned the win, his first of the year

Elijah Dunham. Photo by Matt Kardos

Somerset Patriots (17-10): The Patriots mounted a ninth-inning rally, but fell just short in Altoona, losing 4-3.

• Star of the Game: Elijah Dunham – 2-for-4, 1 home run (3), 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 walk, 1 strikeout. Dunham went yard with two outs and nobody on in the ninth to give the Patriots a glimmer of hope
• Anthony Volpe: 0-for-5, 1 run scored, 3 strikeouts
• Brandon Lockridge: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
• Jhony Brito: 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 5 K, 81 pitches (47 strikes). Brito followed up a dominant outing with another solid one and maintains a sparkling 1.42 ERA on the year, though he did take the loss
• Matt Minnick: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 21 pitches (16 strikes)
• Derek Craft: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 26 pitches (15 strikes)

Austin Wells (Robert M Pimpsner/Pinstriped Prospects)

Hudson Valley Renegades (14-13): A tough first couple of innings doomed the Renegades in a 12-4 defeat against first-place Aberdeen.

• Star of the Game: Austin Wells – 3-for-5, 1 home run (5), 1 double, 3 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout. Wells accounted for seven of Hudson Valley’s ten total bases as he came a triple shy of the cycle. His OPS has now crested 1.000, and there appears little reason to keep running him out there to crush High-A pitching
• Blane Abeyta: 2 IP, 4 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 61 pitches (35 strikes). Abeyta was wild and ineffective, and his ERA now sits at an unsightly 6.19
• Rodney Hutchison: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 34 pitches (21 strikes)
• Bryan Blanton: 1 IP, 0 H, 4 ER, 5 BB, 1 K, 43 pitches (16 strikes). Blanton’s pitching line truly catches the eye. In seven appearances over 8.2 innings this season, he’s walked a whopping 12
• Charlie Ruegger: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 19 pitches (13 strikes)
• Nelvin Correa: 2 IP, 1 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 32 pitches (22 strikes)

SS prospect Alexander Vargas (Photo by John Brophy / Pinstriped Prospects)

Tampa Tarpons (13-14): The optimist’s spin on this one is that the Tarpons offense is finally coming to life. Unfortunately, while the team scored the first 10 runs of the game, they went on to give up the next 12, and ended up dropping this incredible contest 12-11 to Dunedin.

• Star of the Game: Jasson Dominguez – 3-for-5, 1 home run (3), 1 double, 4 RBI, 2 runs scored, 1 stolen base. Perhaps the best game of Dominguez’s career to this point, lifting his average all the way up to .252
• Alex Vargas: 2-for-4, 1 home run (3), 1 RBI, 3 runs scored, 1 walk, 1 strikeout. Vargas homered as part of a four-run fourth inning
• Madison Santos: 1-for-5, 1 home run (2), 2 RBI, 1 run scored, 2 strikeouts. Santos is reaching base at a .387 clip in the month of May
• Marcos Cabrera: 1-for-4, 1 home run (4), 3 RBI, 2 runs scored, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, 1 stolen base. Cabrera struck the biggest blow of the game for Tampa, socking a three-run home run with two outs in the first inning to open the scoring
• Tyrone Yulie: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 8 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 67 pitches (38 strikes). Yulie could not hold the ten-run lead he was staked to, as his command failed him – in addition to the three walks, he also hit two batters
• Ryan Anderson: 1.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 34 pitches (20 strikes). Anderson was tagged with the loss, bringing his record to 1-1
• Danny Watson: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 34 pitches (23 strikes)
• Trevor Holloway: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 13 pitches (11 strikes)
• Carlos Gomez: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 14 pitches (11 strikes)