Pinstriped Performances: Peraza Homers Again, Tampa Bats Wake Up

Make it five home runs in four games for Oswald Peraza, who served as the lone bright spot in a bad night for Hudson Valley. Estevan Florial’s Scranton debut was a successful one, Somerset came back to steal a win, and the Tarpons’ biggest bats carried the load.

#Yankees fans it is time again to vote for the Pinstriped Performer of the Night. Which of these #NYY #MiLB prospects takes it home tonight?

Check out the top performances here:https://t.co/94uvoqjPoo#SquadUp

— Pinstriped Prospects (@PinstripedPros) May 16, 2021

Nick Nelson (Robert M Pimpsner/Pinstriped Prospects)

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (8-3): Scranton fell behind 5-0 early, and a rally fell just short in a 5-4 loss.

• Star of the Game: Nick Nelson – 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 43 pitches (30 strikes). After Mike Montgomery faltered early, Nelson stabilized things and allowed Scranton to make a run at it. The Scranton shuttle rider’s Triple-A ERA stands at a strong 2.16 for the year
• Estevan Florial: 1-for-4, 1 triple, 1 run scored, 1 walk. Florial’s third-inning triple was his first hit at the Triple-A level
• Chris Gittens: 1-for-4, 1 home run (3), 2 RBI, 1 run scored. Gittens’ two-run blast came with two outs in the fifth
• Ryan LaMarre: 2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 run scored
• Mike Montgomery: 4 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 68 pitches (42 strikes)
• Braden Bristo: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 14 pitches (9 strikes)
• Nick Goody: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 16 pitches (10 strikes)

Luis Gil pitching for the Somerset Patriots on May 9, 2021. (Chirs Jones)

Somerset Patriots (7-4): In danger of losing to New Hampshire for the fourth time in five games, the Patriots stormed back from behind in the eighth inning to grab a 5-3 victory.

• Star of the Game: Dermis Garcia – 1-for-4, 1 home run, 2 RBI, 1 run scored, 2 strikeouts. With two outs and one on in the eighth of a tie game, Garcia’s home run put Somerset on top. It was the 23-year-old’s second straight game with a bomb
• Pitching Star of the Game: Luis Gil – 4 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K, 68 pitches (42 strikes). Gil didn’t get any run support early on, but he was spectacular in his third start and has struck out 19 through 10.2 innings
• Oswaldo Cabrera: 2-for-4, 1 home run, 2 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout. Cabrera’s solo home run to lead off the eighth tied the game and set the table for Garcia’s heroics
• Max Burt: 1-for-4, 1 run scored. Burt was promoted to Double-A on Saturday and notched a hit in his Patriots debut
• Kevin Gadea: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 32 pitches (18 strikes)
• Michael Gomez: 2 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 48 pitches (24 strikes). Gomez received a win but also a blown save
• Reid Anderson: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 18 pitches (12 strikes). Anderson, the 40th-round pick out of Brown University, is becoming a strong late-inning weapon for the Patriots
• Greg Weissert: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 21 pitches (12 strikes). Weissert worked around a leadoff walk to strike out the side for the save

Yankees infield prospect Oswald Peraza at the plate for the Staten Island Yankees (Robert M. Pimpsner/Pinstriped Prospects)

Hudson Valley Renegades (5-6): The electrifying Peraza’s leadoff home run was as good as it got for the Renegades, who then allowed eight unanswered runs to lose to Aberdeen 8-1.

• Star of the Game: Oswald Peraza – 3-for-4, 1 home run (5), 1 RBI, 1 run scored. Peraza’s slash line now stands at .349/.429/.744
• Ezequiel Duran: 1-for-4, 1 strikeout
• Josh Breaux: 1-for-4, 3 strikeouts
• Mitch Spence: 2 IP, 5 H, 4 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 44 pitches (31 strikes)
• Barrett Loseke: 3 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 56 pitches (32 strikes)
• Charlie Ruegger: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 51 pitches (33 strikes)
• Elvis Peguero: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 24 pitches (16 strikes)

Yankees outfield prospect Juan De Leon at the plate for the Staten Island Yankees (Robert M. Pimpsner/Pinstriped Prospects)

Tampa Tarpons (8-3): The Tarpons’ volatile pitching has settled down as of late, and offense was readily available on Saturday as Tampa trounced Lakeland 8-2.

• Star of the Game: Juan De Leon – 2-for-4, 1 triple, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored, 1 walk. The 23-year-old has a .407 OBP in six games
• Anthony Volpe: 2-for-4, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, 1 stolen base. Volpe’s RBI was his tenth of the year, and the stolen base his fifth
• Austin Wells: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, 1 stolen base.
• Jake Sanford: 2-for-5, 1 double, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout
• Randy Vasquez: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 55 pitches (33 strikes). Vasquez has been Tampa’s most consistent starting pitcher this season – his ERA is a microscopic 0.87 through three starts
• Michael Giacone: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 44 pitches (26 strikes). Giacone picked up the win with three strong innings in relief
• Carson Coleman: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 36 pitches (21 strikes)
• Clay Aguilar: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 8 pitches (6 strikes)