Pinstriped Performances: Pereira Power

The Yanks’ up-and-coming outfielder flexed some muscle on a blazing-hot evening in the Valley. And the rain just keeps falling in Florida – Tampa can’t seem to get a game in these days.

Jason Lopez of the Somerset Patriots on May 6, 2021 (Chris Jones)

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (50-32): Rain prematuraly ended this one, but the RailRiders had no trouble with Lehigh Valley in a 10-3, eight-inning victory.

• Star of the Game: Jason Lopez – 1-for-4, 1 home run (1), 2 RBI, 1 run scored, 3 strikeouts. Lopez’s first of the season came at a perfect time, as he helped break the game wide open in the third inning
• Greg Allen: 2-for-4, 2 doubles, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout
• Ryan LaMarre: 1-for-2, 1 home run (5), 2 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout. LaMarre went deep to open the scoring in the first
• Brandon Wagner: 1-for-2, 1 home run (3), 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout. Wagner’s becoming better known for pitching, but the 2015 6th-rounder reminded us he can swing a bat too
• Armando Alvarez: 2-for-3, 2 runs scored, 1 walk
• Sócrates Brito: 3-for-4, 1 triple, 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout
• Kyle Holder: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 walk
• Cristian Perez: 3-for-4, 1 double, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout
• Brian Keller: 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R (0 ER), 4 BB, 0 K, 54 pitches (28 strikes)
• Sean Boyle: 4.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 66 pitches (43 strikes). Boyle picked up his first win at Triple-A
• Reggie McClain: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 16 pitches (10 strikes)
• Greg Weissert: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 13 pitches (9 strikes)

Chris Gittens (Robert M. Pimpsner)

Somerset Patriots (52-34): A seven-run top of the second inning for Portland undid the Patriots, who slumped to an 8-7 loss on the first day of Corey Kluber’s rehab.

• Star of the Game: Chris Gittens – 2-for-4, 1 home run (1), 3 RBI, 2 runs scored, 1 walk, 1 strikeout. Gittens has hit nine home runs this year across all levels, but somehow this was his first with Somerset
• Brandon Lockridge: 2-for-5, 1 double, 2 runs scored, 1 strikeout
• Oswaldo Cabrera: 2-for-4, 1 run scored, 1 walk
• Josh Breaux: 2-for-5, 2 doubles, 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout
• Michael Beltre: 1-for-4, 1 home run (14), 3 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 walk, 1 strikeout. Beltre’s homer gave the Patriots a 5-1 lead in the first inning, but it wouldn’t last
• Dermis Garcia: 3-for-5, 1 double, 2 strikeouts
• Corey Kluber: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 45 pitches (20 strikes). Definitely some rust to shake off for the veteran
• Ken Waldichuk: 4.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 90 pitches (57 strikes). Waldichuk has been called on a couple of times in relief of an opener, and seems to do better when starting the game himself
• Zach Greene: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 36 pitches (30 strikes)

Matt Sauer (Photo by John Brophy/Pinstriped Prospects)

Hudson Valley Renegades (55-32): Everson Pereira posted one of the best stat lines of the year and Matt Sauer chipped in a solid start as the ‘Gades overwhelmed Jersey Shore 8-4.

• Star of the Game: Everson Pereira – 5-for-5, 2 home runs (4), 4 RBI, 3 runs scored. Two solo shots plus a two-run single for the 20-year-old hitting .355 at this level
• Pitching Star of the Game: Matt Sauer – 6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 92 pitches (67 strikes). Sauer’s second start at High-A was a gem
• Jake Sanford: 2-for-3, 1 double, 2 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 walk
• Roberto Chirinos: 1-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 2 strikeouts. Chirinos was making his High-A debut
• Kyle MacDonald: 3-for-4, 1 double, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout, 1 stolen base
• Charlie Ruegger: 1.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 42 pitches (26 strikes)
• Derek Craft: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 17 pitches (11 strikes). Thursday marked the fifth save of the year for Craft

Tampa Tarpons (56-27): Both halves of Tampa’s doubleheader against Clearwater were postponed. One of the games will be made up tomorrow as they try the twin bill again.

Jake Pries (Tracy Proffitt/Four Seam Images via AP)

FCL Yankees (20-7): The Yanks beat up on Tigers West 14-3 thanks to a career day from one of their elder statesmen.

• Star of the Game: Jake Pries – 3-for-5, 1 home run (1), 1 double, 6 RBI, 2 runs scored. The 24-year-old, ancient by FCL standards, was a 24th-round pick in the draft two years ago and hit six home runs with Pulaski in 2019
• Alex Vargas: 2-for-5, 1 home run (3), 2 RBI, 3 runs scored, 1 stolen base. Vargas hit a two-run shot in the sixth inning and also stole his 10th base
• Anthony Garcia: 1-for-2, 2 runs scored, 3 walks, 1 strikeout, 3 stolen bases
• Antonio Gomez: 1-for-5, 1 double, 2 RBI, 1 run scored
• Grant Richardson: 3-for-3, 1 triple, 1 double, 2 RBI, 3 runs scored, 2 walks. The 2021 17th-round select is off to a hot start with a .368 batting average
• Ocean Gabonia: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K. The 20-year-old Hawaiian was making his professional debut
• Josue Panacual: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K. Panacual picked up the win
• Kenlly Montas: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
• Edward Paredes: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
• Christian Sumoza: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

DSL Yankees: Both Yanks 1 (8-13) and Yanks 2 (11-10) had their games postponed on a rainy day in DR, against the Rockies and Diamondbacks 2, respectively. Both games will be made up tomorrow.