Pinstriped Performances: The Day Of The Pitcher

It’s fitting that one day after Corey Kluber threw the first Yankees no-hitter in nearly 22 years, a pair of prospects took the mound in Brooklyn and Hartford and dazzled. Plus, another double-digit run output from Tampa and another close game for Scranton, albeit a loss this time.

Brian Keller pitching for the Trenton Thunder during the 2018 season. Photo by: Michael Dill

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (11-4): Scranton saw a first-inning lead gradually slip away and eventually fell 5-3 to Rochester thanks to a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth.

• Star of the Game: Brian Keller – 4 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 K, 80 pitches (43 strikes). Keller struggled at times with his command but managed to pitch through it, emerging unscathed except for a second-inning solo home run. He has a 3.00 ERA through three starts
• Estevan Florial: 1-for-4, 1 double, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
• Hoy Jun Park: 1-for-4, 1 double, 1 run scored, 2 strikeouts
• Sócrates Brito: 1-for-4, 1 double, 2 RBI, 1 run scored, 2 strikeouts
• Thomas Milone: 1-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 strikeout. Milone has had no issues transitioning from Double-A and is hitting a healthy .333
• Brooks Kriske: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 33 pitches (20 strikes)
• Nestor Cortes Jr.: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 29 pitches (20 strikes). Cortes chose a bad time to give up his first runs of the season, serving up the walkoff bomb courtesy of Red Wings shortstop Luis García

Michael Beltre. Photo by Matt Kardos

Somerset Patriots (10-5): The Patriots put together their most comprehensive win of the season, romping at Hartford 11-1 and receiving a pitching performance for the ages from their starter.

• Star of the Game: Glenn Otto – 5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 14 K, 85 pitches (53 strikes). Otto’s first start of the year was great and his second was terrible, but he found another gear altogether in his third. In his professional career, Otto had never hit double-digit strikeouts in an outing. He struck out the side in the first and fifth innings and did not allow a runner to advance past second base
• Michael Beltre: 4-for-6, 1 triple, 2 RBI, 3 runs scored. Beltre hit his second triple of the year and raised his average all the way from .184 to .250
• Oliver Dunn: 3-for-5, 1 home run (1), 1 double, 1 RBI, 4 runs scored, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts. Dunn’s OPS is over 1.000 after hitting his first home run, a sixth-inning solo shot
• Donny Sands: 2-for-5, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 strikeout
• Dermis Garcia: 2-for-6, 1 RBI, 1 strikeout
• Max McDowell: 1-for-2, 1 double, 2 RBI, 3 runs scored, 3 walks, 1 strikeout
• Aaron Palensky: 2-for-5, 1 double, 2 RBI, 2 strikeouts. Palensky impressed in his professional debut
• Ron Marinaccio: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 36 pitches (20 strikes)
• Reid Anderson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 6 pitches (4 strikes)
• Kevin Gadea: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 23 pitches (12 strikes)

Luis Medina (Bryan Green)

Hudson Valley Renegades (8-7): Their top position players got them the runs, but the story at Maimonides Park on Thursday was Luis Medina as the Renegades coasted to a 6-1 win over the rival Cyclones.

• Star of the Game: Luis Medina – 5.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 11 K, 76 pitches (49 strikes). Medina’s only damage was surrendered on a run-scoring double play after a leadoff triple in the third. He struck out the side in the first, fourth, and fifth innings, and nine of his 11 punchouts came swinging
• Oswald Peraza: 2-for-5, 1 double, 2 runs scored
• Ezequiel Duran: 2-for-4, 1 home run (1), 1 double, 4 RBI, 1 run scored. Duran is quietly putting together a brilliant season, leading the team in batting average at .339
• James Nelson: 1-for-4, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 run scored
• Isaiah Pasteur: 1-for-4, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 strikeout
• Elvis Peguero: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 42 pitches (23 strikes)
• Matt Minnick: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 10 pitches (6 strikes)

Austin Wells (Photo by John Brophy/Pinstriped Prospects)

Tampa Tarpons (11-4): While the pitchers dominated elsewhere, Tampa relied on its old standby – the offense – to cruise past Fort Myers for the second night in a row, this time by a 16-5 score.

• Star of the Game: Austin Wells – 3-for-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, 3 runs scored, 1 walk, 1 strikeout. Wells, who’s now hitting .250, had his second game of the year with multiple extra-base hits and his first since Opening Day
• Anthony Volpe: 1-for-4, 1 double, 3 RBI, 4 runs scored, 1 walk, 3 stolen bases. Volpe has swiped nine bags this season
• Trevor Hauver: 2-for-4, 1 triple, 1 double, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored, 2 walks, 1 strikeout. Just when it looked like Hauver might be cooling off a bit, his batting average is back up to .349
• Andres Chaparro: 2-for-4, 1 double, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored, 1 stolen base
• Jesus Bastidas: 2-for-5, 3 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 strikeout
• Randy Vasquez: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 33 pitches (14 strikes). Vasquez, an early-season star on the Tarpons staff, could not find the plate in this one
• Zach Kohn: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 2 K, 41 pitches (18 strikes)
• Nelvin Correa: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 47 pitches (29 strikes). Correa has still not allowed an earned run this season
• Connor Pellerin: 1 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 29 pitches (13 strikes)
• Blane Abeyta: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 40 pitches (24 strikes). Abeyta’s win was well-deserved