Memphis Pummels Rochester to Force Deciding Game Three
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | Lost, 15-4 | @ Memphis, 7:30pm | Z. Kent (4-0, 4.89) vs. Thompson (4-3, 4.79) |
Memphis 15 Rochester 4
• Lyon (L, 0-1) 2⅓ IP, 6H, 8R, 5ER, 1BB, 2K, HR
• Simpson ⅓ IP, 3H, 5R, 5ER, 2BB, 0K, WP, 2-2 IR-S
• A. Lara 3IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• Pineda 2-4, 2RBI
• Lawson 1-2, RBI
Memphis scored all 15 of its runs in the space of three innings, including a nine-run 3rd, to force a winner-takes-all Game Three (with the loser standing small, natch). Isaac Lyon took the brunt of the beating, charged with eight runs (five earned) on six hits (one HR) and a walk over two and a 1/3rd innings to suffer the loss. Jared Simpson retired one of six batters faced and let in both inherited runners as did Paxton Schultz while getting out of the inning before coughing up two more in the 4th. After a requisite inning from Ben Grable, Andry Lara finished the game with three scoreless.
Rochester broke up the shutout in the 8th when Cayden Wallace drew a walk with the bases loaded. Two batters later Leandro Pineda drove in two with two out with his second single of the night. Cortland Lawson completed the Red Wings’ six-hit assault with a two-out single in the 9th as Seaver King’s defensive replacement as the Red Wings emptied the bench for the last three innings.
Neither team has officially named tonight’s starters, but neither team has deviated from the regular-season rotation (Memphis) or pattern of usage (Rochester). Roster moves: LHP Jackson Kent optioned from Washington; RHP Gus Varland recalled to Washington; C Kyle Hayes activated from the Development List.
Ouch. Very few positives to take from that game. Bad pitching, bad fielding. Poor hitting. One to forget. Hope they bounce back tonight.
How about Yohandy Morales?! He looks every part a major leaguer. It’s a bit crazy he’s still not taken a walk in 43 plate appearances, but if he’s smoking the ball like he has, then let him keep ripping. In line with his fantastic minor league numbers, he destroying the ball when he makes contact. His exit velocity, barrel %, and hard hit % are all elite, 90+ percentile. He’s showing very good bat speed, but making bad decisions (swinging at bat pitches). He seems to be exactly the same guy he looked like in the minors. But altogether this has been a fantastic player. He has a 147 wRC+, which is better than James Wood!
Let’s see if pitchers learn how to attack him better, but the criticisms of him being bad against fastballs hasn’t materialized. He’s been moderately above average so far against them, and is feasting on off speed pitches, as expected.
So happy for him, and hope he proves the doubters wrong. This team is actually full of very, very good players who prospectors dismissed: Alvarez and Young were also never rated as even 35 FV prospects by anyone, and they’re both on pace for almost 3 WAR this season.
Yo – yo hit that farrrr in Detroit .
Zac ( give him the S suit ) Kent . Keep the crypto nite away
Crypto nite is green
Green Bay tonight
It’s a pretty small sample size (17 PAs vs fastballs) and there are some signs of good fortune (wOBA almost 50 points higher than xwOBA), but I agree he’s looked pretty good so far.
Would be very cool if the scouts were just wrong about him.
Go Red Wings! Maybe the game will be free on milb.tv. (I have a subscription – love milb.tv).