Earning Their Stripes: 5/19/21

Another warm May night, and four more minor league contests were on tap for the Marlins minor league affiliate feeder farm system.

Recent Roster Moves

Here’s the roster moves of the past seven days:

May 13

Jupiter Hammerheads activated RHP George Soriano

May 14

OF Victor Victor Mesa (PNS) placed on the 7-day injured list

OF Lorenzo Hampton transferred from Extended Spring Training to Pensacola

May 15

RHP Dylan Bice transferred to Pensacola from High-A Beloit

Miami Marlins recalled LHP Braxton Garrett from Jacksonville

Miami Marlins optioned RHP Cody Poteet to Jacksonville

May 16

RHP C.J. Carter (PNS) placed on the 7-day injured list

RHP Josh Roberson assigned to Beloit from Jupiter

C Dustin Skelton (BEL) placed on the 7-day injured list

Marlins sent RHP Luis Madero outright to Jacksonville

Miami Marlins optioned LHP Braxton Garrett to Jacksonville

Pensacola sent RHP Tommy Eveld to Jupiter on rehab assignment

May 18

RHP Anthony Maldonado (PNS) placed on the seven-day injured list

RHP Zack Leban transferred from Beloit to Pensacola

RHP Jackson Rose assigned to Beloit from Jupiter

RHP Cody Poteet recalled from Jacksonville by Miami

RHP Elieser Hernandez joined Jumbo Shrimp on a rehab assignment

LHP Eliezer Rodriguez assigned to GCL Marlins from Jupiter

C Luis Arcaya assigned to Jupiter from GCL Marlins

C Casey Combs (JUP) placed on 7-day injured list

May 19

SS Devin Hairston assigned to Pensacola from Beloit

SS Demetrius Sims (PNS) placed on 7-day injured list

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Triple-A

Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 5, Norfolk Tides 2

Jesús Sánchez started Jacksonville out right in front of 2,585 at Harbor Park, home to the Norfolk Tides. He drove in Jorge Alfaro, who is with the team on a rehab stint, for a first-inning lead. The Tides struck for two in the bottom half of the inning, but their lead only lasted until the third. Eddy Alvarez singled Lewin Diaz home to tie the game, then Brian Navarreto knocked a bases-clearing double to seal what would remain the score for the rest of the contest.

The Shrimp, who improved to 10-4 for the season, enjoyed a four-hit night from Sánchez (all singles), who is slashing .510/.538/1.020 after his first dozen games of the season. He added an outfield assist for good measure. Monte Harrison also had multiple hits in the game, a pair of singles. Navarretto’s double was the only multiple-base hit for Jacksonville.

The Shrimp benefitted from an effective start by Josh A. Smith, who walked three and allowed six hits in four innings, but only gave up the two runs and struck out three. Reliever Parker Bugg earned the victory with two shutout innings, followed by Zach Thompson’s pair of shutout frames and a clean ninth from Brett Eibner for his second save of the year. Thompson was especially impressive, with 18-of-23 pitches crossing the plate and three strikeouts versus only one baserunner.

Daniel Castano will get a turn on the hill today for the Shrimp, in a 12:05 PM matinee.

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Double-A

Pensacola Blue Wahoos 1, Rocket City Trash Pandas 2

With an announced crowd of 2,504 on hand at Blue Wahoos Stadium, the hometown Pensacola boys couldn’t seem to get anything going until a ninth-inning solo bomb from Peyton Burdick (3).

Prior to that, Tristan Pompey drove one deep enough in the seventh, but just right of the right-field foul line. Connor Justus pulled the same trick in the eighth, just missing to left field.

Jake Eder started for Pensacola and allowed two runs in five innings, but only one earned. He struck out seven and walked four, getting 54-of-89 pitches in the black. Eder ran into trouble in the fifth, walking a batter and allowing a baserunner via error. After the two successfully pulled off a double steal, Eder walked another to load the bases. Michael Stefanic drove them home on a single, which was Eder’s first blemish of the season in three starts. He followed by striking out the side with two in scoring position to minimize the damage.

As for the bullpen, Sean Guenther struck out a pair in two shutout innings, and Tanner Andrews repeated the trick in the eighth and ninth.

As for the Wahoos offense, they could only muster four singles aside from Burdick’s moon-shot. Riley Mahan pulled off an unassisted double play, then followed with a single in the very next half inning. He was called out attempting to steal second, but replays showed that he was unmistakably safe (even in full speed, but I digress). The Wahoos dropped to 7-7 for the season with the loss.

Brandon Leibrandt (0-1, 12.00) will get a shot at the Trash Pandas tonight starting at 7:35 PM.

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High-A

Beloit Snappers 4, Cedar Rapids Kernels 3

A quality start by Bryan Hoeing led to no decision, but two perfect innings from Josh Roberson (1-0, 0.00) sealed the win in front of 566 at Perfect Game Field. Tyler Mitzel pitched a flawless ninth for the save, as the Snappers improve to 7-7.

Cedar Rapids struck first, with a two-run shot by Michael Helman (3) in the third. Matt Wallner added an RBI-double to give the Kernels a 3-0 lead. Griffin Conine put the Snappers on the board in the fourth with an RBI-groundout, scoring Thomas Jones. Nic Ready crossed the plate in the seventh on a fielding error, then Bubba Hollins tied the score in the ninth with a sacrifice fly, scoring Ready again. Zachary Owings notched the eventual game winner, singling Ricky Aracena home for the final score of the game.

Beloit only managed five hits, but made them count. Aracena’s double was the only multi-base hit, while Jones, Ready, Aracena, and Hollins each collected a single. Jones stole three bases for good measure. The Snappers will play game three against the Kernels, also 7-7, tomorrow at 7:35 PM.

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Single-A

Jupiter Hammerheads 2, Daytona Tortugas 1

With 858 in the stands at Jackie Robinson Park, the Hammerheads scored a pair in the sixth inning for the victory. Trailing 1-0, Osiris Johnson sacrificed J.D. Orr home, followed immediately by Victor Mesa Jr.’s second home run of the season.

Dax Fulton put 37-of-62 pitches over the plate in a four-inning start, striking out five and giving up one run on two hits and two walks. The young lefty had what was easily the most effective outing of his pro career thus far. Yeremin Lara (2-0, 0.75) struck out nine in 3 ²⁄₃ scoreless innings, walking a pair and giving up four hits. Justin Evans earned his second save by striking out four in 1 ¹⁄₃ scoreless innings to close the game.

For those counting, that’s 18 strikeouts from Hammerheads pitching, versus one run allowed. That kind of effort shouldn’t require much in the way of offense, and it was a good thing in this case. Mesa and Troy Johnston each hit safely twice, and Federico Polanco hit a triple to total just five hits for the good guys.

Tomorrow at 7:05 PM, Chris Mokma (0-1, 10.29) will get another shot for the 6-8 Hammerheads.

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Checking in with the Top 30 MLB Pipeline Prospects

1. Sixto Sánchez (JAX IL)
2. J.J. Bleday (PEN) 0-for-4, .611 OPS
3. Max Meyer (PEN)
4. Edward Cabrera (JAX IL)
5. Lewin Díaz (JAX) 0-for-4, 1 R, 1 BB, .786 OPS
6. Jesús Sánchez (JAX) 4-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1.559 OPS, 1 A
7. Braxton Garrett (JAX)
8. José Devers (JAX) 1-for-1, .818 OPS
9. Dax Fulton (JUP) 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO, 37-of-62 strikes
10. Nick Neidert (JAX)
11. Victor Mesa Jr. (JUP) 2-for-4, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 SO, .874 OPS, 1 CS
12. Peyton Burdick (PEN) 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 SO, .710 OPS, 1 E
13. Nasim Nuñez (JUP) 0-for-4, 3 SO, .467 OPS
14. Monte Harrison (JAX) 2-for-5, 2 SO, .717 OPS
15. Kameron Misner (BEL) 0-for-4, 1 BB, 2 SO, .460 OPS
16. Connor Scott (BEL)
17. Kyle Nicolas (BEL)
18. Griffin Conine (BEL) 0-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 SO, .801 OPS
19. José Salas (rookie)
20. Yiddi Cappe (rookie)
21. Jerar Encarnación (PEN) 1-for-3, 1 BB, .897 OPS
22. Jordan Holloway (MIA)
23. Zach McCambley (BEL)
24. Jake Eder (PEN) 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 7 SO, 54-of-89 strikes
25. Eury Pérez (JUP)
26. Evan Fitterer (rookie)
27. Paul Campbell (suspended)
28. Will Banfield (BEL) 0-for-4, 2 SO, .340 OPS, 1 Pickoff
29. Jorge Guzman (MIA IL)
30. Osiris Johnson (JUP) 0-for-3, 1 RBI, 2 SO, .562 OPS, 1 SF, 1 E