Late-season call-up Jeff McNeil helps 51s end eight-game skid
When the New York Mets fell out of contention and committed themselves to selling, the chain effect understandably disrupted the 51s’ roster.
The Mets started calling down to the farm in the past two months to fill gaps from Triple A, leaving the 51s’ roster almost unrecognizable from the beginning of the season. That left some younger prospects in the system with the opportunity to move up and get experience competing at the highest level of the minors.
On Friday night, one of those guys — infielder Jeff McNeil — was instrumental in Las Vegas’ 3-2 win over the Tacoma Rainiers at Cashman Field, helping the 51s snap an eight-game losing streak.
McNeil, who was called up from Class A Advanced St. Lucie, hit his first Triple-A home run Thursday. On Friday, he was 3-for-4 and scored all three runs.
“At first, it was kind of speeding up on me a little bit, but after a few at-bats, I feel a lot more comfortable,” McNeil said. “I thought I was seeing the ball really well earlier, too, I just wasn’t hitting good pitches to hit. Now I’m starting to hit them and they’re dropping.”
In the eighth, after Tacoma rallied with two runs in the top of the inning to tie the score 2-2, McNeil got the 51s (53-86) going with a single to right. Later in the inning, Travis Snider broke the tie with triple.
“I felt really good at the plate today,” McNeil said. “Actually faced a good friend on the mound today (Cody Martin) and just got a few good fastballs to hit. Put good swings at them, and that last at-bat just wanted to do anything to get on base. Got a single, and Snider happened to drive me in.”
McNeil doubled in the first inning and scored the 51s’ first run on Jayce Boyd’s double. McNeil also scored on a double play in the third after he had doubled.
That 2-0 lead didn’t hold up, though. Kyle Regnault allowed two runs in the eighth inning as Tacoma (66-73) tied the score.
That left starter Wilfredo Boscan with a no-decision after he had thrown six scoreless innings. He allowed four hits and walked three — his fourth scoreless outing this season.
“I think that he executed pitches well,” Las Vegas manager Pedro Lopez said. “I thought that (he) worked ahead, mixed pitches well. Every pitch that he threw tonight, it looked like the location was off the charts. We’ve seen him pitch that way. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, win or loss record might not show it, but I thought that you really have to tip your hat to him and say that was a really nice job.”
Lopez said the same thing about the entire team.
“It’s kind of hard to compete against Triple-A players when we have guys that don’t have that much experience,” he said. “They don’t have that much experience at the higher level, but they’re doing a good job. They’re holding their own, and we’re competing.”
Up next
Who: Tacoma Rainiers at 51s
When: 7:05 p.m. Saturday
Where: Cashman Field
Starters: TBD, Rainiers, vs. Luis Mateo (1-0, 5.08 ERA)
Coming up
Sunday: Tacoma at Las Vegas, 7:05 p.m.
Monday: Tacoma at Las Vegas, 12:05 p.m.
Update
The 51s activated Friday’s starter, right-hander Wilfredo Boscan, from the temporarily inactive list and placed right-hander Jonathan Albaladejo on the temporarily inactive list.
Contact Betsy Helfand at bhelfand@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BetsyHelfand on Twitter.
