Jul 2, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of Rawlings major league baseballs on the field before the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Baxter was the only one who represented himself relatively well, going 2 for 4 at the plate, with a walk and a triple.  In his first ever game playing for the Las Vegas 51′s and batting clean-up, Ike Davis was 0 for 3 at the plate, with two walks and two strikeouts.  In the seventh inning with runners on first and second and one out, he looked at strike three.  In fact, he was caught looking both times he fanned.

While Collin McHugh has enjoyed success pitching for Las Vegas this season, his first start since returning did not go so well.  He only lasted four innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits which includes a home run.  He walked four batters and struck out five, but walked away with a no-decision.  Robert Carson’s outing was even worse.  In just 0.2 innings, he was charged with three runs, but none earned, on two hits.  He walked two, struck out one, and was credited with a blown save.

The rest of the Las Vegas 51′s were actually pretty remarkable Tuesday evening.  As mentioned, Mike Baxter tripled, then scored on a wild pitch in the first inning, and in the second, Francisco Pena connected on his fifth home run to give Vegas a 2-0 lead.  But the Tacoma Rainiers scored once in the top of the third, and took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth.  In the bottom of the frame, Vegas struck back to retake the lead with a pair of runs, one on a sacrifice fly, and a second scoring on a fielder’s choice.

That’s the way things stayed till the ninth, when the Tacoma Rainiers became beneficiaries of a Robert Carson melt-down.  Largely helped along by Brandon Hicks‘ throwing error, the Rainiers scored three times, to take a 6-4 lead.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Andrew Brown drew a walk.  Ike Davis likewise drew a second consecutive, and timely walk issued by Tacoma’s reliever Logan Bawcom.  Wilmer Flores then stepped in, and singled to drive in Brown.  Third baseman Zach Lutz took his turn at-bat, and launched his fifth home run of the season for a game winning three run jack.

Despite the four invading horsemen of METropolis, Las Vegas wins 8-6 in thrilling fashion.

Extra Innings

*  Wilmer Flores is now batting .313 after going 3 for 5 at the plate Tuesday evening, with two runs scored and a run batted in.  He now has forty-six RBI in 235 trips to the plate.

*  Game time temperature – ninety-nine degrees.  But it’s a dry heat…

*  The victory improved Las Vegas’ record to 34-29, placing them two games back of the first place Sacramento River Cats.

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Jul 2, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of Rawlings major league baseballs on the field before the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

On Sunday, Carlos Torres continued his recent run of dominance, completing nine full innings against the Tacoma Rainiers, allowing one earned run on just two hits, while walking two batters and striking out four.  He brought a 4.31 ERA into the game, and with today’s performance, lowered it to a 3.91 mark.  Carlos now has a 0.641 WHiP over his last four games as well, and improved his record to 6-3 on the season.

Offensive Highlights

Second baseman Wilmer Flores singled in the first inning to plate Brian Bixler with the game’s first run.  The game stayed that way until the seventh inning, when third baseman Eric Campbell connected on his sixth home run of the season to give the 51′s a 2-0 lead.  Tacoma spoiled Torres’ shutout in the bottom of the frame as the Rainiers pushed a run across on a fielder’s choice.  In the top of the eighth, Las Vegas struck for five more runs, highlighted by Brandon Hicks‘ grand slam, his fourth home run of the season.  Las Vegas defeated the Tacoma Rainiers by a 7-1 final.

Las Vegas News

The Las Vegas 51′s are preparing the arrivals of Ike Davis, Mike Baxter and Robert Carson – all demoted after the Mets sandwiched just one victory over the Washington Nationals in between suffering two series sweeps at the hands of the Marlins within a week.  Ike Davis was batting just .161 with sixty-six strikeouts after fifty-five games and 186 futile trips to the plate.  On Sunday, Ike was 0 for 3, with a strikeout, while only seeing twelve pitches.  The three will be reunited with Collin McHugh, who was returned the Las Vegas Saturday.  Danny Abriano summerized today’s transaction in greater detail.

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The Mets have confirmed Adam Rubin’s report that the Mets will be calling up first baseman Josh Satin, outfielder Collin Cowgill, and lefty reliever Josh Edgin to replace the recently demoted Ike Davis, Mike Baxter, and Robert Carson.

The Mets noted earlier today that Lucas Duda wouldn’t be sliding to first base while Davis was in the minors, and the callup of Satin, 28, seems to be confirmation of that.  Satin was hitting .306 with a .421 OBP in AAA to go along with 9 homers and 32 RBI’s.

Cowgill, 27, who was given just over 50 at bats with the Mets in April before being demoted, will get another shot.  He was hitting .267 with a .358 OBP, and had 5 homers and 12 RBI’s in Vegas.

Edgin, 26, who was demoted earlier this season after struggling mightily, had a 5.91 ERA in 10 innings pitched after being sent down.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

After today’s game, the Mets demoted first baseman Ike Davis, outfielder Mike Baxter, and reliever Robert Carson to AAA Las Vegas.  The game in Las Vegas is currently being played.  Instead of making the announcement today, the Mets will be waiting until tomorrow to disclose which three players are coming up.

May 22, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets first baseman Ike Davis (29) reacts after making the final out of the sixth inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

During the postgame press conference, manager Terry Collins said that a “mass roster change” was a consideration.  After the moves were made, general manager Sandy Alderson (per Adam Rubin) stated that “this is not a staff issue, this is a player issue.”

Ike Davis declined to speak with reporters after he was made aware of his demotion, and Sandy Alderson noted that there was nothing Davis could’ve done today to change the team’s mind.

Carson has been struggling badly all season, and his presence on the roster had become untenable.

Baxter has been mired in a slump, but his demotion was the most surprising of the three.

The team is implying that the three players who are coming up will all be from AAA Las Vegas.  If that’s the case, AA reliever Jack Leathersich can be crossed off the list of possibilities.  In addition, the team is not considering moving Lucas Duda to first base.

Gonzalez Germen seems like the likely bet to replace Carson, and Josh Satin is the likely candidate to replace Ike Davis.  Wilmer Flores has an outside chance at being the pick, but he’s had close to no duty at first base.  As far as the outfielder to replace Baxter, Collin Cowgill (who wasn’t given a full opportunity earlier this season) seems like the logical choice.  Other options include Andrew Brown and Jamie Hoffmann.

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