Ynoa returns with sterling effort for 51s

Fresh off his first taste of the Major Leagues, Gabriel Ynoa returned to Triple-A to do what he's done so often this season -- win. Ironically enough, he wasn't supposed to start until Tuesday.

The Mets' 18th-ranked prospect hurled eight scoreless innings against Tacoma, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out a pair to lead Las Vegas to a 5-2 win Monday night. The eight frames matched a season high for Ynoa (11-5), who is tied for third in the Pacific Coast League in wins.

"It's so funny, but he was supposed to start tomorrow," Las Vegas pitching coach Frank Viola said. "[Mets' No. 14 prospect] Robert Gsellman got called up, so we asked him if he was OK to throw since he had thrown his bullpen [Sunday]. He said he'd give us what he had and it ended up being eight splendid innings."

The right-hander was making his first start for the 51s since Aug. 7. He was promoted to New York six days later and earned his first Major League victory in his debut. Ynoa made three relief appearances for the Mets before returning to Las Vegas on Aug. 18.

"What he did was, he got a taste," Viola said. "He liked that taste and wants to get back up there. He possesses an incredible work ethic and he's always wanting to learn more and get better. Getting that cup of coffee and earning a win in his first appearance only gives him that much more to shoot for. He took it and ran with it tonight. When he's called upon again, he'll be ready and that's just the type of individual he is." 

Ynoa faced immediate trouble in the first inning, allowing singles to Daniel Robertson and Mike Freeman to begin his outing. But he retired the next three batters to keep Tacoma off the scoreboard. The 23-year-old worked around third baseman Matt Reynolds' throwing error in the second, and after walking Freeman in the third, he got Mariners' No. 7 prospect Dan Vogelbach to ground into an inning-ending double play.

The Dominican Republic native settled in, retiring the next 13 batters he faced until Smith singled with one out in the eighth. Zack Shank drew a walk to put runners at first and second, and following a visit to the mound from his pitching coach, Ynoa helped turn a 1-4-3 double play off the bat of Robertson to complete his 96-pitch outing.

"He's not striking too many guys out," Viola said. "But he attacks the zone early in the count. They put the ball in play, but had a lot of groundouts. He was in charge throughout and the defense played really, really well behind him." 

The former big leaguer thought Ynoa's start was very reminiscent of another Met who also relies heavily on his fastball.

"He went back to basics," Viola said. "That's Bartolo Colon. He went after them and challenged them with the fastball. It was so Bartolo-like, you can't overestimate the importance of being up there and spending time with him. He also was around him a lot during Spring Training. He picks and chooses the right people to hang out with and learn from."

Brandon Nimmo, the Mets' No. 5 prospect, went 2-for-5 to extend his streak of reaching safely to 41 consecutive PCL games. Michael Conforto homered and singled, his eighth multi-hit effort in his last nine games.

Tacoma's Jarrett Grube (1-4) allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out six in six innings.