Mateo ties career high with four-hit game

Even though Jorge Mateo has 80-grade speed, he's having more success with his bat right now.

The Yankees' No. 1 prospect showed off both with an RBI triple to right field in Tampa's 7-5 loss to Clearwater on Thursday. That hit was part of a 4-for-5 day that also included a run scored.

The four-hit game was Mateo's second with Tampa. The first came in his Class A Advanced debut against Brevard County last Aug. 15, and he also tripled and stole two bases in that game.

The shortstop was caught stealing twice against Clearwater after singling in his first two at-bats, and Mateo has been successful on just eight of his 16 stolen-base attempts this year after swiping 82 bags in 99 attempts across two levels last season. He's been caught stealing eight times, which leads the Florida State League.

"He knows it's just getting more consistent and doing all the little things day in and day out," Tampa manager Pat Osborn told MiLB.com in April.

Still, Mateo's speed has been an asset in the triples department this season -- Thursday's three-bagger was his fourth, one behind circuit leader Amed Rosario of Palm Beach.

"A lot of times with these fast guys, it takes them a few steps to reach that top-end speed. With Jorge, it's right away," Osborn told MiLB.com. "As soon as that first muscle twitch goes, he's gone, he's at top speed. There might be some guys who can keep up with him for 60 yards, but 90 feet? I don't see anyone that can run with this kid."

Mateo leads the league in OPS (.970), runs (22), hits (35) and total bases (55). He also ranks second in average (.354) behind St. Lucie's Wuilmer Becerra (.400) and slugging percentage (.556) after Clearwater's Mitch Walding (.582) and is tied for fifth in steals.

The 20-year-old has shown some plate discipline as well. Although the leadoff batter has struck out 24 times in 25 games, he's also drawn 10 walks.

"I've been impressed with his ability to lay off some tough pitches," Osborn said in April. "I think with young hitters, one of the biggest things in their development is to learn pitches they can handle and not swing at pitches they have no chance of putting in play or put in a good swing on to make hard contact."

Yankees second baseman Billy Fleming went 3-for-5 with two doubles and four RBIs to raise his season slash line to .347/.404/.484. The 23-year-old singled in Mateo in the fifth before smacking a two-run double to left in the seventh and an RBI double, also to left, in the ninth to cap the scoring.

Tampa starter Vicente Campos (3-2) was tagged for six runs on nine hits and two walks in five innings.

Matt Imhoff (3-1), who went the first five frames for Clearwater, allowed two runs on six hits and four walks while fanning four.