New York Mets: Josh Satin
Left-hander Jack Leathersich owns the Division II UMass Lowell single-season strikeout record. His gaudy K totals have continued as a pro, since getting drafted in the fifth round last June.
Leathersich, who made his high-A St. Lucie debut on Tuesday night, has now fanned 66 batters in 39 1/3 pro relief innings through stops with Brooklyn, Savannah and now in the Florida State League. He has surrendered only 18 hits. Not bad for a kid who threw 85 mph as a high school senior and described himself as "tiny" back then -- 5-foot-8, 150 pounds.
Leathersich's fastball now sits at 91-93 mph and tops out at 95-96 mph when he's aiming for a strikeout. He also throws a circle change as well as what he describes as a slurve -- "kind of in the middle … not really like a 12-to-6 (curveball), but not like a hard slider. It kind of comes in diagonal."
Said Leathersich: "I don’t really go out there trying to strike people out. I never really have. Getting ahead is the biggest thing for me. When I get ahead 0-1, 1-2, 0-2, I do try to put them away. I try to get them out of there. But I've been working actually a lot this year on not going so deep in the counts -- trying to get one-, two-pitch outs."
Leathersich burst onto the radar while competing in the prestigious Cape Cod League during college. He was one of only the three or four Division II players invited, by his count. That's where he picked up his nickname -- "Rocket." His Twitter handle remains @LeatherRocket.
"My buddy, Marcus Stroman -- he's going to be a top-10 pick this year, from Duke -- he just started calling me that," Leathersich said. "We were roommates. He pitched the ninth inning and I pitched the eighth normally. I don't know. It kind of just stuck."
Leathersich's best experience as a pro so far? That would have to be his Aug. 30 appearance for Brooklyn last season. The Lowell Spinners are in that league, and share a stadium with Leathersich's college program. Pitching as a pro on the field where he was a college standout, Leathersich tossed two scoreless innings, striking out the side in his first frame.
"That was crazy," Leathersich said. "That was definitely a pretty cool moment in my life. Everybody was there. I mean, everybody from my town (Beverly, Mass.), which is only a half-hour away. And everybody from Lowell, where I went to school. The place was pretty packed. It was a rush when I got called into the game."
In his Florida State League debut Tuesday, Leathersich surrendered his first professional homer. He was charged with two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out three in 2 2/3 innings.
"Anybody, I feel, who says that they don't have to work on anything is lying to you," Leathersich said. "I've definitely been working on my offspeed a lot -- changeup, curveball, throwing it in any count for a strike. That's what (Savannah pitching coach) Frank Viola and I were really working on when I was down there. He's helped me out tremendously with everything. … I'm just going to keep working on my offspeed pitches and holding runners, fielding my position and all of the stuff I had been working on in Savannah."
Organization leaders
Average: Bobby Scales, Buffalo, .339; T.J. Rivera, Savannah, .333; Jefry Marte, Binghamton, .321; Matt den Dekker, Binghamton, .310; Eric Campbell, Binghamton, .310; Wilmer Flores, St. Lucie, .310; Vinny Rottino, Buffalo, .307; Matt Tuiasosopo, Buffalo, .301; Juan Lagares, Binghamton, .293; Danny Muno, St. Lucie, .283.
Homers: Valentino Pascucci, Buffalo, 11; Travis Taijeron, Savannah, 8; Cory Vaughn, St. Lucie, 8; Wilmer Flores, St. Lucie, 7.
RBI: Valentino Pascucci, Buffalo, 34; Aderlin Rodriguez, Savannah, 29; Travis Taijeron, Savannah, 27; Wilmer Flores, St. Lucie, 25; Vinny Rottino, Buffalo, 25.
Steals: Luis Nieves, Savannah, 9; Cesar Puello, St. Lucie, 9; Wilfredo Tovar, St. Lucie, 9; Pedro Zapata, Binghamton, 8.
ERA: Zack Wheeler, Binghamton, 2.15; Collin McHugh, Binghamton, 2.15; Tyler Pill, Savannah, 2.29; Angel Cuan, St. Lucie, 2.37; Alex Panteliodis, Savannah, 2.63; Rafael Montero, Savannah, 2.64; Chase Huchingson, St. Lucie, 2.68; Jeremy Hefner, Buffalo, 2.72; Chris Schwinden, Buffalo, 2.72; Dylan Owen, Buffalo, 3.19.
Wins: Chase Huchingson, St. Lucie, 5.
Saves: Adrian Rosario, Binghamton, 12; Fernando Cabrera, Buffalo, 9; T.J. Chism, Savannah, 6; Adam Kolarek, St. Lucie, 4.
Strikeouts: Matt Harvey, Buffalo, 49; Garrett Olson, Buffalo, 49; Jeurys Familia, Buffalo, 45; Collin McHugh, Binghamton, 45; Zack Wheeler, Binghamton, 45.
Short hops
• Infielder Danny Muno, the Mets' eighth-round pick in 2011 out of Fresno State, was suspended 50 games for a positive test for a metabolite of Drostanolone, a performance-enhancing drug, Major League Baseball announced Friday. Muno, 23, had been hitting .283 with five homers and 23 RBIs while batting leadoff and manning second base for Class A St. Lucie. Robbie Shields, a third-round pick in 2009 from Florida Southern College, has taken over at second base for the Florida State League club. Alonzo Harris Jr. has assumed the vacated leadoff spot. Since Muno's suspension, Harris is hitting .391 (9-for-23) with five runs scored in five games. That has upped the Mississippi high school product's average 38 points, to .271.
• Left-hander Josh Edgin opened enough eyes in spring training that he formally was added to camp in March after initially not receiving an invite. Now, he has not allowed an earned run in his past six relief appearances with Triple-A Buffalo. Edgin touched 95 mph with his fastball Monday, then tossed a no-hit inning with two strikeouts Tuesday against Indianapolis.
• Right-hander Collin McHugh (4-3, 2.15 ERA in nine starts) has been a bright spot in a Double-A Binghamton rotation that largely has struggled of late. He had completed at least seven innings in each of his past three outings, until that streak ended Tuesday when McHugh served up a solo homer to open the seventh inning at New Britain that broke a scoreless tie, then hit a batter with the next pitch and was ejected. "My ejection from the game tonight was completely absurd!" McHugh tweeted afterward. "I did not throw at ANYONE, nor would I consider it in a 1 run game in the 7th."
McHugh, an 18th-round pick in 2008 out of Berry College, has allowed only six earned runs in 27 1/3 innings during his past four starts. McHugh made his Double-A debut on May 31, 2011. In what is now a full year in the Eastern League, the Atlanta native has compiled a 12-5 record and 2.62 ERA in 27 appearances (25 starts).
• Right-hander Elvin Ramirez, the former Rule 5 pick returned to the Mets after spending a season on the Nationals' 40-man roster with shoulder woes, has yet to allow a run in seven Triple-A appearances. In nine scoreless innings, he has limited opponents to three hits while striking out 10, walking none and hitting one batter. Opponents are hitting .100 (3-for-30) against him. Ramirez began the season with Binghamton.
• Josh Satin is 6-for-his-last-14 with eight walks during that stretch. He nearly exclusively has played first base with the Bisons.
• Jordany Valdespin delivered a pinch-hit homer Saturday for Buffalo, on the day he awoke in Toronto and then was demoted to clear a roster spot for Jeremy Hefner. In two subsequent games while starting at second base, though, Valdespin went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts. He committed two errors Sunday. Brad Emaus started at second base Tuesday, and Valdespin was retired as a pinch hitter.
• Fernando Cabrera is 9-for-9 in save opportunities with the Bisons.
• The Mets released 22-year-old right-hander Eduardo Aldama. He went 3-5 with a 5.37 ERA at Class A Brooklyn last season.
Leathersich, who made his high-A St. Lucie debut on Tuesday night, has now fanned 66 batters in 39 1/3 pro relief innings through stops with Brooklyn, Savannah and now in the Florida State League. He has surrendered only 18 hits. Not bad for a kid who threw 85 mph as a high school senior and described himself as "tiny" back then -- 5-foot-8, 150 pounds.
Courtesy of New York MetsJack Leathersich
Said Leathersich: "I don’t really go out there trying to strike people out. I never really have. Getting ahead is the biggest thing for me. When I get ahead 0-1, 1-2, 0-2, I do try to put them away. I try to get them out of there. But I've been working actually a lot this year on not going so deep in the counts -- trying to get one-, two-pitch outs."
Leathersich burst onto the radar while competing in the prestigious Cape Cod League during college. He was one of only the three or four Division II players invited, by his count. That's where he picked up his nickname -- "Rocket." His Twitter handle remains @LeatherRocket.
"My buddy, Marcus Stroman -- he's going to be a top-10 pick this year, from Duke -- he just started calling me that," Leathersich said. "We were roommates. He pitched the ninth inning and I pitched the eighth normally. I don't know. It kind of just stuck."
Leathersich's best experience as a pro so far? That would have to be his Aug. 30 appearance for Brooklyn last season. The Lowell Spinners are in that league, and share a stadium with Leathersich's college program. Pitching as a pro on the field where he was a college standout, Leathersich tossed two scoreless innings, striking out the side in his first frame.
"That was crazy," Leathersich said. "That was definitely a pretty cool moment in my life. Everybody was there. I mean, everybody from my town (Beverly, Mass.), which is only a half-hour away. And everybody from Lowell, where I went to school. The place was pretty packed. It was a rush when I got called into the game."
In his Florida State League debut Tuesday, Leathersich surrendered his first professional homer. He was charged with two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out three in 2 2/3 innings.
"Anybody, I feel, who says that they don't have to work on anything is lying to you," Leathersich said. "I've definitely been working on my offspeed a lot -- changeup, curveball, throwing it in any count for a strike. That's what (Savannah pitching coach) Frank Viola and I were really working on when I was down there. He's helped me out tremendously with everything. … I'm just going to keep working on my offspeed pitches and holding runners, fielding my position and all of the stuff I had been working on in Savannah."
Organization leaders
Average: Bobby Scales, Buffalo, .339; T.J. Rivera, Savannah, .333; Jefry Marte, Binghamton, .321; Matt den Dekker, Binghamton, .310; Eric Campbell, Binghamton, .310; Wilmer Flores, St. Lucie, .310; Vinny Rottino, Buffalo, .307; Matt Tuiasosopo, Buffalo, .301; Juan Lagares, Binghamton, .293; Danny Muno, St. Lucie, .283.
Homers: Valentino Pascucci, Buffalo, 11; Travis Taijeron, Savannah, 8; Cory Vaughn, St. Lucie, 8; Wilmer Flores, St. Lucie, 7.
RBI: Valentino Pascucci, Buffalo, 34; Aderlin Rodriguez, Savannah, 29; Travis Taijeron, Savannah, 27; Wilmer Flores, St. Lucie, 25; Vinny Rottino, Buffalo, 25.
Steals: Luis Nieves, Savannah, 9; Cesar Puello, St. Lucie, 9; Wilfredo Tovar, St. Lucie, 9; Pedro Zapata, Binghamton, 8.
ERA: Zack Wheeler, Binghamton, 2.15; Collin McHugh, Binghamton, 2.15; Tyler Pill, Savannah, 2.29; Angel Cuan, St. Lucie, 2.37; Alex Panteliodis, Savannah, 2.63; Rafael Montero, Savannah, 2.64; Chase Huchingson, St. Lucie, 2.68; Jeremy Hefner, Buffalo, 2.72; Chris Schwinden, Buffalo, 2.72; Dylan Owen, Buffalo, 3.19.
Wins: Chase Huchingson, St. Lucie, 5.
Saves: Adrian Rosario, Binghamton, 12; Fernando Cabrera, Buffalo, 9; T.J. Chism, Savannah, 6; Adam Kolarek, St. Lucie, 4.
Strikeouts: Matt Harvey, Buffalo, 49; Garrett Olson, Buffalo, 49; Jeurys Familia, Buffalo, 45; Collin McHugh, Binghamton, 45; Zack Wheeler, Binghamton, 45.
Short hops
• Infielder Danny Muno, the Mets' eighth-round pick in 2011 out of Fresno State, was suspended 50 games for a positive test for a metabolite of Drostanolone, a performance-enhancing drug, Major League Baseball announced Friday. Muno, 23, had been hitting .283 with five homers and 23 RBIs while batting leadoff and manning second base for Class A St. Lucie. Robbie Shields, a third-round pick in 2009 from Florida Southern College, has taken over at second base for the Florida State League club. Alonzo Harris Jr. has assumed the vacated leadoff spot. Since Muno's suspension, Harris is hitting .391 (9-for-23) with five runs scored in five games. That has upped the Mississippi high school product's average 38 points, to .271.
• Left-hander Josh Edgin opened enough eyes in spring training that he formally was added to camp in March after initially not receiving an invite. Now, he has not allowed an earned run in his past six relief appearances with Triple-A Buffalo. Edgin touched 95 mph with his fastball Monday, then tossed a no-hit inning with two strikeouts Tuesday against Indianapolis.
• Right-hander Collin McHugh (4-3, 2.15 ERA in nine starts) has been a bright spot in a Double-A Binghamton rotation that largely has struggled of late. He had completed at least seven innings in each of his past three outings, until that streak ended Tuesday when McHugh served up a solo homer to open the seventh inning at New Britain that broke a scoreless tie, then hit a batter with the next pitch and was ejected. "My ejection from the game tonight was completely absurd!" McHugh tweeted afterward. "I did not throw at ANYONE, nor would I consider it in a 1 run game in the 7th."
McHugh, an 18th-round pick in 2008 out of Berry College, has allowed only six earned runs in 27 1/3 innings during his past four starts. McHugh made his Double-A debut on May 31, 2011. In what is now a full year in the Eastern League, the Atlanta native has compiled a 12-5 record and 2.62 ERA in 27 appearances (25 starts).
• Right-hander Elvin Ramirez, the former Rule 5 pick returned to the Mets after spending a season on the Nationals' 40-man roster with shoulder woes, has yet to allow a run in seven Triple-A appearances. In nine scoreless innings, he has limited opponents to three hits while striking out 10, walking none and hitting one batter. Opponents are hitting .100 (3-for-30) against him. Ramirez began the season with Binghamton.
• Josh Satin is 6-for-his-last-14 with eight walks during that stretch. He nearly exclusively has played first base with the Bisons.
• Jordany Valdespin delivered a pinch-hit homer Saturday for Buffalo, on the day he awoke in Toronto and then was demoted to clear a roster spot for Jeremy Hefner. In two subsequent games while starting at second base, though, Valdespin went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts. He committed two errors Sunday. Brad Emaus started at second base Tuesday, and Valdespin was retired as a pinch hitter.
• Fernando Cabrera is 9-for-9 in save opportunities with the Bisons.
• The Mets released 22-year-old right-hander Eduardo Aldama. He went 3-5 with a 5.37 ERA at Class A Brooklyn last season.
INDIANAPOLIS 8, BUFFALO 6: Two ninth-inning errors were the deciding factor. Oswaldo Navarro, who replaced starting shortstop Omar Quintanilla in the ninth, attempted to retire Starling Marte at first base, but the throw was wide left. The error put Marte at second with no outs. After a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt by Alex Presley, catcher Lucas May fired a throw to first to try to get Presley, but the throw was offline. Josh Edgin then hit Matt Hague with a pitch, setting up Jordy Mercer to line the decisive two-run single. The Bisons have committed nine errors in the past three games. Trailing 6-3 in the seventh, Corey Wimberly and Fred Lewis had back-to-back singles with one out. After Josh Satin walked, Wimberly scored on Jose Morales' passed ball to cut the deficit to 6-4. Valentino Pascucci's sacrifice fly then pulled Buffalo within a run. Navarro doubled in the eighth to bring in Dustin Martin to tie the score at 6. Satin is 6-for-11 in his past four games, with six walks. Box
NEW BRITAIN 10, BINGHAMTON 7: The B-Mets scored five runs in the ninth inning, but could not overcome an early deficit. After waiting through a 74-minute rain delay to start the game, the Rock Cats grabbed an early lead with two unearned runs in the first. New Britain took advantage of a throwing error from shortstop Sean Kazmar. Binghamton answered against New Britain starter Steve Hirschfeld in the fourth. After three consecutive singles loaded the bases, Juan Centeno got the B-Mets on the board with a sac fly. It was the only run they scratched out against Hirschfeld (3-4). The righty went five innings in his first win since mid-April. The Rock Cats tagged B-Mets starter Mark Cohoon for seven runs on eight hits, plating two in the fourth and three more in the fifth. Evan Bigley’s two-run single gave the Rock Cats a 7-1 lead and chased the southpaw from the game. Cohoon (2-5) walked two and struck out two. After the B-Mets plated a run in the eighth on a sac fly from Juan Lagares, the Rock Cats stretched their lead to eight runs with a three-run frame. New Britain pounded out five hits, including three doubles against Armando Rodriguez. The inning proved vital as the B-Mets put up five runs in the ninth against reliever Daniel Turpen. Josh Rodriguez tripled two runs home and scored on a groundout. After Jefry Marte singled, Raul Reyes crushed a two-run homer to cut the deficit to three. Turpen ended the game by inducing Lagares to ground out. Box
DAYTONA 4, ST. LUCIE 3: Daytona scored three-runs in the bottom of the ninth for the walk-off win, spoiling five scoreless innings from starter Erik Goeddel. Working a second inning of relief, Adam Kolarek started the final frame and surrendered two singles and a walk. Taylor Whitenton entered and surrendered a single and hit a batter before allowing a game-ending sacrifice fly to Greg Rohan. Box
CHARLESTON 5, SAVANNAH 3 (11 innings): In the 11th, the Dogs scored the go-ahead run on an RBI double from DH Kelvin De Leon off Gnats reliever Jeffrey Walters. Immediately thereafter, Gnats pitching coach Frank Viola was ejected by plate umpire Junior Valentine for arguing balls and strikes. Charleston added the fifth run on a sacrifice fly by Mason Williams. The earned runs allowed by Walters were his first of 2012. The Gnats had taken a 2-1 lead with two runs in the bottom of the first. T.J. Rivera singled and scored on Dustin Lawley’s double to deep right-center. Lawley scored on an RBI single by Brian Harrison. The Gnats added a run for a 3-1 lead in the second on a Rivera sacrifice fly. Savannah starter Jacob deGrom allowed his first earned run of the year, in his third start. He was charged with three runs (two earned) in 5 2/3 innings, striking out six and walking one. Box
Compiled from team reports
NEW BRITAIN 10, BINGHAMTON 7: The B-Mets scored five runs in the ninth inning, but could not overcome an early deficit. After waiting through a 74-minute rain delay to start the game, the Rock Cats grabbed an early lead with two unearned runs in the first. New Britain took advantage of a throwing error from shortstop Sean Kazmar. Binghamton answered against New Britain starter Steve Hirschfeld in the fourth. After three consecutive singles loaded the bases, Juan Centeno got the B-Mets on the board with a sac fly. It was the only run they scratched out against Hirschfeld (3-4). The righty went five innings in his first win since mid-April. The Rock Cats tagged B-Mets starter Mark Cohoon for seven runs on eight hits, plating two in the fourth and three more in the fifth. Evan Bigley’s two-run single gave the Rock Cats a 7-1 lead and chased the southpaw from the game. Cohoon (2-5) walked two and struck out two. After the B-Mets plated a run in the eighth on a sac fly from Juan Lagares, the Rock Cats stretched their lead to eight runs with a three-run frame. New Britain pounded out five hits, including three doubles against Armando Rodriguez. The inning proved vital as the B-Mets put up five runs in the ninth against reliever Daniel Turpen. Josh Rodriguez tripled two runs home and scored on a groundout. After Jefry Marte singled, Raul Reyes crushed a two-run homer to cut the deficit to three. Turpen ended the game by inducing Lagares to ground out. Box
DAYTONA 4, ST. LUCIE 3: Daytona scored three-runs in the bottom of the ninth for the walk-off win, spoiling five scoreless innings from starter Erik Goeddel. Working a second inning of relief, Adam Kolarek started the final frame and surrendered two singles and a walk. Taylor Whitenton entered and surrendered a single and hit a batter before allowing a game-ending sacrifice fly to Greg Rohan. Box
CHARLESTON 5, SAVANNAH 3 (11 innings): In the 11th, the Dogs scored the go-ahead run on an RBI double from DH Kelvin De Leon off Gnats reliever Jeffrey Walters. Immediately thereafter, Gnats pitching coach Frank Viola was ejected by plate umpire Junior Valentine for arguing balls and strikes. Charleston added the fifth run on a sacrifice fly by Mason Williams. The earned runs allowed by Walters were his first of 2012. The Gnats had taken a 2-1 lead with two runs in the bottom of the first. T.J. Rivera singled and scored on Dustin Lawley’s double to deep right-center. Lawley scored on an RBI single by Brian Harrison. The Gnats added a run for a 3-1 lead in the second on a Rivera sacrifice fly. Savannah starter Jacob deGrom allowed his first earned run of the year, in his third start. He was charged with three runs (two earned) in 5 2/3 innings, striking out six and walking one. Box
Compiled from team reports
BUFFALO 7, CHARLOTTE 6: When Josh Edgin replaced Fernando Cabrera in the bottom of the ninth, his task was simple: Get one out and the Bisons' three-game losing streak would be over. Easier said than done, but Edgin ultimately was up to the challenge. Charlotte's Dan Johnson popped out to shortstop Omar Quintanilla. The Bisons had not made it easy on themselves. With his club down 7-4 entering the bottom of the ninth, Charlotte's Jim Gallagher singled to start things off. Ray Olmedo then walked. Cabrera rebounded to strike out two, but Drew Garcia then ripped a two-run double. Herd manager Wally Backman inserted Edgin at that point for his first Triple-A save. Trailing 4-2, the Herd produced a five-run eighth. Lucas May opened the inning with a single, and Fred Lewis reached with one out on a throwing error that sent May to second. Vinny Rottino then provided a double that scored May, at which point the Knights made a pitching change with a 4-3 lead. The change proved ineffective, as the Herd scored four more runs. After Valentino Pascucci struck out, Matt Tuiasosopo came through with a single that scored Lewis and Rottino for a 5-4 lead. Josh Satin and Dustin Martin then produced consecutive RBI doubles. Matt Harvey got the start for the Herd and did not factor in the decision. He allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out six in six innings. He threw 91 pitches (63 strikes) and surrendered a solo homer to Tyler Kuhn. Elvin Ramirez (2-0) relieved Harvey and allowed one hit in two scoreless innings. Box
BINGHAMTON 7, NEW HAMPSHIRE 6: The B-Mets belted three homers to match a season high, including a go-ahead blast by Jefry Marte in the seventh. The seesaw battle saw Binghamton grab its first lead using a two-out rally against starter Randy Boone in the third. Rylan Sandoval started the charge with a double and Pedro Zapata followed by reaching on third baseman Mark Sobolewski’s throwing error. Matt den Dekker extended his hitting streak to nine games with a two-run double. The Fisher Cats answered the following half-inning. With two outs and a runner on, Sobolewski hammered his league-leading eighth homer to tie the score. After a hit batsman and a single, Brian Van Kirk delivered a two-run double. The B-Mets answered with a pair of long balls in the fifth. Sean Kazmar ripped a homer and den Dekker tied the score with a shot off the batter’s eye. Kazmar’s homer was his first since July 2011. New Hampshire took the lead right back with another two-out hit the next half-inning. Brian Van Kirk laced a run-scoring single to plate Sobolewski, giving the Fisher Cats a 5-4 advantage. It was the final inning for Greg Peavey, who allowed five runs on seven hits over five frames.
Trailing by one with two men aboard in the sixth, Travis Ozga delivered. After going hitless in his first 16 at bats against the Fisher Cats in 2012, Ozga dumped an RBI single to right against reliever Danny Farquhar to score Eric Campbell and knot the game at 5. In the seventh against reliever Aaron Loup with two outs, Juan Lagares reached on another throwing error by Sobolewski. Marte immediately launched a two-run homer to give Binghamton a 7-5 lead. It was Marte’s first home run with the B-Mets. After Armando Rodriguez tossed a scoreless sixth and seventh, the Fisher Cats threatened in the eighth by putting two men aboard with one out against Jeff Kaplan. After falling behind Brian Jeroloman 1-0, Kaplan was replaced by Robert Carson. Fisher Cats manager Sal Fasano countered by pinch-hitting for Jeroloman with A.J. Jimenez. Jimenez popped out in foul territory and Justin Jackson flied out to end the threat. It did not get any easier for Carson in the ninth after two singles and a wild pitch put runners at second and third with one out. Mike McDade cut the deficit to one with a sac fly, but Brad Glenn stranded the tying run at second by striking out on three pitches. Rodriguez (2-0) has not allowed a run in more than 13 innings on the hill. Carson collected his first career save. The B-Mets (17-18) enjoy a day off Monday. Box
SAVANNAH at HICKORY (ppd): Box
Compiled from team reports
BINGHAMTON 7, NEW HAMPSHIRE 6: The B-Mets belted three homers to match a season high, including a go-ahead blast by Jefry Marte in the seventh. The seesaw battle saw Binghamton grab its first lead using a two-out rally against starter Randy Boone in the third. Rylan Sandoval started the charge with a double and Pedro Zapata followed by reaching on third baseman Mark Sobolewski’s throwing error. Matt den Dekker extended his hitting streak to nine games with a two-run double. The Fisher Cats answered the following half-inning. With two outs and a runner on, Sobolewski hammered his league-leading eighth homer to tie the score. After a hit batsman and a single, Brian Van Kirk delivered a two-run double. The B-Mets answered with a pair of long balls in the fifth. Sean Kazmar ripped a homer and den Dekker tied the score with a shot off the batter’s eye. Kazmar’s homer was his first since July 2011. New Hampshire took the lead right back with another two-out hit the next half-inning. Brian Van Kirk laced a run-scoring single to plate Sobolewski, giving the Fisher Cats a 5-4 advantage. It was the final inning for Greg Peavey, who allowed five runs on seven hits over five frames.
Trailing by one with two men aboard in the sixth, Travis Ozga delivered. After going hitless in his first 16 at bats against the Fisher Cats in 2012, Ozga dumped an RBI single to right against reliever Danny Farquhar to score Eric Campbell and knot the game at 5. In the seventh against reliever Aaron Loup with two outs, Juan Lagares reached on another throwing error by Sobolewski. Marte immediately launched a two-run homer to give Binghamton a 7-5 lead. It was Marte’s first home run with the B-Mets. After Armando Rodriguez tossed a scoreless sixth and seventh, the Fisher Cats threatened in the eighth by putting two men aboard with one out against Jeff Kaplan. After falling behind Brian Jeroloman 1-0, Kaplan was replaced by Robert Carson. Fisher Cats manager Sal Fasano countered by pinch-hitting for Jeroloman with A.J. Jimenez. Jimenez popped out in foul territory and Justin Jackson flied out to end the threat. It did not get any easier for Carson in the ninth after two singles and a wild pitch put runners at second and third with one out. Mike McDade cut the deficit to one with a sac fly, but Brad Glenn stranded the tying run at second by striking out on three pitches. Rodriguez (2-0) has not allowed a run in more than 13 innings on the hill. Carson collected his first career save. The B-Mets (17-18) enjoy a day off Monday. Box
SAVANNAH at HICKORY (ppd): Box
Compiled from team reports
CHARLOTTE 3, BUFFALO 2 (10 innings): With two outs in the bottom of the 10th, Jack Egbert relieved Josh Edgin. Hector Gimenez singled to score Greg Golson, and Charlotte knocked off the Bisons. Edgin had replaced Dylan Owen heading into the 10th, and Golson took advantage with a leadoff double. A sacrifice bunt sent Golson to third, giving Gimenez the opportunity to display his late heroics. The Bisons had a chance of their own in the top of the 10th, but could not capitalize. Lucas May opened the extra frame with a double, but Knights pitcher Gregory Infante was able to retire the next three Bisons batters in order. Down 2-1 entering the top of the ninth, Valentino Pascucci opened the frame with a double. Michael Fisher pinch ran. Josh Satin then ripped a single, scoring Fisher and tying the score. The Knights had opened the scoring with a first-inning Dan Johnson single that scored Golson. It took the Bisons seven innings to produce any runs. Trailing 1-0 through six, Matt Tuiasosopo produced a double that scored Pascucci. The Knights responded with a run in the eighth. Garrett Olson started for the Bisons and produced a quality start, allowing four hits in 6 2/3 innings. Olson had 10 strikeouts and one walk. He received a no-decision. Edgin was charged with the loss. Box
BINGHAMTON 11, NEW HAMPSHIRE 4: The B-Mets pounded out 13 hits, including three home runs, and starter Gonzalez Germen fired seven innings. Matt den Dekker started the attack in a five-run first with a leadoff single off Deck McGuire. After a wild pitch moved him to second, Josh Rodriguez gave the B-Mets the lead for good with an RBI single. Raul Reyes followed with a hit, and Jefry Marte doubled Binghamton’s lead with a run-scoring single. After McGuire walked Reese Havens to load the bases, Juan Lagares produced another run with a groundout. Eric Campbell ended McGuire’s night with a two-run double. The righty recorded only one out, his shortest career outing. By the time Fernando Hernandez struck out Pedro Zapata to end the frame, the B-Mets held a 5-0 lead. Given a five-run edge, Germen got off to a bumpy start. The right-hander allowed two runs on three hits while walking two in the bottom half. He escaped further damage by inducing Brad McElroy to fly out with the bases loaded to end the inning. Den Dekker kicked the lead back to five with a long-overdue homer in the fourth. The center fielder crushed the first pitch he saw from Matt Daly to right for a two-run shot. It was Binghamton’s first homer since May 3 -- a drought of 67 innings and 277 plate appearances. Rodriguez kept the offense rolling with another homer in the sixth, a three-run shot. Campbell added a solo blast off Aaron Loup in the eighth. It was Binghamton’s first multi-homer game since it hit three against Portland on April 15. Germen settled down after his spotty first inning, facing the minimum from the second through the sixth. He surrendered one run on three consecutive hits in the seventh before inducing A.J. Jimenez to bounce into a fielder’s choice to end his night. Germen (1-1) allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out three in seven frames to earn his first Double-A victory. Edgar Ramirez took over in the eighth and wrapped up the game, allowing one run on three hits in two innings. Mike McDade tagged him for a solo home run. The B-Mets (16-17) look to secure the series win Saturday. Left-hander Darin Gorski opposes right-hander Yohan Pino. Box
ST. LUCIE 11, BREVARD COUNTY 2: Richard Lucas had three hits and Danny Muno, Robbie Shields and Francisco Pena drove in two runs apiece. Ryan Fraser tossed 3 2/3 scoreless, no-hit relief innings. Box
HICKORY 3, SAVANNAH 1: Tyler Pill struck out 10 while limiting Hickory to two runs in six innings but suffered the loss. T.J. Rivera homered to account for the Gnats' lone run. Box
Compiled from team reports
BINGHAMTON 11, NEW HAMPSHIRE 4: The B-Mets pounded out 13 hits, including three home runs, and starter Gonzalez Germen fired seven innings. Matt den Dekker started the attack in a five-run first with a leadoff single off Deck McGuire. After a wild pitch moved him to second, Josh Rodriguez gave the B-Mets the lead for good with an RBI single. Raul Reyes followed with a hit, and Jefry Marte doubled Binghamton’s lead with a run-scoring single. After McGuire walked Reese Havens to load the bases, Juan Lagares produced another run with a groundout. Eric Campbell ended McGuire’s night with a two-run double. The righty recorded only one out, his shortest career outing. By the time Fernando Hernandez struck out Pedro Zapata to end the frame, the B-Mets held a 5-0 lead. Given a five-run edge, Germen got off to a bumpy start. The right-hander allowed two runs on three hits while walking two in the bottom half. He escaped further damage by inducing Brad McElroy to fly out with the bases loaded to end the inning. Den Dekker kicked the lead back to five with a long-overdue homer in the fourth. The center fielder crushed the first pitch he saw from Matt Daly to right for a two-run shot. It was Binghamton’s first homer since May 3 -- a drought of 67 innings and 277 plate appearances. Rodriguez kept the offense rolling with another homer in the sixth, a three-run shot. Campbell added a solo blast off Aaron Loup in the eighth. It was Binghamton’s first multi-homer game since it hit three against Portland on April 15. Germen settled down after his spotty first inning, facing the minimum from the second through the sixth. He surrendered one run on three consecutive hits in the seventh before inducing A.J. Jimenez to bounce into a fielder’s choice to end his night. Germen (1-1) allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out three in seven frames to earn his first Double-A victory. Edgar Ramirez took over in the eighth and wrapped up the game, allowing one run on three hits in two innings. Mike McDade tagged him for a solo home run. The B-Mets (16-17) look to secure the series win Saturday. Left-hander Darin Gorski opposes right-hander Yohan Pino. Box
ST. LUCIE 11, BREVARD COUNTY 2: Richard Lucas had three hits and Danny Muno, Robbie Shields and Francisco Pena drove in two runs apiece. Ryan Fraser tossed 3 2/3 scoreless, no-hit relief innings. Box
HICKORY 3, SAVANNAH 1: Tyler Pill struck out 10 while limiting Hickory to two runs in six innings but suffered the loss. T.J. Rivera homered to account for the Gnats' lone run. Box
Compiled from team reports
GWINNETT 5, BUFFALO 3 (10 innings): A comeback and sweep fell short courtesy of a walk-off two-run homer from reigning International League Batter of the Week Stefan Gatrell against Fernando Cabrera. Buffalo allowed nine total runs in the four-game series. The Bisons trailed 3-1 in the ninth. After Lucas May was hit with a pitch with one out, Omar Quintanilla plated the Buffalo catcher with a double that rolled to the center-field wall. Pinch hitter Bobby Scales followed with a single to score Quintanilla and tie the score. Buffalo had a pair of runners on in the top of the 10th, but Josh Satin and Zach Lutz were left stranded after drawing walks. In the bottom half, Cabrera nearly worked around a one-out single by Jose Constanza. But after striking out Luis Durango, the righty gave up his first homer of the season, to Gartrell. Bisons starter Jeremy Hefner matched a season-high by tossing 7 2/3 innings. It was the fifth time in Hefner's six starts that he has at least completed seven innings. He allowed two runs on six hits to keep his season ERA to a league-best 1.77. Trailing 1-0 early, Buffalo scored its first run in the sixth inning on Valentino Pascucci's team-best 19th RBI, but his first in nine games. Fred Lewis batted in the lead off spot for the first time this season and went 2-for-5. Box
BINGHAMTON 9, NEW HAMPSHIRE 2: Trailing by a run in the sixth, Juan Lagares laced a two-run, bases-loaded single to center to give the B-Mets the lead for good and make a winner of Zack Wheeler in his return from the disabled list. The B-Mets produced 14 hits and pitching staff racked up a season-high 15 strikeouts. The Fisher Cats had opened the scoring, plating a run in the fourth on a sac fly against Wheeler. The righty was activated from the disabled list before the game after missing one start with a right middle fingernail tear. The B-Mets answered with a run in the fifth. Lagares shot a seeing-eye single to center and advanced to third when Mark Sobolewski uncorked a throwing error on Eric Campbell's groundball. Juan Centeno bounced a groundout to shortstop to plate Lagares, tying the score at 1. After the Fisher Cats grabbed the lead with another sac fly in the fifth, the B-Mets pieced together a two-out rally to take the lead in the sixth. Raul Reyes and Jefry Marte started the charge with consecutive singles. After Reese Havens walked to load the bases, Lagares chased Jenkins from the game by lining a two-run single into center. It was Binghamton’s first hit with the bases loaded since April 28. They had been 0-for-11. Wheeler (2-2) allowed two runs on six hits over five innings. Armando Rodriguez took over and struck out five over two scoreless innings. Binghamton added to its lead with more two-out hitting in the seventh. Josh Rodriguez doubled with two out and Reyes hammered an RBI single, giving the B-Mets a 4-2 lead. The B-Mets had a five-run ninth, pounding reliever Clint Everts for five hits and adding another against Matt Wright. After throwing a perfect eighth, Jeff Kaplan returned for the ninth. He loaded the bases to start the frame, but retired three straight to collect his first career Double-A save. The B-Mets (15-17) continue their four-game series against the Fisher Cats on Friday. Right-hander Gonzalez Germen makes his second Double-A start, against right-hander Deck McGuire. Box
ST. LUCIE 4, BREVARD COUNTY 3: Chris Young, in his first minor league start since shoulder surgery last May, tossed five scoreless innings. Ronny Cedeno, on the DL with a side-muscle strain and hoping to be activated this weekend, played a full game at shortstop and went 0-for-4. Danny Muno's solo homer in the top of the ninth gave St. Lucie a 4-1 lead, and the Mets needed that run to hold on. In the bottom half, Adam Kolarek left two runners in scoring position with two out for Adrian Rosario. Rosario issued a walk to load the bases, then surrendered a two-run single before notching his 10th save by retiring Nick Shaw on a groundout. Cory Vaughn returned to the lineup after missing two games with a glute bruise suffered while sliding. Box
SAVANNAH 7, HICKORY 2: Domingo Tapia and Marcos Camarena combined to take a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and the Gnats overcame five errors. Brian Harrison went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Dustin Lawley had three hits and scored twice. The Crawdads were hitless until Jeremy Williams' leadoff single in the seventh against Camarena. Tapia was charged with one unearned runs on no hits and three walks while striking out six in 5 2/3 innings. Second baseman T.J. Rivera had two of Savannah's five errors. The Mets' last minor league no-hitter came on Aug. 23, 2009, by Brandon Moore with the Brooklyn Cyclones in a seven-inning game. Box
Compiled from team reports
BINGHAMTON 9, NEW HAMPSHIRE 2: Trailing by a run in the sixth, Juan Lagares laced a two-run, bases-loaded single to center to give the B-Mets the lead for good and make a winner of Zack Wheeler in his return from the disabled list. The B-Mets produced 14 hits and pitching staff racked up a season-high 15 strikeouts. The Fisher Cats had opened the scoring, plating a run in the fourth on a sac fly against Wheeler. The righty was activated from the disabled list before the game after missing one start with a right middle fingernail tear. The B-Mets answered with a run in the fifth. Lagares shot a seeing-eye single to center and advanced to third when Mark Sobolewski uncorked a throwing error on Eric Campbell's groundball. Juan Centeno bounced a groundout to shortstop to plate Lagares, tying the score at 1. After the Fisher Cats grabbed the lead with another sac fly in the fifth, the B-Mets pieced together a two-out rally to take the lead in the sixth. Raul Reyes and Jefry Marte started the charge with consecutive singles. After Reese Havens walked to load the bases, Lagares chased Jenkins from the game by lining a two-run single into center. It was Binghamton’s first hit with the bases loaded since April 28. They had been 0-for-11. Wheeler (2-2) allowed two runs on six hits over five innings. Armando Rodriguez took over and struck out five over two scoreless innings. Binghamton added to its lead with more two-out hitting in the seventh. Josh Rodriguez doubled with two out and Reyes hammered an RBI single, giving the B-Mets a 4-2 lead. The B-Mets had a five-run ninth, pounding reliever Clint Everts for five hits and adding another against Matt Wright. After throwing a perfect eighth, Jeff Kaplan returned for the ninth. He loaded the bases to start the frame, but retired three straight to collect his first career Double-A save. The B-Mets (15-17) continue their four-game series against the Fisher Cats on Friday. Right-hander Gonzalez Germen makes his second Double-A start, against right-hander Deck McGuire. Box
ST. LUCIE 4, BREVARD COUNTY 3: Chris Young, in his first minor league start since shoulder surgery last May, tossed five scoreless innings. Ronny Cedeno, on the DL with a side-muscle strain and hoping to be activated this weekend, played a full game at shortstop and went 0-for-4. Danny Muno's solo homer in the top of the ninth gave St. Lucie a 4-1 lead, and the Mets needed that run to hold on. In the bottom half, Adam Kolarek left two runners in scoring position with two out for Adrian Rosario. Rosario issued a walk to load the bases, then surrendered a two-run single before notching his 10th save by retiring Nick Shaw on a groundout. Cory Vaughn returned to the lineup after missing two games with a glute bruise suffered while sliding. Box
SAVANNAH 7, HICKORY 2: Domingo Tapia and Marcos Camarena combined to take a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and the Gnats overcame five errors. Brian Harrison went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Dustin Lawley had three hits and scored twice. The Crawdads were hitless until Jeremy Williams' leadoff single in the seventh against Camarena. Tapia was charged with one unearned runs on no hits and three walks while striking out six in 5 2/3 innings. Second baseman T.J. Rivera had two of Savannah's five errors. The Mets' last minor league no-hitter came on Aug. 23, 2009, by Brandon Moore with the Brooklyn Cyclones in a seven-inning game. Box
Compiled from team reports
The Mets produced their MLB-leading 11th comeback win, rallying for a 10-6 victory Wednesday night, to sweep a three-game series in Philly for the first time since June 2006. They moved five games over .500 for the first time since July 19, 2010.
"We came in and got them at the right time and took advantage of playing hard," Terry Collins said. "If something happened, there was a mistake, we capitalized on it. It was a great trip for us. We'll enjoy it for a while and get ready for this weekend."
Thursday's news reports:
• An excerpt from my column on the sweep:
Inside a jubilant visitors’ clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park, third baseman David Wright struggled to recall the New York Mets’ last three-game sweep in Philly. And if he could not come up with the date, surely none of his teammates could, either. After all, Wright is the only active player to have been a Met the last time it happened. “I was trying to remember that. In 2006, maybe?” Wright asked after the Mets posted their third straight come-from-behind victory to sweep the Phillies with a 10-6 victory Wednesday night. Yes, June 15, 2006 -- before Adam Wainwright's curveball, and “Team to Beat,” and the collapse, and the second collapse, and three losing seasons, and Bernard Madoff and, well, you get the point. (You would think Wright would have had a fighting chance at recalling it, too, since he homered in each game of that series.) Wednesday’s victory moved the Mets five games over .500 for the first time since July 19, 2010.
Read the full analysis here.
• The win came despite Dillon Gee being charged with four runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings. “I was not good -- probably, by far, the worst I’ve felt all year,” Gee said. “I just had zero command. I was behind to everyone and I had no command of the curveball. It’s tough to pitch like that.” Read game recaps in the Times, Record, Star-Ledger, Newsday, Daily News and Post.
• Phillies manager Charlie Manuel called a team meeting after getting swept by the Mets. Writes Matt Gelb in the Philadelphia Inquirer:
The room was quiet now because Charlie Manuel had already delivered a loud message to his beaten team. Many of the Phillies had dressed, left their clubhouse and ventured into the wet darkness. Still in his full uniform, Cliff Lee sat with Roy Halladay and Chad Qualls. Joe Savery packed his bags for Allentown. Jimmy Rollins hopped onto a table and broke the silence. "You don't have to whisper," he said. "It's not the end of the world." Fates are not decided after 32 baseball games, but Manuel decided an intervention was required. All he had to do was watch Wednesday's 10-6 defeat to New York - 2 hours, 56 minutes of baseball that made him seethe. "And usually," Manuel said, "I stay pretty cool."
• Columnist Ken Davidoff in the Post notes the Mets' success had a lot to do with what the Phillies did not do. Writes Davidoff:
The Phillies of 2007-11 strolled the ballpark with an arrogance, an expectation that they would win each night. The current Phillies are exemplifying that such arrogance comes from talent, rather than the talent resulting from attitude of any kind. Because these five-time defending National League East champions, playing without their injured stars Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, simply aren’t very good.
• Jenrry Mejia allowed two runs in five innings for Class A St. Lucie at Brevard County on Wednesday morning in his first official minor league game since undergoing Tommy John surgery on May 16, 2011. Pitching coach Dan Warthen told Andy McCullough in the Star-Ledger the intention is to get Mejia three more minor league starts. After that, team brass will decide whether to use Mejia as a reliever or a starter the remainder of the season. Warthen has been on the record saying he believes Mejia's future is as a reliever because a violent delivery could leave him susceptible to injury. Sandy Alderson indicated what the Mets' needs are will play a role in how to use Mejia. “We’re just trying to get him back to a competitive level, at a representative number of pitches, and commanding all of his assortment of pitches,” Alderson told McCullough. “Once we get to that point, assuming he’s pitching five or six innings a game in a starting role, he can perform either role for us.”
Paul DePodesta told ESPNNewYork.com during spring training to look at how the Texas Rangers have developed pitchers in explaining Mejia's future role. That seemed to suggest even back in March that Mejia could contribute at the major league level this season in the bullpen, then revert to a starting role next year if the organization wants to switch him back.
Chris Young follows Mejia in St. Lucie's starting rotation Thursday. Young, who also underwent surgery last May 16, to repair a torn anterior capsule in his right shoulder, will be starting in a minor league game for the first time since that procedure. He is scheduled to throw roughly 75 pitches.
• Brian Costa in the Journal takes a look at the newly created "taxi squad" for 2012. Under old MLB guidelines, a player potentially replacing an injured major league player could not be in the clubhouse actively participating with teammates until a formal DL move was made. So players were quietly flown in and stayed at the hotel until the team decided whether to DL the injured player. Now, the secrecy and isolation is gone, and the call-up can be in the clubhouse and participate in pregame workouts with the team in uniform at the stadium for up to 24 hours before either being activated or returning to the minors.
Rob Johnson technically was on the taxi squad and in the clubhouse until Josh Thole was placed on the DL on Tuesday. Last month, during the Mets' first trip to Philly, Josh Satin was at Citizens Bank Park for a day, then shipped back to Buffalo when the Mets decided David Wright did not need a DL trip for his fractured right pinkie. Placing a player on the taxi squad also allows the Triple-A team to add a player; in the past, while the potential call-up waited in limbo, the minor league squad was forced to play shorthanded because the player still counted against its roster until activated by the parent club.
"It's lonely," R.A. Dickey told Costa about the old system, when the player was hidden at the hotel. "Nobody there would talk to you. You get a random call at random times, 'Hey, we're not going to activate you tonight. Just spend the night. We might activate you tomorrow. Beeeeeep.' It's really bizarre. You feel like an MI-6 agent."
Satin told Costa that Wright apologized to him for having to fly to Philly only to return to Triple-A without being activated. Said Satin: "David said, 'I'm really sorry I made you come out here.' I said, 'Honestly, there's nothing to be sorry about.' There's plenty of worse things to do than sit in a big-league clubhouse and watch the Mets play the Phillies."
• Jeurys Familia limited Triple-A Gwinnett to one run in six innings and Buffalo won, 4-1, Wednesday. Read the full minor league recap here.
• Ronny Cedeno, on the DL with a left side muscle strain, played nine innings in an extended spring training game Wednesday. He is expected back this weekend in Miami, although Collins did not commit to a Friday return because he wants to see the middle infielder compete against higher-level pitching.
• Collins believes the spate of left-handed starting pitching the Mets have seen this season is a coincidence, not teams manipulating their rotation to line up against his club. Read more in the Times.
• Andres Torres is using a lighter bat than when he played for the Giants, the Daily News notes.
TRIVIA: Shane Victorino nearly played an Andres Torres sinking liner into an inside-the-park homer Wednesday, although Torres stopped at third. Which players have multiple inside-the-park homers while playing for the Mets?
Wednesday's answer: Ex-Met Omir Santos made his major league debut with the Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 5, 2008.
"We came in and got them at the right time and took advantage of playing hard," Terry Collins said. "If something happened, there was a mistake, we capitalized on it. It was a great trip for us. We'll enjoy it for a while and get ready for this weekend."
Thursday's news reports:
• An excerpt from my column on the sweep:
Inside a jubilant visitors’ clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park, third baseman David Wright struggled to recall the New York Mets’ last three-game sweep in Philly. And if he could not come up with the date, surely none of his teammates could, either. After all, Wright is the only active player to have been a Met the last time it happened. “I was trying to remember that. In 2006, maybe?” Wright asked after the Mets posted their third straight come-from-behind victory to sweep the Phillies with a 10-6 victory Wednesday night. Yes, June 15, 2006 -- before Adam Wainwright's curveball, and “Team to Beat,” and the collapse, and the second collapse, and three losing seasons, and Bernard Madoff and, well, you get the point. (You would think Wright would have had a fighting chance at recalling it, too, since he homered in each game of that series.) Wednesday’s victory moved the Mets five games over .500 for the first time since July 19, 2010.
Read the full analysis here.
• The win came despite Dillon Gee being charged with four runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings. “I was not good -- probably, by far, the worst I’ve felt all year,” Gee said. “I just had zero command. I was behind to everyone and I had no command of the curveball. It’s tough to pitch like that.” Read game recaps in the Times, Record, Star-Ledger, Newsday, Daily News and Post.
• Phillies manager Charlie Manuel called a team meeting after getting swept by the Mets. Writes Matt Gelb in the Philadelphia Inquirer:
The room was quiet now because Charlie Manuel had already delivered a loud message to his beaten team. Many of the Phillies had dressed, left their clubhouse and ventured into the wet darkness. Still in his full uniform, Cliff Lee sat with Roy Halladay and Chad Qualls. Joe Savery packed his bags for Allentown. Jimmy Rollins hopped onto a table and broke the silence. "You don't have to whisper," he said. "It's not the end of the world." Fates are not decided after 32 baseball games, but Manuel decided an intervention was required. All he had to do was watch Wednesday's 10-6 defeat to New York - 2 hours, 56 minutes of baseball that made him seethe. "And usually," Manuel said, "I stay pretty cool."
• Columnist Ken Davidoff in the Post notes the Mets' success had a lot to do with what the Phillies did not do. Writes Davidoff:
The Phillies of 2007-11 strolled the ballpark with an arrogance, an expectation that they would win each night. The current Phillies are exemplifying that such arrogance comes from talent, rather than the talent resulting from attitude of any kind. Because these five-time defending National League East champions, playing without their injured stars Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, simply aren’t very good.
• Jenrry Mejia allowed two runs in five innings for Class A St. Lucie at Brevard County on Wednesday morning in his first official minor league game since undergoing Tommy John surgery on May 16, 2011. Pitching coach Dan Warthen told Andy McCullough in the Star-Ledger the intention is to get Mejia three more minor league starts. After that, team brass will decide whether to use Mejia as a reliever or a starter the remainder of the season. Warthen has been on the record saying he believes Mejia's future is as a reliever because a violent delivery could leave him susceptible to injury. Sandy Alderson indicated what the Mets' needs are will play a role in how to use Mejia. “We’re just trying to get him back to a competitive level, at a representative number of pitches, and commanding all of his assortment of pitches,” Alderson told McCullough. “Once we get to that point, assuming he’s pitching five or six innings a game in a starting role, he can perform either role for us.”
Paul DePodesta told ESPNNewYork.com during spring training to look at how the Texas Rangers have developed pitchers in explaining Mejia's future role. That seemed to suggest even back in March that Mejia could contribute at the major league level this season in the bullpen, then revert to a starting role next year if the organization wants to switch him back.
Chris Young follows Mejia in St. Lucie's starting rotation Thursday. Young, who also underwent surgery last May 16, to repair a torn anterior capsule in his right shoulder, will be starting in a minor league game for the first time since that procedure. He is scheduled to throw roughly 75 pitches.
• Brian Costa in the Journal takes a look at the newly created "taxi squad" for 2012. Under old MLB guidelines, a player potentially replacing an injured major league player could not be in the clubhouse actively participating with teammates until a formal DL move was made. So players were quietly flown in and stayed at the hotel until the team decided whether to DL the injured player. Now, the secrecy and isolation is gone, and the call-up can be in the clubhouse and participate in pregame workouts with the team in uniform at the stadium for up to 24 hours before either being activated or returning to the minors.
Rob Johnson technically was on the taxi squad and in the clubhouse until Josh Thole was placed on the DL on Tuesday. Last month, during the Mets' first trip to Philly, Josh Satin was at Citizens Bank Park for a day, then shipped back to Buffalo when the Mets decided David Wright did not need a DL trip for his fractured right pinkie. Placing a player on the taxi squad also allows the Triple-A team to add a player; in the past, while the potential call-up waited in limbo, the minor league squad was forced to play shorthanded because the player still counted against its roster until activated by the parent club.
"It's lonely," R.A. Dickey told Costa about the old system, when the player was hidden at the hotel. "Nobody there would talk to you. You get a random call at random times, 'Hey, we're not going to activate you tonight. Just spend the night. We might activate you tomorrow. Beeeeeep.' It's really bizarre. You feel like an MI-6 agent."
Satin told Costa that Wright apologized to him for having to fly to Philly only to return to Triple-A without being activated. Said Satin: "David said, 'I'm really sorry I made you come out here.' I said, 'Honestly, there's nothing to be sorry about.' There's plenty of worse things to do than sit in a big-league clubhouse and watch the Mets play the Phillies."
• Jeurys Familia limited Triple-A Gwinnett to one run in six innings and Buffalo won, 4-1, Wednesday. Read the full minor league recap here.
• Ronny Cedeno, on the DL with a left side muscle strain, played nine innings in an extended spring training game Wednesday. He is expected back this weekend in Miami, although Collins did not commit to a Friday return because he wants to see the middle infielder compete against higher-level pitching.
• Collins believes the spate of left-handed starting pitching the Mets have seen this season is a coincidence, not teams manipulating their rotation to line up against his club. Read more in the Times.
• Andres Torres is using a lighter bat than when he played for the Giants, the Daily News notes.
TRIVIA: Shane Victorino nearly played an Andres Torres sinking liner into an inside-the-park homer Wednesday, although Torres stopped at third. Which players have multiple inside-the-park homers while playing for the Mets?
Wednesday's answer: Ex-Met Omir Santos made his major league debut with the Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 5, 2008.
ROCHESTER 2, BUFFALO 1 (GAME 1); ROCHESTER 5, BUFFALO 0 (GAME 2): The Herd competed gamely in a Saturday doubleheader against the Red Wings, but was swept with losses of 2-1 and 5-0. On Saturday, the Bisons played decently but could not come up with the big hit when it was needed most. In the first game, the Bisons took a 1-0 lead in the 2nd on Omar Quintanilla's RBI single, but could not generate any more runs the rest of the way. Rochester starting pitcher P. J. Walters allowed the Bisons seven baserunners in the 2nd inning, but retired his last 14 batters faced to close the game.Walters pitched a complete game for Rochester, the first such occurrence for the Red Wings this season. The Red Wings rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the third, and took the lead on Brian Dozier's sacrifice fly in the 5th that scored Rene Rivera. This was all the offense the Wings would need, as Walters would not allow a base runner the rest of the way.The Bisons could not get the bats going in the second game of the doubleheader, either. Rochester used a revolving door of pitchers to get the job done against the herd, limiting the Bisons to four hits on the game. Red Wings starter Brandon Wise pitched three innings, giving up three hits, and a trio of relievers finished the job. The Bisons had a solid opportunity to get back into the game in the 6th, when Josh Satin and Matt Tuiasosopo were hit by pitches on consecutive at-bats with one out. Rochester made a pitching change at this point, replacing Deolis Guerra with Tyler Robertson. The Bisons would load the bases with Lucas May's two-out walk, but Michael Fisher popped out to end the inning. The majority of Rochester's offense came in the third inning. The Red Wings started the inning with three consecutive singles that produced one run, and Darin Mastroianni's two-out double scored two runs later in the inning. Box 1, Box 2
HARRISBURG 2, BINGHAMTON 1 Harrisburg starter Danny Rosenbaum faced two over the minimum en route to a 2-1 complete game victory over the B-Mets (13-15) Saturday afternoon at NYSEG Stadium.The B-Mets managed just five hits against the current Eastern League ERA leader, bounced into three double plays and had one caught stealing, resulting in a season-low one left on base. Harrisburg packed their offense into the fourth. B-Mets starter Darin Gorski walked leadoff hitter Destin Hood and surrendered a single to Chris Rahl. An attempted pickoff throw to second sailed into center, allowing both runners to advance. With runners at second and third, Sandy Leon plated Harrisburg’s first run with a groundout to second and Jose Lozada collected his fifth RBI of the year with a single to left. Gorski (2-1) finished after six innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out four in the losing effort. Binghamton scored its only run in the sixth. Oswaldo Navarro walked to start the inning. After a pair of groundouts, Pedro Zapata ripped a double to left to bring Navarro home.The B-Mets had singles in the seventh and eighth innings that were quickly erased by double plays. The B-Mets attempt to avoid the sweep tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 PM. RHP Greg Peavey matches up against RHP Robert Gilliam. Box
SAVANNAH 5, LAKEWOOD 3: The Savannah Sand Gnats (18-11) tied a season-high with their sixth-straight win, beating the Lakewood BlueClaws 5-3 Saturday night in front of 2,481 fans at Historic Grayson Stadium. Michael Fulmer threw five shutout innings to earn his place in the winner’s circle for the first time as a professional. Fulmer, the 44th overall pick in the 2011 draft, struck out four, gave up two hits, and did not allow a runner to third base. The Gnats took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on left fielder Dustin Lawley’s bases loaded sacrifice fly. Savannah eventually built a 4-0 lead. In the fifth inning, with two outs and the bases loaded, Travis Taijeron lined a single into left field to plate two for a 3-0 Savannah advantage. Taijeron finished 3-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to six straight games. He is hitting .560 (14-for-25) with seven extra-base hits in his last six games. Brandon Brown lifted a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to put the Gnats ahead 4-0.The BlueClaws (9-18) scored three unearned runs off Gnats’ reliever Jeffrey Walters in the top of the eighth inning, aided by three Savannah errors in the frame. Walters struck out first baseman Harold Martinez looking to end the inning with the tying run at second with Gnats leading 4-3.The Gnats added an insurance run to set the game’s final score in the bottom of the eighth when shortstop Luis Nieves drove home first baseman Brian Harrison.The Gnats will look for their seventh straight win Sunday at 2:05 pm when they send righty Rafael Montero (2-1, 3.58) to the hill against Kenny Giles (0-1, 4.76). Box
ST. LUCIE 5, DUNEDIN 3:St. Lucie catcher Blake Forsythe hit a go-ahead home run in the seventh as the Mets defeated Dunedin 5-3 on Saturday at Digital Domain Park.The Mets took the opener of the four-game series in a battle of two first-place teams. Forsythe hit a two-out, solo blast off Blue Jays reliever Trystan Magnuson to give the Mets at 4-3 lead in the seventh. Adam Kolarek picked up the victory with two scoreless innings in relief with three strikeouts. Adrian Rosario struck out the side in the ninth for his seventh save. Cory Mazzoni received a no-decision as he allowed two runs on six hits in six innings with two walks and one strikeout. Taylor Whitenton allowed two hits and allowed a run in relief. Wilfredo Tovar hit an RBI double in the third inning to plate Alonzo Harris to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. Robbie Shields added to the lead with an RBI single to right-center to bring home Tovar.The Blue Jays tied the score with a pair of runs in the fifth inning off Mazzoni. The Mets took the lead in the sixth inning as Cory Vaughn ripped his eight home run of the season to left to make it 3-2. Shields (3-for-4) drilled a solo home run in the eighth inning to extend the lead to 5-3.The Mets will host the Blue Jays in a doubleheader on Sunday. Game 1 is scheduled for 1 p.m. and game 2 will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first contest. Box
Compiled from team reports
HARRISBURG 2, BINGHAMTON 1 Harrisburg starter Danny Rosenbaum faced two over the minimum en route to a 2-1 complete game victory over the B-Mets (13-15) Saturday afternoon at NYSEG Stadium.The B-Mets managed just five hits against the current Eastern League ERA leader, bounced into three double plays and had one caught stealing, resulting in a season-low one left on base. Harrisburg packed their offense into the fourth. B-Mets starter Darin Gorski walked leadoff hitter Destin Hood and surrendered a single to Chris Rahl. An attempted pickoff throw to second sailed into center, allowing both runners to advance. With runners at second and third, Sandy Leon plated Harrisburg’s first run with a groundout to second and Jose Lozada collected his fifth RBI of the year with a single to left. Gorski (2-1) finished after six innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out four in the losing effort. Binghamton scored its only run in the sixth. Oswaldo Navarro walked to start the inning. After a pair of groundouts, Pedro Zapata ripped a double to left to bring Navarro home.The B-Mets had singles in the seventh and eighth innings that were quickly erased by double plays. The B-Mets attempt to avoid the sweep tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 PM. RHP Greg Peavey matches up against RHP Robert Gilliam. Box
SAVANNAH 5, LAKEWOOD 3: The Savannah Sand Gnats (18-11) tied a season-high with their sixth-straight win, beating the Lakewood BlueClaws 5-3 Saturday night in front of 2,481 fans at Historic Grayson Stadium. Michael Fulmer threw five shutout innings to earn his place in the winner’s circle for the first time as a professional. Fulmer, the 44th overall pick in the 2011 draft, struck out four, gave up two hits, and did not allow a runner to third base. The Gnats took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on left fielder Dustin Lawley’s bases loaded sacrifice fly. Savannah eventually built a 4-0 lead. In the fifth inning, with two outs and the bases loaded, Travis Taijeron lined a single into left field to plate two for a 3-0 Savannah advantage. Taijeron finished 3-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to six straight games. He is hitting .560 (14-for-25) with seven extra-base hits in his last six games. Brandon Brown lifted a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to put the Gnats ahead 4-0.The BlueClaws (9-18) scored three unearned runs off Gnats’ reliever Jeffrey Walters in the top of the eighth inning, aided by three Savannah errors in the frame. Walters struck out first baseman Harold Martinez looking to end the inning with the tying run at second with Gnats leading 4-3.The Gnats added an insurance run to set the game’s final score in the bottom of the eighth when shortstop Luis Nieves drove home first baseman Brian Harrison.The Gnats will look for their seventh straight win Sunday at 2:05 pm when they send righty Rafael Montero (2-1, 3.58) to the hill against Kenny Giles (0-1, 4.76). Box
ST. LUCIE 5, DUNEDIN 3:St. Lucie catcher Blake Forsythe hit a go-ahead home run in the seventh as the Mets defeated Dunedin 5-3 on Saturday at Digital Domain Park.The Mets took the opener of the four-game series in a battle of two first-place teams. Forsythe hit a two-out, solo blast off Blue Jays reliever Trystan Magnuson to give the Mets at 4-3 lead in the seventh. Adam Kolarek picked up the victory with two scoreless innings in relief with three strikeouts. Adrian Rosario struck out the side in the ninth for his seventh save. Cory Mazzoni received a no-decision as he allowed two runs on six hits in six innings with two walks and one strikeout. Taylor Whitenton allowed two hits and allowed a run in relief. Wilfredo Tovar hit an RBI double in the third inning to plate Alonzo Harris to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. Robbie Shields added to the lead with an RBI single to right-center to bring home Tovar.The Blue Jays tied the score with a pair of runs in the fifth inning off Mazzoni. The Mets took the lead in the sixth inning as Cory Vaughn ripped his eight home run of the season to left to make it 3-2. Shields (3-for-4) drilled a solo home run in the eighth inning to extend the lead to 5-3.The Mets will host the Blue Jays in a doubleheader on Sunday. Game 1 is scheduled for 1 p.m. and game 2 will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first contest. Box
Compiled from team reports
BUFFALO 5, SYRACUSE 2: A 23-minute rain delay may have shortened Matt Harvey's second home start, but it didn't come early enough to slow down the Herd attack. The delay came in the bottom of the fourth inning, after the Bisons rallied from an early 2-0 deficit. The Buffalo lineup jumped on first-pitch deliveries from Chiefs starter Erik Arnesen. Rob Johnson led off the third inning with a single and Omar Quintanilla followed with a first-pitch triple to get the Herd on the board. Harvey followed with a 390-foot sacrifice fly to tie the score at 2. It was his fourth RBI this season. Buffalo then struck for three runs in the fourth. Dustin Martin gave the Bisons the lead with an RBI single. Johnson then hit a first-pitch triple for a 4-2 lead. Once the rain delay knocked Harvey from the game, pinch hitter Josh Satin hit the first pitch he saw for an RBI groundout. Harvey struck out three batters over his four innings. While the Bisons had the lead before the rain delay, the righty did not pitch long enough to qualify for his third consecutive win. New Mets minor league policy mandates any starter being removed if he has logged two innings and there is a rain delay. Justin Hampson earned the victory with three scoreless innings. Fernando Cabrera worked the ninth inning for his fifth save. Johnson was activated from the disabled list before the game. He missed five games with a left knee strain. Catcher Jean Luc Blaquiere was transferred from the roster. Vinny Rottino extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a second-inning triple. Box
AKRON 3, BINGHAMTON 1: Akron starter Giovanni Soto struck out nine over seven innings to extend the B-Mets' losing streak to a season-high three games. The Aeros took advantage of an early B-Mets defensive miscue. Davis Stoneburner led off the bottom of the first by shooting a groundball to Rylan Sandoval. Sandoval, in his first game of the season at shortstop, bounced his throw to first base, past Oswaldo Navarro, advancing Stoneburner to second. He moved to third on a wild pitch by B-Mets starter Mark Cohoon and scored on Ryan Rohlinger’s groundout. Akron added to its lead in the fourth. Adam Abraham doubled and scored one batter later on Thomas Neal's double. Kyle Bellows drove Neal home by singling. Given a three-run lead, Soto cruised to his third victory. Cohoon’s night ended after five innings. He allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and struck out three. He was replaced by Armando Rodriguez, who supplied three perfect innings. Binghamton got on the board in the sixth. Navarro followed Matt den Dekker’s leadoff walk with a single. Reese Havens collected his third RBI of the season with another single. Soto escaped further damage by striking out Jefry Marte and turning a line drive back to the mound into a double play by doubling off Havens. Nursing a 3-1 lead, Kyle Landis entered from the pen and worked around a walk and a single to post a scoreless eighth. Eric Campbell led off the ninth with a double, but the rally fell short as Landis retired three straight. The win was Akron’s eighth straight. Cohoon (2-3) had his two-game winning streak snapped. The B-Mets (12-13) wrap up their weeklong trip Thursday. Right-hander Collin McHugh opposes right-hander Mason Radeke. Box
ST. LUCIE 3, JUPITER 2: Right-hander Erik Goeddel pitched five scoreless innings and Cesar Puello went 2-for-4 with an RBI as the Mets won their sixth straight game. Goeddel allowed one hit and worked around five walks while striking out five. The Mets (22-4) pushed across a pair of runs in the third inning to take the lead. Wilfredo Tovar hit a leadoff double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Robbie Shields delivered a go-ahead single to plate Tovar. Puello hit a two-out infield single to score Shields and make it 2-0. The Mets extended the lead to 3-0 in the sixth. Danny Muno drilled a two-out single to plate Rafael Fernandez. The Mets had all nine starters record at least one hit. Cory Vaughn finished 2-for-2 with a walk. Taylor Whitenton pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief and allowed one run on two hits with two walks and a strikeout. Adam Kolarek tossed 1 1/3 innings and gave up one hit with a walk and struck out one. Adrian Rosario pitched the ninth inning for his sixth save. Rosario allowed a leadoff home run to Marcell Ozuna, but battled back to secure the victory. The Mets will look to complete a three-game sweep Thursday with Angel Cuan taking the mound. Box
SAVANNAH 7, DELMARVA 1: Savannah (15-11) opened the scoring in the second. With one out, Brian Harrison doubled. After DH Charley Thurber was hit by a pitch, Albert Cordero singled to score Harrison. The Gnats added to their lead in the fourth on Travis Taijeron’s seventh homer. In the sixth, Aderlin Rodriguez doubled and scored on Cordero’s sacrifice fly to put Savannah ahead, 3-0. Savannah starter Alex Panteliodis shut out Delmarva on two hits and two walks through six innings to earn his third win and lower his ERA to 0.68 (2 ER/26.1 IP). Delmarva (13-12) scored its lone run in the seventh against reliever Carlos Vazquez, on Mychal Givens' RBI groundout. The Gnats added four runs in the seventh, during an inning in which the Shorebirds walked four and committed an error. Cordero drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. He finished 1-for-1 with a walk, two sacrifice flies and three RBIs. T.J. Rivera singled to begin the frame to extend his hitting streak to eight games. The Gnats send right-hander Domingo Tapia (3-1, 0.68) to the mound Thursday against right-hander Parker Bridwell (2-0, 4.05). Box
Compiled from team reports
AKRON 3, BINGHAMTON 1: Akron starter Giovanni Soto struck out nine over seven innings to extend the B-Mets' losing streak to a season-high three games. The Aeros took advantage of an early B-Mets defensive miscue. Davis Stoneburner led off the bottom of the first by shooting a groundball to Rylan Sandoval. Sandoval, in his first game of the season at shortstop, bounced his throw to first base, past Oswaldo Navarro, advancing Stoneburner to second. He moved to third on a wild pitch by B-Mets starter Mark Cohoon and scored on Ryan Rohlinger’s groundout. Akron added to its lead in the fourth. Adam Abraham doubled and scored one batter later on Thomas Neal's double. Kyle Bellows drove Neal home by singling. Given a three-run lead, Soto cruised to his third victory. Cohoon’s night ended after five innings. He allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and struck out three. He was replaced by Armando Rodriguez, who supplied three perfect innings. Binghamton got on the board in the sixth. Navarro followed Matt den Dekker’s leadoff walk with a single. Reese Havens collected his third RBI of the season with another single. Soto escaped further damage by striking out Jefry Marte and turning a line drive back to the mound into a double play by doubling off Havens. Nursing a 3-1 lead, Kyle Landis entered from the pen and worked around a walk and a single to post a scoreless eighth. Eric Campbell led off the ninth with a double, but the rally fell short as Landis retired three straight. The win was Akron’s eighth straight. Cohoon (2-3) had his two-game winning streak snapped. The B-Mets (12-13) wrap up their weeklong trip Thursday. Right-hander Collin McHugh opposes right-hander Mason Radeke. Box
ST. LUCIE 3, JUPITER 2: Right-hander Erik Goeddel pitched five scoreless innings and Cesar Puello went 2-for-4 with an RBI as the Mets won their sixth straight game. Goeddel allowed one hit and worked around five walks while striking out five. The Mets (22-4) pushed across a pair of runs in the third inning to take the lead. Wilfredo Tovar hit a leadoff double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Robbie Shields delivered a go-ahead single to plate Tovar. Puello hit a two-out infield single to score Shields and make it 2-0. The Mets extended the lead to 3-0 in the sixth. Danny Muno drilled a two-out single to plate Rafael Fernandez. The Mets had all nine starters record at least one hit. Cory Vaughn finished 2-for-2 with a walk. Taylor Whitenton pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief and allowed one run on two hits with two walks and a strikeout. Adam Kolarek tossed 1 1/3 innings and gave up one hit with a walk and struck out one. Adrian Rosario pitched the ninth inning for his sixth save. Rosario allowed a leadoff home run to Marcell Ozuna, but battled back to secure the victory. The Mets will look to complete a three-game sweep Thursday with Angel Cuan taking the mound. Box
SAVANNAH 7, DELMARVA 1: Savannah (15-11) opened the scoring in the second. With one out, Brian Harrison doubled. After DH Charley Thurber was hit by a pitch, Albert Cordero singled to score Harrison. The Gnats added to their lead in the fourth on Travis Taijeron’s seventh homer. In the sixth, Aderlin Rodriguez doubled and scored on Cordero’s sacrifice fly to put Savannah ahead, 3-0. Savannah starter Alex Panteliodis shut out Delmarva on two hits and two walks through six innings to earn his third win and lower his ERA to 0.68 (2 ER/26.1 IP). Delmarva (13-12) scored its lone run in the seventh against reliever Carlos Vazquez, on Mychal Givens' RBI groundout. The Gnats added four runs in the seventh, during an inning in which the Shorebirds walked four and committed an error. Cordero drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. He finished 1-for-1 with a walk, two sacrifice flies and three RBIs. T.J. Rivera singled to begin the frame to extend his hitting streak to eight games. The Gnats send right-hander Domingo Tapia (3-1, 0.68) to the mound Thursday against right-hander Parker Bridwell (2-0, 4.05). Box
Compiled from team reports
BUFFALO 8, ROCHESTER 2: In his second start since entering the rotation, Dylan Owen dominated as Buffalo won its fourth straight and ninth in its past 12 games. Owen needed 78 pitches to complete seven innings. He retired the first seven batters he faced and 11 straight from the fourth inning into his final frame. Owen required only six pitches to retire the Red Wings in the second inning. In the sixth, he struck out former Mets farmhand Drew Butera looking on three pitches, fanned Ben Revere swinging on three pitches and induced Darin Mastroianni into a weak pop out on four pitches. Owen reached a three-ball count only twice. In the seventh inning, the Red Wings finally got a run when Aaron Bates followed Joe Benson's two-out triple with a single. Owen then retired Rene Rivera on a popout to end his outing. Overall, Owen allowed four hits without issuing a walk. He lowered his season ERA from 4.02 to 3.18. The top of the Bisons batting order did the heavy lifting. Bobby Scales, Vinny Rottino and Valentino Pascucci combined to go 8-for-15 with four doubles, four RBIs and four runs scored. Rottino and Pascucci got aboard in the fourth inning to set up RBI hits from Matt Tuiasosopo and Brad Emaus. Scales and Rottino drove in two more runs for a 4-0 lead in the fifth. Pascucci hit a two-rocket off the wall in center field to drive in two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Omar Quintanilla added his third homer in four games with a solo shot in the eighth. Emaus, signed last week, went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and a walk in his Bisons debut. Pascucci (13 games), Rottino (11 games), Scales (7 games) and Josh Satin (6 games) all extended their season-high hitting streaks. The Bisons will go for the four-game sweep Monday. Box
BINGHAMTON 7, ERIE 1: In his first game this season, Reese Havens collected three hits, including a two-run home run. The B-Mets pounded out 10 hits, five for extra bases, to make a winner of Zack Wheeler (1-2) for the first time in his Double-A career. Binghamton jumped on Erie starter Mark Sorensen in the first. Matt den Dekker started the attack with a double. Havens, activated from the disabled list before the game, ripped a two-run homer to right field on his first swing of the season. Havens launched six home runs in 58 games with Binghamton last year. An inning later, Pedro Zapata dumped a single to center and was quickly brought home when den Dekker tripled. Rodriguez followed by with a walk to put runners at the corners. With Havens at the plate, Rodriguez forced himself into a rundown and stayed alive long enough for den Dekker to score. Sorensen could not reach the third. Patrick Cooper took over and put up a scoreless frame before allowing a leadoff triple to Zapata in the fourth. The speedy outfielder scored one batter later on den Dekker’s sac fly. Cooper allowed two more runs in the fifth. Eric Campbell singled and moved to third on a pair of wild pitches. Travis Ozga brought him home with a single. Juan Centeno scored later in the frame when Zapata beat out a potential double play. The offensive support was long overdue for Wheeler. In his first four starts, the B-Mets had scored a total of four runs. Eventually working with a seven-run cushion, Wheeler did not allow a hit until the fourth. He surrendered two over his 5 2/3 innings. In the sixth, Wheeler allowed a double to Brandon Douglas before inducing Rob Brantly to fly out. With two outs, manager Pedro Lopez replaced Wheeler with Jeff Kaplan. Wheeler finished with six strikeouts. Jordan Lennerton greeted Kaplan by pounding an RBI double, with the run charged to Wheeler. Kaplan then forced Ben Guez to ground out to end the inning. He worked around a two-out single to put up a scoreless seventh. Armando Rodriguez followed with two scoreless innings. The B-Mets (12-10) head to Akron to start a four-game series Monday. Left-hander Darin Gorski opposes right-hander Steven Wright. Box
ST. LUCIE 5, FORT MYERS 1: Gonzalez Germen limited the Miracle to one run in seven innings. Adrian Rosario entered with two runners on base in the ninth and secured his fifth save by producing a strikeout, then inducing a double play. Cory Vaughn and Juan Torres homered for St. Lucie. Torres was playing his first game this season with St. Lucie. Box
SAVANNAH 9, LEXINGTON 3: Marcos Camarena tossed five scoreless innings to improve to 2-0. Dustin Lawley went 3-for-3 with two walks. Brandon Brown and Aderlin Rodriguez drove in two runs apiece. Box
Compiled from team reports
BINGHAMTON 7, ERIE 1: In his first game this season, Reese Havens collected three hits, including a two-run home run. The B-Mets pounded out 10 hits, five for extra bases, to make a winner of Zack Wheeler (1-2) for the first time in his Double-A career. Binghamton jumped on Erie starter Mark Sorensen in the first. Matt den Dekker started the attack with a double. Havens, activated from the disabled list before the game, ripped a two-run homer to right field on his first swing of the season. Havens launched six home runs in 58 games with Binghamton last year. An inning later, Pedro Zapata dumped a single to center and was quickly brought home when den Dekker tripled. Rodriguez followed by with a walk to put runners at the corners. With Havens at the plate, Rodriguez forced himself into a rundown and stayed alive long enough for den Dekker to score. Sorensen could not reach the third. Patrick Cooper took over and put up a scoreless frame before allowing a leadoff triple to Zapata in the fourth. The speedy outfielder scored one batter later on den Dekker’s sac fly. Cooper allowed two more runs in the fifth. Eric Campbell singled and moved to third on a pair of wild pitches. Travis Ozga brought him home with a single. Juan Centeno scored later in the frame when Zapata beat out a potential double play. The offensive support was long overdue for Wheeler. In his first four starts, the B-Mets had scored a total of four runs. Eventually working with a seven-run cushion, Wheeler did not allow a hit until the fourth. He surrendered two over his 5 2/3 innings. In the sixth, Wheeler allowed a double to Brandon Douglas before inducing Rob Brantly to fly out. With two outs, manager Pedro Lopez replaced Wheeler with Jeff Kaplan. Wheeler finished with six strikeouts. Jordan Lennerton greeted Kaplan by pounding an RBI double, with the run charged to Wheeler. Kaplan then forced Ben Guez to ground out to end the inning. He worked around a two-out single to put up a scoreless seventh. Armando Rodriguez followed with two scoreless innings. The B-Mets (12-10) head to Akron to start a four-game series Monday. Left-hander Darin Gorski opposes right-hander Steven Wright. Box
ST. LUCIE 5, FORT MYERS 1: Gonzalez Germen limited the Miracle to one run in seven innings. Adrian Rosario entered with two runners on base in the ninth and secured his fifth save by producing a strikeout, then inducing a double play. Cory Vaughn and Juan Torres homered for St. Lucie. Torres was playing his first game this season with St. Lucie. Box
SAVANNAH 9, LEXINGTON 3: Marcos Camarena tossed five scoreless innings to improve to 2-0. Dustin Lawley went 3-for-3 with two walks. Brandon Brown and Aderlin Rodriguez drove in two runs apiece. Box
Compiled from team reports
BUFFALO 6, SYRACUSE 1
SYRACUSE 1, BUFFALO 0: Two of the International League's closest rivals split a twinbill as Buffalo took the first game on the strength of a three-hit performance from Omar Quintanilla, then Corey Brown's fourth-inning homer accounted for the only scoring in the nightcap. In both games, the Bisons got solid starting pitching. Jeurys Familia (2-1) earned his second Triple-A win with eight strikeouts in five innings in the opener. In Game 2, Chris Schwinden (2-2) was the hard-luck loser with the team's first complete game of the season. Schwinden allowed one run on three hits and no walks. In the opener, Zach Lutz hit a no-doubt two-run homer to give the Herd a second-inning lead. Josh Satin singled home Jordany Valdespin in the third for a 3-1 advantage. Quintanilla's third hit of the game was a bases-loaded double in the sixth. The lone damage against Familia came on Bryce Harper's first Triple-A homer. Jack Egbert was also solid on the mound, pitching two scoreless innings in relief of Familia. The Bisons had just three hits in Game 2, two by Matt Tuiasosopo, but had their chances to score. Buffalo put the first two men on base in the fifth inning, but Vinny Rottino was thrown out at third on a double steal. Raul Reyes walked to lead off the sixth and reached third base with one out. Chiefs starter Tanner Roark then retired Satin and Lutz to escape that jam. In the seventh, Rottino walked and Tuiasosopo singled to lead off the frame. But a failed bunt attempt by Lucas May and a double play off the bat of Quintanilla ended the contest. Still, combined with the Bisons' win on Friday night, the club picked up its first series win of 2012. Now at 9-9, the Herd will travel to Lehigh Valley for Monday's start to a three-game series. Game 1, Game 2
BINGHAMTON 7, PORTLAND 2: Rylan Sandoval had four RBIs and Collin McHugh fired six strong innings as Binghamton swept the four-game series. It marked the third time in the series and fifth time in the last eight games the B-Mets have collected 10 or more hits. Juan Lagares started the onslaught in the second with a single off Portland starter Brock Huntzinger. Juan Centeno added a single and Joe Bonfe walked to load the bases. Sandoval then doubled off the right-center fence. The hit cleared the bases and gave Binghamton a 3-0 lead. Matt den Dekker doubled Sandoval home. From there, McHugh cruised to his third straight victory, tying him for the Eastern League lead. He racked up six strikeouts for the third straight game and allowed one unearned run on two hits. After putting up four scoreless innings, Portland finally scratched out a run in the fifth. Ronald Bermudez reached on a throwing error by Oswaldo Navarro at third. He moved to second on a wild pitch and scored two batters later when Jeremy Hazelbaker dumped a ball into left field. McHugh escaped the inning with no further damage and posted a perfect sixth to cap his day. The B-Mets added to their lead in the fourth. Pedro Zapata bunted his way aboard and stole second. After gaining third on a wild pitch, he scored when Sandoval tripled -- his second three-bagger as a B-Met. Den Dekker made it 6-1 with a sacrifice fly. Huntzinger was pulled after surrendering a single to Josh Rodriguez. Binghamton plated its final run on an RBI single by Rodriguez in the sixth. He became the first B-Met to collect four hits in a game since Brahiam Maldonado in August 2011. Armando Rodriguez took the mound and worked around a leadoff single to post a scoreless seventh. He then needed 12 pitches to work a perfect eighth. Edgar Ramirez surrendered a run in the ninth before retiring Hazelbaker on a groundout to first to end the game. The B-Mets (9-7) enjoy an off day on Monday before kicking off a three-game series against New Hampshire on Tuesday at NYSEG Stadium. Zack Wheeler takes the ball for Binghamton. Box
ST. LUCIE 9, FORT MYERS 8: Danny Muno's double scored Wilfredo Tovar in the bottom of the ninth for a walk-off win. St. Lucie overcame a 6-0 deficit. Muno had a two-run homer in a five-run fifth that pulled the Mets within a run. Robbie Shields and Muno had three hits apiece, while Tovar scored three times. Box
HICKORY 1, SAVANNAH 0 (5 innings): Hickory won in a game that was called after five innings due to wet grounds at Historic Grayson Stadium. The Crawdads (12-5) swept the four-game series from the Gnats (10-8). Savannah is off on Monday. It begins a seven-game road trip in Charleston, W.Va., Tuesday. The Crawdads scored the game’s only run in the third. With one out, Chris Grayson doubled. Ensuing batter Hanser Alberto lined a ball up the middle. Gnats pitcher Michael Fulmer snared the liner on a fly and threw to second base to attempt to complete a double play. However, second base was unoccupied, and the throw went into center field. Grayson headed to third, and scored when center fielder Tillman Pugh’s throw to third bounced away from Savannah third baseman Aderlin Rodriguez and went out of play. Fulmer worked one 1-2-3 inning in the fifth, but took his second loss of 2012 despite allowing only the unearned run. Box
Compiled from team reports
SYRACUSE 1, BUFFALO 0: Two of the International League's closest rivals split a twinbill as Buffalo took the first game on the strength of a three-hit performance from Omar Quintanilla, then Corey Brown's fourth-inning homer accounted for the only scoring in the nightcap. In both games, the Bisons got solid starting pitching. Jeurys Familia (2-1) earned his second Triple-A win with eight strikeouts in five innings in the opener. In Game 2, Chris Schwinden (2-2) was the hard-luck loser with the team's first complete game of the season. Schwinden allowed one run on three hits and no walks. In the opener, Zach Lutz hit a no-doubt two-run homer to give the Herd a second-inning lead. Josh Satin singled home Jordany Valdespin in the third for a 3-1 advantage. Quintanilla's third hit of the game was a bases-loaded double in the sixth. The lone damage against Familia came on Bryce Harper's first Triple-A homer. Jack Egbert was also solid on the mound, pitching two scoreless innings in relief of Familia. The Bisons had just three hits in Game 2, two by Matt Tuiasosopo, but had their chances to score. Buffalo put the first two men on base in the fifth inning, but Vinny Rottino was thrown out at third on a double steal. Raul Reyes walked to lead off the sixth and reached third base with one out. Chiefs starter Tanner Roark then retired Satin and Lutz to escape that jam. In the seventh, Rottino walked and Tuiasosopo singled to lead off the frame. But a failed bunt attempt by Lucas May and a double play off the bat of Quintanilla ended the contest. Still, combined with the Bisons' win on Friday night, the club picked up its first series win of 2012. Now at 9-9, the Herd will travel to Lehigh Valley for Monday's start to a three-game series. Game 1, Game 2
BINGHAMTON 7, PORTLAND 2: Rylan Sandoval had four RBIs and Collin McHugh fired six strong innings as Binghamton swept the four-game series. It marked the third time in the series and fifth time in the last eight games the B-Mets have collected 10 or more hits. Juan Lagares started the onslaught in the second with a single off Portland starter Brock Huntzinger. Juan Centeno added a single and Joe Bonfe walked to load the bases. Sandoval then doubled off the right-center fence. The hit cleared the bases and gave Binghamton a 3-0 lead. Matt den Dekker doubled Sandoval home. From there, McHugh cruised to his third straight victory, tying him for the Eastern League lead. He racked up six strikeouts for the third straight game and allowed one unearned run on two hits. After putting up four scoreless innings, Portland finally scratched out a run in the fifth. Ronald Bermudez reached on a throwing error by Oswaldo Navarro at third. He moved to second on a wild pitch and scored two batters later when Jeremy Hazelbaker dumped a ball into left field. McHugh escaped the inning with no further damage and posted a perfect sixth to cap his day. The B-Mets added to their lead in the fourth. Pedro Zapata bunted his way aboard and stole second. After gaining third on a wild pitch, he scored when Sandoval tripled -- his second three-bagger as a B-Met. Den Dekker made it 6-1 with a sacrifice fly. Huntzinger was pulled after surrendering a single to Josh Rodriguez. Binghamton plated its final run on an RBI single by Rodriguez in the sixth. He became the first B-Met to collect four hits in a game since Brahiam Maldonado in August 2011. Armando Rodriguez took the mound and worked around a leadoff single to post a scoreless seventh. He then needed 12 pitches to work a perfect eighth. Edgar Ramirez surrendered a run in the ninth before retiring Hazelbaker on a groundout to first to end the game. The B-Mets (9-7) enjoy an off day on Monday before kicking off a three-game series against New Hampshire on Tuesday at NYSEG Stadium. Zack Wheeler takes the ball for Binghamton. Box
ST. LUCIE 9, FORT MYERS 8: Danny Muno's double scored Wilfredo Tovar in the bottom of the ninth for a walk-off win. St. Lucie overcame a 6-0 deficit. Muno had a two-run homer in a five-run fifth that pulled the Mets within a run. Robbie Shields and Muno had three hits apiece, while Tovar scored three times. Box
HICKORY 1, SAVANNAH 0 (5 innings): Hickory won in a game that was called after five innings due to wet grounds at Historic Grayson Stadium. The Crawdads (12-5) swept the four-game series from the Gnats (10-8). Savannah is off on Monday. It begins a seven-game road trip in Charleston, W.Va., Tuesday. The Crawdads scored the game’s only run in the third. With one out, Chris Grayson doubled. Ensuing batter Hanser Alberto lined a ball up the middle. Gnats pitcher Michael Fulmer snared the liner on a fly and threw to second base to attempt to complete a double play. However, second base was unoccupied, and the throw went into center field. Grayson headed to third, and scored when center fielder Tillman Pugh’s throw to third bounced away from Savannah third baseman Aderlin Rodriguez and went out of play. Fulmer worked one 1-2-3 inning in the fifth, but took his second loss of 2012 despite allowing only the unearned run. Box
Compiled from team reports
LEHIGH VALLEY 8, BUFFALO 4: The series finale between the division rivals was a run-of-the-mill 2-2 game until a crazy top of the eighth. That's when a force out that wasn't opened the floodgates to a five-run rally for the IronPigs. The inning started when Valentino Pascucci bobbled a grounder to first base from Hector Luna. Cody Overbeck followed with a bunt to third base, but Josh Satin had no one to throw to after he fielded it. After a successful sacrifice and an intentional walk to Joe Thurston, the IronPigs were set up with the bases loaded and one out. Erik Kratz followed with a fly ball that dropped into shallow right. Matt Tuiasosopo came up throwing and sent a missile to home plate, where Rob Johnson missed the tag on Luna. However, no tag was needed as it was a force play. It was ruled that Luna beat the throw, and the umpire stood by his call even after Herd manager Wally Backman argued the play. Lehigh Valley's 3-2 lead quickly grew as Scott Podsednik singled home two runs on the next pitch. The IronPigs increased their lead to 7-2 with an RBI groundout from Andres Blanco and throwing error from Johnson. The Bisons scored two in the eighth in a rally that came up short, with Tuiasosopo and Satin driving in runs. Buffalo had already came back from 2-0 down with home runs from Pascucci and Jordany Valdespin. The loss for Buffalo was charged to Jack Egbert (0-1). He pitched the decisive eighth inning, giving up his first runs of the season. Bobby Scales reached base twice, with singles in the third and fifth innings. He has reached base at least twice in all 12 games he has started. Vinny Rottino and Zach Lutz did not start for the first time this season. However, both were used as pinch hitters in the contest. Pascucci's home run was his 43rd as a Bison. He is now in sole possession of ninth in the team's modern era. Box
BINGHAMTON 6, PORTLAND 0: Darin Gorski allowed one hit over six shutout innings and the B-Mets racked up 11 hits. Three B-Mets pitchers limited the Sea Dogs to three hits in their second shutout win of the season. Gorski, in his third B-Mets start, navigated his only threat in the second. With two outs, Gorski plunked Reynaldo Rodriguez and gave up a single to Ronald Bermudez. He escaped the jam by inducing Dan Butler to ground out. It was the only time Portland had a runner reach second against Gorski. The southpaw fired four perfect innings and capped his night by retiring Oscar Tejeda to end the sixth. It was the second time this season Gorski has given up one hit and tossed six scoreless innings. The B-Mets tagged starting pitcher Billy Buckner for six hits over five innings. Eric Campbell started the attack with a two-out, run-scoring single in the third. Travis Ozga (3-for-4) led off the fourth by launching the first pitch over the right-field fence, giving Binghamton a 2-0 lead. The drive was Ozga’s second long ball of the season, putting him in the team lead. Campbell added a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Michael Lee took over in the sixth and allowed the first five batters to reach. Josh Rodriguez laced an RBI single up the middle and Pedro Zapata drove home a pair with a bouncer to center. By the time Lee recorded his first out, the B-Mets held a six-run lead. Elvin Ramirez worked around a walk and an error to post a scoreless seventh. He then side-stepped a two-out double in the eighth. Ramirez has three consecutive appearances with four strikeouts. Armando Rodriguez shut the door with a scoreless ninth. The B-Mets (6-7) continue their four-game series against the Sea Dogs on Friday night. Greg Peavey, the reigning Eastern League Pitcher of the Week, opposes Chris Balcom-Miller. Box
ST. LUCIE 1, PALM BEACH 0 (six innings): St. Lucie Mets left-hander Chase Huchingson tossed five shutout innings and shortstop Wilfredo Tovar hit a go-ahead RBI single in the fifth as the Mets won a rain-shortened six-inning game. The Mets won their sixth consecutive game. Huchingson improved to 3-0 and has not allowed a run in 17 2/3 innings this season. He allowed four hits and one walk with three strikeouts. Tovar finished 2-for-2. In a scoreless game in the fifth, Richard Lucas reached second on a throwing error by Cardinals shortstop Ronny Gil. With Lucas at third and two outs, Tovar lined a single to right field off the glove of second baseman Starlin Rodriguez. Taylor Whitenton tossed a scoreless sixth, working around a hit and walk. The game was delayed due to rain after the third inning. Huchingson came back strong in the fourth and fifth innings to keep the Cardinals off the scoreboard. Danny Muno, Cory Vaughn and Wilmer Flores each recorded a hit for the Mets. Box
HICKORY 7, SAVANNAH 1: The Crawdads used three triples to snap the Sand Gnats’ six-game winning streak. Hickory (9-5) scored in three of the first four innings to take a 4-0 lead. In the first inning, Hanser Alberto tripled and scored, and in the second Chris Grayson did the same to put Hickory up 2-0. The Crawdads doubled their advantage with two unearned runs in the fourth against starter Alex Panteliodis. The Gnats (10-5) pushed across their only run in the bottom of the fourth. Brian Harrison singled and advanced around the bases on a balk, a groundout and an RBI groundout by Charley Thurber. Savannah had the bases loaded down 5-1 in the fifth, but could not find the hit to draw closer as Harrison and Aderlin Rodriguez consecutively struck out. Hickory out-hit Savannah 13-2. Panteliodis was charged with four runs, only one of which was earned, in four innings to take his first loss of the year. Hickory reliever Santo Perez shut down the Gnats over the final four innings to pick up his first save. The Gnats and Crawdads resume their four-game series Friday. Savannah right-hander Domingo Tapia (1-0, 2.25) opposes left-hander Will Lamb (0-1, 2.00). Box
Compiled from team reports
BINGHAMTON 6, PORTLAND 0: Darin Gorski allowed one hit over six shutout innings and the B-Mets racked up 11 hits. Three B-Mets pitchers limited the Sea Dogs to three hits in their second shutout win of the season. Gorski, in his third B-Mets start, navigated his only threat in the second. With two outs, Gorski plunked Reynaldo Rodriguez and gave up a single to Ronald Bermudez. He escaped the jam by inducing Dan Butler to ground out. It was the only time Portland had a runner reach second against Gorski. The southpaw fired four perfect innings and capped his night by retiring Oscar Tejeda to end the sixth. It was the second time this season Gorski has given up one hit and tossed six scoreless innings. The B-Mets tagged starting pitcher Billy Buckner for six hits over five innings. Eric Campbell started the attack with a two-out, run-scoring single in the third. Travis Ozga (3-for-4) led off the fourth by launching the first pitch over the right-field fence, giving Binghamton a 2-0 lead. The drive was Ozga’s second long ball of the season, putting him in the team lead. Campbell added a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Michael Lee took over in the sixth and allowed the first five batters to reach. Josh Rodriguez laced an RBI single up the middle and Pedro Zapata drove home a pair with a bouncer to center. By the time Lee recorded his first out, the B-Mets held a six-run lead. Elvin Ramirez worked around a walk and an error to post a scoreless seventh. He then side-stepped a two-out double in the eighth. Ramirez has three consecutive appearances with four strikeouts. Armando Rodriguez shut the door with a scoreless ninth. The B-Mets (6-7) continue their four-game series against the Sea Dogs on Friday night. Greg Peavey, the reigning Eastern League Pitcher of the Week, opposes Chris Balcom-Miller. Box
ST. LUCIE 1, PALM BEACH 0 (six innings): St. Lucie Mets left-hander Chase Huchingson tossed five shutout innings and shortstop Wilfredo Tovar hit a go-ahead RBI single in the fifth as the Mets won a rain-shortened six-inning game. The Mets won their sixth consecutive game. Huchingson improved to 3-0 and has not allowed a run in 17 2/3 innings this season. He allowed four hits and one walk with three strikeouts. Tovar finished 2-for-2. In a scoreless game in the fifth, Richard Lucas reached second on a throwing error by Cardinals shortstop Ronny Gil. With Lucas at third and two outs, Tovar lined a single to right field off the glove of second baseman Starlin Rodriguez. Taylor Whitenton tossed a scoreless sixth, working around a hit and walk. The game was delayed due to rain after the third inning. Huchingson came back strong in the fourth and fifth innings to keep the Cardinals off the scoreboard. Danny Muno, Cory Vaughn and Wilmer Flores each recorded a hit for the Mets. Box
HICKORY 7, SAVANNAH 1: The Crawdads used three triples to snap the Sand Gnats’ six-game winning streak. Hickory (9-5) scored in three of the first four innings to take a 4-0 lead. In the first inning, Hanser Alberto tripled and scored, and in the second Chris Grayson did the same to put Hickory up 2-0. The Crawdads doubled their advantage with two unearned runs in the fourth against starter Alex Panteliodis. The Gnats (10-5) pushed across their only run in the bottom of the fourth. Brian Harrison singled and advanced around the bases on a balk, a groundout and an RBI groundout by Charley Thurber. Savannah had the bases loaded down 5-1 in the fifth, but could not find the hit to draw closer as Harrison and Aderlin Rodriguez consecutively struck out. Hickory out-hit Savannah 13-2. Panteliodis was charged with four runs, only one of which was earned, in four innings to take his first loss of the year. Hickory reliever Santo Perez shut down the Gnats over the final four innings to pick up his first save. The Gnats and Crawdads resume their four-game series Friday. Savannah right-hander Domingo Tapia (1-0, 2.25) opposes left-hander Will Lamb (0-1, 2.00). Box
Compiled from team reports
BUFFALO 4, LEHIGH VALLEY 1: Chris Schwinden induced 12 fly-ball outs over seven innings of one-run ball as the Herd snapped Lehigh Valley's six-game winning streak. Schwinden faced five more than the minimum through his seven innings. He struck out only one batter, but also only issued a one walk. The righty kept the outfielders busy with four fly-ball outs to left field, five to center and three more to right. Schwinden didn't allow more than one baserunner in any inning. The duo of Jack Egbert and Fernando Cabrera then kept the lead intact. Egbert increased his scoreless-innings streak to begin the season to eight with a 1-2-3 eighth. Cabrera worked the ninth for his third save. Trailing 1-0, the Bisons took the lead with two runs in the fifth inning against ex-Met Pat Misch. Lucas May hit Buffalo's first triple of the year to score Vinny Rottino from first base. Omar Quintanilla then gave the Herd the lead with a run-scoring groundout. Bobby Scales added insurance with a solo homer in the sixth. Scales also singled in the eighth to continue his streak of reaching base twice in all 10 games he has started this season. Buffalo plated a fourth run in the ninth inning when Domonic Brown dropped a deep fly ball off the bat of Josh Satin. Jordany Valdespin finished the game 0-for-4 and saw an end to his seven-game hitting streak. Zach Lutz went 2-for-3 to raise his average to .364. It was Lutz's fourth multi-hit game this homestand. Before May, the last Bisons catcher to triple was Josh Thole, on May 9, 2010 in Indianapolis. Misch (1-2) was charged with three runs and five hits while striking out two in 5 2/3 innings. Box
BINGHAMTON 10, NEW HAMPSHIRE 6: The B-Mets sent 10 men to the plate and scored six runs in the third inning. Binghamton started the scoring early against New Hampshire starter Chad Jenkins. Sean Kazmar led off the game by walking and Oswaldo Navarro followed with a single. Matt den Dekker gave the B-Mets the lead and extended his hitting streak to nine games by ripping an RBI single past Mike McDade at first base. Navarro scored one batter later when Eric Campbell bounced into a double play. Binghamton truly turned up the heat in the third. The B-Mets set a season high for runs in an inning by crossing home six times on seven hits. Navarro, den Dekker, Campbell and Juan Lagares pounded out consecutive hits against Jenkins. Following a flyout by Travis Ozga, the B-Mets chased Jenkins with three straight hits, capped by Rylan Sandoval’s two-run triple. It was Sandoval’s first hit as a B-Met. Matt Wright entered in relief and doused the flames by inducing Kazmar to ground out. Wright struck out the side in order in the fourth, but hit a speed bump with two outs in the fifth. Josh Rodriguez started the rally by producing his first homer of the season. Juan Centeno followed with a double. He scored two batters later on Kazmar’s single. B-Mets starter Collin McHugh earned his second win of the trip. For the second straight start, McHugh racked up six strikeouts. He capped his night by fanning Brian Van Kirk to end the fifth. The righty allowed one run on four hits and walked two. His only blemish was a solo homer by Mark Sobolewski in the second. Up 10-1, Kevin Mulvey allowed the first three to reach to start the seventh, in his second inning. Ryan Goins cleared the bases with a triple. He scored one batter later on Van Kirk’s sacrifice fly. After a double and a walk, Robert Carson relieved Mulvey and ended the threat. The southpaw allowed the first two to reach in the eighth, but retired the next three Fisher Cats to post 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Josh Edgin took over in the ninth. Brad Glenn blasted a one-out solo homer. A.J. Jimenez followed by flying out and Sobolewski struck out to end the game. The B-Mets (5-6) complete their first trip of the season Wednesday night. It will be a matchup of top prospects as right-hander Zack Wheeler opposes right-hander Deck McGuire. Box
ST. LUCIE 6, CHARLOTTE 1: Gonzalez Germen limited Charlotte to one run on two hits and three walks while striking out five in 5 1/3 innings. Relievers John Church, Adam Kolarek and Adrian Rosario combined to blank the Stone Crabs, surrendering only one hit and one walk, the rest of the way. Wilmer Flores went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, a walk and two RBIs. Cesar Puello and Wilfredo Tovar also had two hits apiece. Box
SAVANNAH 2, ROME 1 (suspended): The game was halted in the top of the fifth inning because of a power failure. Before the stoppage, Aderlin Rodriguez contributed an RBI triple and scored on Dustin Lawley's sacrifice fly in the third. The game will resume Wednesday. Box
Compiled from team reports
BINGHAMTON 10, NEW HAMPSHIRE 6: The B-Mets sent 10 men to the plate and scored six runs in the third inning. Binghamton started the scoring early against New Hampshire starter Chad Jenkins. Sean Kazmar led off the game by walking and Oswaldo Navarro followed with a single. Matt den Dekker gave the B-Mets the lead and extended his hitting streak to nine games by ripping an RBI single past Mike McDade at first base. Navarro scored one batter later when Eric Campbell bounced into a double play. Binghamton truly turned up the heat in the third. The B-Mets set a season high for runs in an inning by crossing home six times on seven hits. Navarro, den Dekker, Campbell and Juan Lagares pounded out consecutive hits against Jenkins. Following a flyout by Travis Ozga, the B-Mets chased Jenkins with three straight hits, capped by Rylan Sandoval’s two-run triple. It was Sandoval’s first hit as a B-Met. Matt Wright entered in relief and doused the flames by inducing Kazmar to ground out. Wright struck out the side in order in the fourth, but hit a speed bump with two outs in the fifth. Josh Rodriguez started the rally by producing his first homer of the season. Juan Centeno followed with a double. He scored two batters later on Kazmar’s single. B-Mets starter Collin McHugh earned his second win of the trip. For the second straight start, McHugh racked up six strikeouts. He capped his night by fanning Brian Van Kirk to end the fifth. The righty allowed one run on four hits and walked two. His only blemish was a solo homer by Mark Sobolewski in the second. Up 10-1, Kevin Mulvey allowed the first three to reach to start the seventh, in his second inning. Ryan Goins cleared the bases with a triple. He scored one batter later on Van Kirk’s sacrifice fly. After a double and a walk, Robert Carson relieved Mulvey and ended the threat. The southpaw allowed the first two to reach in the eighth, but retired the next three Fisher Cats to post 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Josh Edgin took over in the ninth. Brad Glenn blasted a one-out solo homer. A.J. Jimenez followed by flying out and Sobolewski struck out to end the game. The B-Mets (5-6) complete their first trip of the season Wednesday night. It will be a matchup of top prospects as right-hander Zack Wheeler opposes right-hander Deck McGuire. Box
ST. LUCIE 6, CHARLOTTE 1: Gonzalez Germen limited Charlotte to one run on two hits and three walks while striking out five in 5 1/3 innings. Relievers John Church, Adam Kolarek and Adrian Rosario combined to blank the Stone Crabs, surrendering only one hit and one walk, the rest of the way. Wilmer Flores went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, a walk and two RBIs. Cesar Puello and Wilfredo Tovar also had two hits apiece. Box
SAVANNAH 2, ROME 1 (suspended): The game was halted in the top of the fifth inning because of a power failure. Before the stoppage, Aderlin Rodriguez contributed an RBI triple and scored on Dustin Lawley's sacrifice fly in the third. The game will resume Wednesday. Box
Compiled from team reports
BUFFALO 10, PAWTUCKET 9 (10 innings): Jordany Valdespin's single in the bottom of the 10th scored Rob Johnson from second to give the Bisons a walk-off win. The victory snapped a three-game losing streak. Pawtucket held leads of 6-0 and 9-3, but the Bisons stormed back thanks to a big day from Adam Loewen. He drove in six runs with a pair of homers. After the PawSox broke a scoreless tie with six runs in the top of the fourth off Herd starter Matt Harvey, Loewen hit a two-run shot in the bottom half. Buffalo added a third run in the inning on one of Zach Lutz's four walks. The deficit grew to 7-3 in the fifth and 9-3 after five and a half. Loewen then launched a grand slam as part of a five-run sixth. A converted pitcher, it was Loewen's first career grand slam. The Bisons completed the comeback in the eighth. With runners on the corners and one out, pinch runner Omar Quintanilla slid hard into second base to break up a potential inning-ending double play. That set the stage for a dramatic win in the 10th. Loewen walked to lead off the inning -- his fifth time on base. Johnson's sac-bunt attempt went right back to pitcher Clayton Mortensen, who pivoted and threw to second for the force out. Although he didn't advance the runner, Johnson made up for it as he stole second on the next pitch. Valdespin followed with a line drive into right-center for the game-winning run. The win went to Fernando Cabrera, who worked two scoreless innings. Jack Egbert retired eight straight batters before Cabrera. Before the game, the Bisons placed reliever Daniel Herrera on the disabled list with a left elbow sprain. Brad Holt was summoned from Double-A Binghamton. He allowed three runs in 1 2/3 innings. Josh Satin also returned to the Bisons. He was placed on the Mets' 24-hour taxi squad as backup in case David Wright couldn't go this weekend. Box
BINGHAMTON 9, PORTLAND 2: The B-Mets set season-highs with nine runs and 15 hits and earned a four-game series split. Greg Peavey fired five scoreless innings to earn his second win in two career Double-A starts. Against Portland starter Chris Balcom-Miller in the first, Matt den Dekker started the attack with his first homer of the season. Juan Lagares followed with a walk and stole second. That paid dividends when Jefry Marte singled him home. An error by Ryan Dent at second prolonged the inning, and Josh Rodriguez made Portland pay by lining an RBI single. The B-Mets tacked on two more runs in the second. Juan Centeno and Sean Kazmar began the rally with singles. Lagares' ensuing walk started a parade around the bases. Balcom-Miller’s day ended after he walked Eric Campbell to force in a run. Michael Lee entered and walked the first man he faced, Oswaldo Navarro, to kick Binghamton’s lead to five runs. Navarro had replaced Marte (hamstring tightness, according to the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin) in the second inning. Meanwhile, Peavey has not allowed a run in the first 10 2/3 innings with the B-Mets. He allowed four hits, struck out four and issued one walk. In his final inning, he allowed a pair singles but retired the final three Sea Dogs. Binghamton added to its lead with a run on Heiker Meneses’ throwing error in the fifth and another on Navarro’s solo homer over the “Maine Monster” in the seventh. Travis Ozga lined a two-run homer to right in the ninth. It was his first home run since August 2010, when he was a member of the Savannah Sand Gnats. B-Mets reliever Armando Rodriguez took over in the sixth and cruised through three innings. The right-hander faced one over the minimum, striking out five. The Sea Dogs finally cracked the scoreboard by plating two runs on four hits against Erik Turgeon. He was replaced by Josh Edgin, who retired the only batter he faced. The B-Mets (4-5) open a three-game series in New Hampshire on Monday. Left-hander Mark Cohoon opposes right-hander Ryan Tepera. Box
ST. LUCIE 6, CHARLOTTE 4: St. Lucie took a 5-4 lead with a four-run seventh highlighted by Francisco Pena's two-run double, followed by a two-run single from Danny Muno. Ryan Fraser tossed two scoreless, no-hit innings to pick up the win in relief. Box
SAVANNAH 6, AUGUSTA 1: After posting consecutive shutouts, the Gnats took a scoreless effort into the eighth inning Sunday behind six scoreless innings from Tyler Pill. Augusta finally broke through with an unearned run against Tyson Seng, after third baseman Aderlin Rodriguez committed his seventh error of the young season. Rodriguez, Dustin Lawley and Travis Taijeron all homered for the Gnats. Box
Compiled from team reports
BINGHAMTON 9, PORTLAND 2: The B-Mets set season-highs with nine runs and 15 hits and earned a four-game series split. Greg Peavey fired five scoreless innings to earn his second win in two career Double-A starts. Against Portland starter Chris Balcom-Miller in the first, Matt den Dekker started the attack with his first homer of the season. Juan Lagares followed with a walk and stole second. That paid dividends when Jefry Marte singled him home. An error by Ryan Dent at second prolonged the inning, and Josh Rodriguez made Portland pay by lining an RBI single. The B-Mets tacked on two more runs in the second. Juan Centeno and Sean Kazmar began the rally with singles. Lagares' ensuing walk started a parade around the bases. Balcom-Miller’s day ended after he walked Eric Campbell to force in a run. Michael Lee entered and walked the first man he faced, Oswaldo Navarro, to kick Binghamton’s lead to five runs. Navarro had replaced Marte (hamstring tightness, according to the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin) in the second inning. Meanwhile, Peavey has not allowed a run in the first 10 2/3 innings with the B-Mets. He allowed four hits, struck out four and issued one walk. In his final inning, he allowed a pair singles but retired the final three Sea Dogs. Binghamton added to its lead with a run on Heiker Meneses’ throwing error in the fifth and another on Navarro’s solo homer over the “Maine Monster” in the seventh. Travis Ozga lined a two-run homer to right in the ninth. It was his first home run since August 2010, when he was a member of the Savannah Sand Gnats. B-Mets reliever Armando Rodriguez took over in the sixth and cruised through three innings. The right-hander faced one over the minimum, striking out five. The Sea Dogs finally cracked the scoreboard by plating two runs on four hits against Erik Turgeon. He was replaced by Josh Edgin, who retired the only batter he faced. The B-Mets (4-5) open a three-game series in New Hampshire on Monday. Left-hander Mark Cohoon opposes right-hander Ryan Tepera. Box
ST. LUCIE 6, CHARLOTTE 4: St. Lucie took a 5-4 lead with a four-run seventh highlighted by Francisco Pena's two-run double, followed by a two-run single from Danny Muno. Ryan Fraser tossed two scoreless, no-hit innings to pick up the win in relief. Box
SAVANNAH 6, AUGUSTA 1: After posting consecutive shutouts, the Gnats took a scoreless effort into the eighth inning Sunday behind six scoreless innings from Tyler Pill. Augusta finally broke through with an unearned run against Tyson Seng, after third baseman Aderlin Rodriguez committed his seventh error of the young season. Rodriguez, Dustin Lawley and Travis Taijeron all homered for the Gnats. Box
Compiled from team reports
David Wright went 3-for-5 with a homer in his return to the lineup with a fractured right pinkie, Jon Niese tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings and the Mets blanked the Phillies, 5-0, Saturday at Citizens Bank Park. The Mets already have clinched the series win. They had been 1-7-1 in their past nine series at Philly. Mike Pelfrey opposes Cole Hamels this afternoon, with the Mets aiming for their first sweep in Philly since June 13-15, 2006.
Today is Jackie Robinson Day across MLB.
Sunday's news reports:
• Terry Collins said that on Friday he believed Wright almost definitely would land on the disabled list this weekend. The Mets even flew in Josh Satin to be prepared for that seeming eventuality. Yet Wright returned to the lineup and blasted his 16th homer at Citizens Bank Park, the most by any visitor at the stadium since it opened in 2004. Read more in Newsday.
• Read game recaps in the Times, Star-Ledger, Newsday, Post, Daily News and Record.
• Steven Marcus in Newsday inquires about why the Mets have retired only one player's number -- 41, for Tom Seaver. Casey Stengel's 37 and Gil Hodges' 14 as well as the universally recognized Robinson's 42 also are retired. The Mets placed Gary Carter's No. 8 on the outfield wall for this season -- appearing as it does on the patch on the Mets' uniforms.
"I think the general point of view is we don't want to get to the point where it's somewhat gratuitous and you've got dozens and dozens of people whose numbers are retired,'' Mets executive VP Dave Howard told Marcus. "Historically, from a Mets perspective, this is a very high honor. Certainly from a player standpoint, it's only been Tom Seaver. He's in a class by himself.''
Added Keith Hernandez to Marcus: "Too many teams are retiring too many numbers. They lose their import. So I'm in the camp that it should be something that is special, it shouldn't be marginalized. Who wouldn't want to have their number retired? But it's not something that I think about.''
One obvious number to consider is Mike Piazza's No. 31. Newsday's David Lennon tweeted earlier this year that the Mets are expected to retire Piazza's number after he is inducted into Cooperstown.
• Columnist John Harper in the Daily News discusses the ramifications of Wright's speedy return and Saturday's series-clinching win. Writes Harper:
Injuries are a delicate subject around the Mets, after all the problems they’ve had in recent years. In some cases they made matters worse by allowing the likes of Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and even Wright last season, with his broken back, to play hurt, so now they tend to proceed with extreme caution. That’s why it was a bit surprising, even for Collins, to hear him say on Wednesday that he had a “gut feeling” Wright would play with his broken finger here on Friday.
Even if it wasn’t the manager’s intent, that put a certain pressure on his star player. If Wright couldn’t play, he would look less than tough, at least in the eyes of many fans who took Collins’ gut feeling to heart. Perhaps that’s why Wright sounded a bit defensive when he couldn’t play on Friday, repeatedly saying he couldn’t “functionally” grip or swing a bat because of the swelling in his finger. But then it felt good enough on Saturday to try it, and in a way he made his manager look like a prophet with his big day that raised his batting average to .588.
• Columnist Kevin Kernan in the Post writes that Wright's leadership is clear:
David Wright sent a message to his teammates yesterday: Play hard, play through pain, or go home.
• Mike Kerwick in the Record says Citi Field spectators should not boo Jason Bay. Writes Kerwick:
Here's my advice to Mets fans: Shackle your venom. And give the guy some space. Was it just a coincidence that Bay hit no homers in six games at Citi Field, then blasted one during his first at-bat in a visiting park? Possibly. On Friday night, he said the first week of games was not enough to cause his shoulders to slump. But he has also admitted he hears the boos. Bay is a decent person. And most decent people sag when exposed to this degree of enmity. I can't help but think the booing, on some subconscious level, penetrates his psyche.
• Bobby Parnell recorded the ensuing four outs after Niese departed, including covering the eighth inning for a second straight day. Between the Grapefruit League and regular season, Parnell has not allowed a run in 17 1/3 innings. Read more in the Record.
• Niese has carried a scoreless effort into the seventh inning in both of his outings. Read more in Newsday and the Post.
• In the court filings made late Friday regarding the settlement of the lawsuit against Fred Wilpon and family over Bernard Madoff accounts, one reason trustee Irving Picard cited for settling was the Mets owners' tight finances made getting more money via further litigation dicey. Writes Anthony M. Destefano in Newsday:
In federal court filings late Friday night, trustee Irving Picard said the "restrictive" cash flow, as well as the owners' obligations to banks that lent them money, contributed to doubts that further litigation against Fred Wilpon , Saul Katz and their partners in Sterling Equities would produce a bigger payout. "We have become satisfied that defendants' cash flow and lender covenants would not have enabled me to recover more for the [Madoff] customer fund in the foreseeable future by litigating to the point of judgment," Picard said in an affidavit. The settlement "is a practical and fair compromise" that avoided "a protracted and expensive trial and lengthy appeals," Picard explained in a statement.
Richard Sandomir in the Times also notes the trustee's language in expressing concern about collecting debt from the Wilpons.
• Domingo Tapia tossed seven scoreless innings as Savannah won via shutout for the second straight day. Read the full minor league recap here.
• On the club's 50th anniversary, there is an excerpt in the Daily News about the creation of the Mets from the book, "The Mets: A 50th Anniversary Celebration," written by Andy Martino and Anthony McCarron.
TRIVIA: Johan Santana and Niese started the Mets' two shutouts at Citizens Bank Park. Which Mets pitcher started the last shutout at Veterans Stadium, the home of the Phillies through 2003?
Saturday's answer: Jason Bay's homer Friday against Cliff Lee was the outfielder's 19th long ball as a Met.
Today is Jackie Robinson Day across MLB.
Sunday's news reports:
• Terry Collins said that on Friday he believed Wright almost definitely would land on the disabled list this weekend. The Mets even flew in Josh Satin to be prepared for that seeming eventuality. Yet Wright returned to the lineup and blasted his 16th homer at Citizens Bank Park, the most by any visitor at the stadium since it opened in 2004. Read more in Newsday.
• Read game recaps in the Times, Star-Ledger, Newsday, Post, Daily News and Record.
• Steven Marcus in Newsday inquires about why the Mets have retired only one player's number -- 41, for Tom Seaver. Casey Stengel's 37 and Gil Hodges' 14 as well as the universally recognized Robinson's 42 also are retired. The Mets placed Gary Carter's No. 8 on the outfield wall for this season -- appearing as it does on the patch on the Mets' uniforms.
"I think the general point of view is we don't want to get to the point where it's somewhat gratuitous and you've got dozens and dozens of people whose numbers are retired,'' Mets executive VP Dave Howard told Marcus. "Historically, from a Mets perspective, this is a very high honor. Certainly from a player standpoint, it's only been Tom Seaver. He's in a class by himself.''
Added Keith Hernandez to Marcus: "Too many teams are retiring too many numbers. They lose their import. So I'm in the camp that it should be something that is special, it shouldn't be marginalized. Who wouldn't want to have their number retired? But it's not something that I think about.''
One obvious number to consider is Mike Piazza's No. 31. Newsday's David Lennon tweeted earlier this year that the Mets are expected to retire Piazza's number after he is inducted into Cooperstown.
• Columnist John Harper in the Daily News discusses the ramifications of Wright's speedy return and Saturday's series-clinching win. Writes Harper:
Injuries are a delicate subject around the Mets, after all the problems they’ve had in recent years. In some cases they made matters worse by allowing the likes of Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and even Wright last season, with his broken back, to play hurt, so now they tend to proceed with extreme caution. That’s why it was a bit surprising, even for Collins, to hear him say on Wednesday that he had a “gut feeling” Wright would play with his broken finger here on Friday.
Even if it wasn’t the manager’s intent, that put a certain pressure on his star player. If Wright couldn’t play, he would look less than tough, at least in the eyes of many fans who took Collins’ gut feeling to heart. Perhaps that’s why Wright sounded a bit defensive when he couldn’t play on Friday, repeatedly saying he couldn’t “functionally” grip or swing a bat because of the swelling in his finger. But then it felt good enough on Saturday to try it, and in a way he made his manager look like a prophet with his big day that raised his batting average to .588.
• Columnist Kevin Kernan in the Post writes that Wright's leadership is clear:
David Wright sent a message to his teammates yesterday: Play hard, play through pain, or go home.
• Mike Kerwick in the Record says Citi Field spectators should not boo Jason Bay. Writes Kerwick:
Here's my advice to Mets fans: Shackle your venom. And give the guy some space. Was it just a coincidence that Bay hit no homers in six games at Citi Field, then blasted one during his first at-bat in a visiting park? Possibly. On Friday night, he said the first week of games was not enough to cause his shoulders to slump. But he has also admitted he hears the boos. Bay is a decent person. And most decent people sag when exposed to this degree of enmity. I can't help but think the booing, on some subconscious level, penetrates his psyche.
• Bobby Parnell recorded the ensuing four outs after Niese departed, including covering the eighth inning for a second straight day. Between the Grapefruit League and regular season, Parnell has not allowed a run in 17 1/3 innings. Read more in the Record.
• Niese has carried a scoreless effort into the seventh inning in both of his outings. Read more in Newsday and the Post.
• In the court filings made late Friday regarding the settlement of the lawsuit against Fred Wilpon and family over Bernard Madoff accounts, one reason trustee Irving Picard cited for settling was the Mets owners' tight finances made getting more money via further litigation dicey. Writes Anthony M. Destefano in Newsday:
In federal court filings late Friday night, trustee Irving Picard said the "restrictive" cash flow, as well as the owners' obligations to banks that lent them money, contributed to doubts that further litigation against Fred Wilpon , Saul Katz and their partners in Sterling Equities would produce a bigger payout. "We have become satisfied that defendants' cash flow and lender covenants would not have enabled me to recover more for the [Madoff] customer fund in the foreseeable future by litigating to the point of judgment," Picard said in an affidavit. The settlement "is a practical and fair compromise" that avoided "a protracted and expensive trial and lengthy appeals," Picard explained in a statement.
Richard Sandomir in the Times also notes the trustee's language in expressing concern about collecting debt from the Wilpons.
• Domingo Tapia tossed seven scoreless innings as Savannah won via shutout for the second straight day. Read the full minor league recap here.
• On the club's 50th anniversary, there is an excerpt in the Daily News about the creation of the Mets from the book, "The Mets: A 50th Anniversary Celebration," written by Andy Martino and Anthony McCarron.
TRIVIA: Johan Santana and Niese started the Mets' two shutouts at Citizens Bank Park. Which Mets pitcher started the last shutout at Veterans Stadium, the home of the Phillies through 2003?
Saturday's answer: Jason Bay's homer Friday against Cliff Lee was the outfielder's 19th long ball as a Met.
PAWTUCKET 9, BUFFALO 6: Given new life in the fifth inning, the Red Sox scored five unearned runs to hand Buffalo its third straight loss and fifth in six games. The Herd was nursing a 2-1 advantage until Pawtucket loaded the bases with walks to Alex Hassan and Daniel Nava and an intentional free pass to Ryan Lavarnway. Two batters later, Lars Anderson hit a sharp grounder that made it through Herd first baseman Zach Lutz. The error allowed two runners to score as Pawtucket regained the lead. Two pitches later, top Red Sox prospect Will Middlebrook made the miscue really hurt with a three-run homer off reliever Jeff Stevens. After the Bisons cut the PawSox lead to 6-4, Pawtucket pulled away with three seventh-inning runs. All four hits in that rally were grounders that found their way through the infield. In defeat, Bobby Scales collected four hits for Buffalo and finished a triple away from the cycle. The veteran had a two-run homer in the seventh, during a failed comeback bid. Scales now leads all International League hitters with a .567 on-base percentage. Garrett Olson, who suffered the loss, was charged with four runs (one earned) in 4 1/3 innings. The Bisons bullpen allowed five runs (three earned) in 4 2/3 innings. Prior to the game, the Bisons activated catcher Jean Luc Blaquiere. Buffalo had a roster spot as infielder Josh Satin was placed on the Mets' 24-hour taxi-squad list. New in 2012, major league teams can place minor league players on a taxi squad for 24 hours as part of consideration for a promotion. That way, minor league teams can replace that player and play their game at full strength. Chuck James threw two scoreless relief innings to increase his season total to five scoreless frames spanning four appearances. Box
PORTLAND 5, BINGHAMTON 3: The Sea Dogs took advantage of seven walks -- three in the decisive sixth inning, during which Portland scored three runs and broke a tie. B-Mets starter Darin Gorski cruised through three innings. However, the southpaw ran into trouble in the fourth. Following a leadoff walk to Juan Carlos Linares and a wild pitch, Bryce Brentz laced an RBI double. Brentz scored on Oscar Tejeda’s double, giving Portland a 2-0 lead. Binghamton answered against Portland starter Billy Buckner in the fifth. Buckner walked Josh Rodriguez and Juan Centeno singled. Sean Kazmar then lined a two-run double off the left-center wall. The B-Mets nearly cracked a half-inning later. After Heiker Meneses was hit by Gorski, Derrik Gibson pushed a bunt up the third-base line. Gorski cleanly fielded the roller, but his throw to first tailed toward the runner. Gibson ran into Allan Dykstra’s left arm and the ball rolled down the line. When the dust settled, Portland had runners at second and third, Dykstra was pulled from the game and Gorski’s day was done. The southpaw struck out five while allowing two runs over four innings in a no-decision. Kevin Mulvey entered and escaped unscathed. After recording a strikeout, he walked Linares intentionally to load the bases. The gamble paid off when Brentz flied out and Reynaldo Rodriguez grounded out to end the inning. Binghamton threatened in the top of the sixth, but failed to come through against reliever Will Latimer. The lefty allowed the first two batters to reach, and move to second and third, but Latimer battled back to strand both. Mulvey (0-1) then walked the first three batters he faced on 14 pitches to load the bases in the bottom of the sixth. Edgar Ramirez entered and allowed a two-run double to Gibson to break the tie game. In the eighth, Juan Lagares greeted Josh Fields with a double and scored on Oswaldo Navarro’s single to cut Portland’s lead to two. The B-Mets loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, but Fields caught Eric Campbell looking to end the game. The B-Mets (3-5) look for the series split Sunday. Greg Peavey gets the nod for Binghamton against right-hander Chris Balcom-Miller. Box
ST. LUCIE 2, PALM BEACH 1: Yohan Almonte limited Palm Beach to one run in 5 1/3 innings, while relievers Taylor Whitenton and Jeffrey Kaplan combined to strike out six and yield one hit the rest of the way. Wilmer Flores' sacrifice fly in the fifth broke a 1-all tie. Box
SAVANNAH 6, AUGUSTA 0: Domingo Tapia tossed seven scoreless innings and Marcos Camarena had two no-hit relief innings as the Gnats shut out Augusta for the second straight day. Savannah had a six-run fourth inning that included a two-run triple by T.J. Rivera as well as five walks, a passed ball and two wild pitches. Box
Compiled from team reports
PORTLAND 5, BINGHAMTON 3: The Sea Dogs took advantage of seven walks -- three in the decisive sixth inning, during which Portland scored three runs and broke a tie. B-Mets starter Darin Gorski cruised through three innings. However, the southpaw ran into trouble in the fourth. Following a leadoff walk to Juan Carlos Linares and a wild pitch, Bryce Brentz laced an RBI double. Brentz scored on Oscar Tejeda’s double, giving Portland a 2-0 lead. Binghamton answered against Portland starter Billy Buckner in the fifth. Buckner walked Josh Rodriguez and Juan Centeno singled. Sean Kazmar then lined a two-run double off the left-center wall. The B-Mets nearly cracked a half-inning later. After Heiker Meneses was hit by Gorski, Derrik Gibson pushed a bunt up the third-base line. Gorski cleanly fielded the roller, but his throw to first tailed toward the runner. Gibson ran into Allan Dykstra’s left arm and the ball rolled down the line. When the dust settled, Portland had runners at second and third, Dykstra was pulled from the game and Gorski’s day was done. The southpaw struck out five while allowing two runs over four innings in a no-decision. Kevin Mulvey entered and escaped unscathed. After recording a strikeout, he walked Linares intentionally to load the bases. The gamble paid off when Brentz flied out and Reynaldo Rodriguez grounded out to end the inning. Binghamton threatened in the top of the sixth, but failed to come through against reliever Will Latimer. The lefty allowed the first two batters to reach, and move to second and third, but Latimer battled back to strand both. Mulvey (0-1) then walked the first three batters he faced on 14 pitches to load the bases in the bottom of the sixth. Edgar Ramirez entered and allowed a two-run double to Gibson to break the tie game. In the eighth, Juan Lagares greeted Josh Fields with a double and scored on Oswaldo Navarro’s single to cut Portland’s lead to two. The B-Mets loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, but Fields caught Eric Campbell looking to end the game. The B-Mets (3-5) look for the series split Sunday. Greg Peavey gets the nod for Binghamton against right-hander Chris Balcom-Miller. Box
ST. LUCIE 2, PALM BEACH 1: Yohan Almonte limited Palm Beach to one run in 5 1/3 innings, while relievers Taylor Whitenton and Jeffrey Kaplan combined to strike out six and yield one hit the rest of the way. Wilmer Flores' sacrifice fly in the fifth broke a 1-all tie. Box
SAVANNAH 6, AUGUSTA 0: Domingo Tapia tossed seven scoreless innings and Marcos Camarena had two no-hit relief innings as the Gnats shut out Augusta for the second straight day. Savannah had a six-run fourth inning that included a two-run triple by T.J. Rivera as well as five walks, a passed ball and two wild pitches. Box
Compiled from team reports
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Adam Rubin
Adam Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined ESPNNewYork after spending 10 years at the New York Daily News.
Andrew Marchand
Andrew Marchand is a senior writer for ESPNNewYork.com. He also regularly contributes to SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight, ESPNews, 1050 ESPN New York and ESPN Radio. He joined ESPN in 2007 after nine years as a sports writer at the New York Post.
Mark Simon
Mark Simon is ESPN Stats & Information's Baseball Research Specialist. He's also one of several Mets historians working at ESPN and a co-host of the Baseball Today podcast. He joined ESPN in 2002 after 6 1/2 years as a sports writer at the Trenton Times.
TWITTER
UPCOMING GAMES
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDG | 17-30 | 12-16 | 5-14 | L1 | |
| NYM | 25-21 | 13-9 | 12-12 | W1 |
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDG | 17-30 | 12-16 | 5-14 | L1 | |
| NYM | 25-21 | 13-9 | 12-12 | W1 |
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDG | 17-30 | 12-16 | 5-14 | L1 | |
| NYM | 25-21 | 13-9 | 12-12 | W1 |
TEAM LEADERS
| BA LEADER | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
David Wright
|
|||||||||||
| OTHER LEADERS | ||||||||||||
| HR | D. Wright | 5 | ||||||||||
| RBI | D. Wright | 28 | ||||||||||
| R | D. Wright | 30 | ||||||||||
| OPS | D. Wright | 1.110 | ||||||||||
| W | R. Dickey | 6 | ||||||||||
| ERA | J. Santana | 3.24 | ||||||||||
| SO | J. Santana | 53 | ||||||||||
