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BUFFALO 5, LEHIGH VALLEY 1: Dylan Owen made a spot start for the temporarily promoted Jeremy Hefner. Before the Herd's game against the IronPigs was half over, Owen found himself back in the bullpen ... as a hitter. Owen became the first Buffalo pitcher in more than 17 years to homer. While he didn't earn the victory on the mound, his work at the plate ignited Buffalo's fifth win in seven games. It has been almost two decades and two affiliations ago since a Bisons pitcher went deep. In the final season of the Bisons' affiliation with the Pittsburgh Pirates, John Hope homered on Aug. 6, 1994. Of course, pitchers rarely hit during the club's partnership with the American League's Cleveland Indians. Owen got his chance to swing against the Philadelphia Phillies' affiliate on Monday because Hefner was recalled by the Mets hours before their first pitch. With Buffalo trailing 1-0, Owen pulled a 1-2 offering from former Bison Pat Misch to left field for his first career homer. The long ball was no cheepy and would've been out of most parks -- if not all -- in the International League. The home run was the sixth career hit for Owen. He went 0-for-10 at the plate last season for Buffalo. In another bit of irony, Misch was the Bisons' best-hitting pitcher a season ago, with two doubles and a modern-era-record four RBIs. Owen's homer got the Bisons going. Valentino Pascucci followed with an RBI double later in the fifth. Vinny Rottino closed out the inning with a run-scoring single. After that, the Herd never trailed. The only downside to the night was that Owen didn't earn the win. Despite retiring the first nine batters he faced, Owen isn't stretched out enough to go deep into games. He did work 4 2/3 innings and allowed one run on three hits. The win went to Josh Edgin (1-0) in his Triple-A debut. The southpaw was promoted Monday from Binghamton and struck out three of the five batters he faced. It's been a good hitting road trip for Bisons pitchers. Matt Harvey had two hits and an RBI on Friday night in Syracuse. Catcher Jean Luc Blaquiere made his 2012 Bisons debut and fly out as a pinch hitter. Box

ST. LUCIE 10, FORT MYERS 6: Andres Torres went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI and played six innings in center field in his first game on a major league rehab assignment, and the Mets rallied for a victory. The Mets won their 10th consecutive game and improved to 15-2 on the season. Left fielder Cory Vaughn went 3-for-4 with a run scored and three RBIs. Vaughn hit an inside-the-park homer in the eighth. The Mets used a three-run seventh to pull out the victory. With the score tied at 6, Cesar Puello hit a go-ahead RBI double to center to score Wilmer Flores. Blake Forsythe drilled a two-run double to make it 9-6. Vaughn had hit a two-run single in the first inning to give the Mets a 2-0 lead. Fort Myers chased Mets pitcher Gonzalez Germen from the game after scoring a pair of runs in the fourth and three more runs in the fifth. Germen allowed five earned runs on five hits and walked four batters in 3 1/3 innings. The Mets trailed 6-3, but rallied with a three-run sixth. Richard Lucas hit an RBI single to cut the deficit to 6-4. Forsythe lined an RBI single to center to plate Puello and cut the deficit to a run. Torres added an RBI groundout to tie the score. D.J. Carrasco, also beginning a major league rehab assignment, retired the side in order in the first inning with one strikeout. Kyle Allen, making his first appearance of the season, picked up the victory by tossing 2 2/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Adam Kolarek tossed two scoreless innings with five strikeouts to earn his third save. Puello went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Lucas went 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Forsythe had two hits, a run scored, and three RBIs. Chase Huchingson faces Fort Myers on Tuesday. 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

LEHIGH VALLEY 8, BUFFALO 2: Lehigh Valley scored four runs in the first inning against Jeurys Familia and rode the early advantage to their sixth straight win. Walks continue to be Buffalo's bugaboo. The Bisons issued 10 free passes, with four coming around to score. Andres Blanco was walked by Familia (1-1) in the first inning and came around on a throwing error from Adam Loewen for a 2-0 IronPigs advantage. Two batters later, Derrick Mitchell doubled in two more runs, including Joe Thurston, who was on via another free pass. Familia walked Hector Luna to lead off the fifth, and the former Bison scored as part of a two-run IronPigs rally. Reliever Dylan Owen issued a free pass to Scott Podsednik to begin another two-run Lehigh Valley inning in the sixth. After scoring 35 runs in the first five games of the homestand, the Bisons' bats were mostly held in check. Omar Quintanilla and Lucas May drove in the Herd's runs. A day after losing his nine-game hitting streak in a four-walk afternoon, Zach Lutz went 3-for-5 to raise his average to .341. Bobby Scales kept his streak of reaching base at least twice in every game he's started this season alive. The veteran went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks in the loss. A unique pitching match is set for Tuesday. The Bisons' 2011 Most Valuable Pitcher, Chris Schwinden, faces the Herd's top pitcher from 2010, Pat Misch. Box

NEW HAMPSHIRE 2, BINGHAMTON 1: The B-Mets left nine runners on base and went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. The B-Mets had a runner on base in each inning and at least one runner in scoring position in five different frames, but scratched out just one run in the first game of the three-game series. The Fisher Cats cracked the scoreboard in the third. B-Mets starter Mark Cohoon walked Jonathan Diaz, New Hampshire’s No. 9 hitter, to kick off the inning. Diaz advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw by Cohoon and scored when John Tolisano doubled. After Ryan Goins sacrificed Tolisano to third, Cohoon uncorked a wild pitch, allowing New Hampshire’s second run to come home. Binghamton finally broke through in the sixth. Matt den Dekker led off by ripping a single off the glove of Mark Sobolewski at third. That extended his hitting streak to eight games. After den Dekker stole second and Travis Ozga walked, Oswaldo Navarro dumped an RBI single into right field to cut New Hampshire’s lead in half. Binghamton loaded the bases later in the inning against reliever Matt Daly, but Pedro Zapata struck out on three pitches to end the threat. In the seventh, den Dekker doubled off Aaron Loup but was stranded on third when Juan Lagares grounded out. Binghamton’s last threat came in the eighth when Navarro singled and advanced to second on Justin Jackson’s fielding error in center field. With the potential game-tying run on second, Ronald Uviedo came out of the bullpen and induced Josh Rodriguez to ground out to third to end the threat. Uviedo returned in the ninth and worked a perfect frame to collect his third save. Cohoon went a season-high six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits. The southpaw walked two and struck out one. Elvin Ramirez chipped in with two scoreless innings of relief, collecting four strikeouts along the way. The B-Mets (4-6) continue their three-game series Tuesday. Right-hander Collin McHugh makes his third start of the season for Binghamton. Box

ST. LUCIE 2, CHARLOTTE 0: Cory Mazzoni, Hamilton Bennett and Jeffrey Kaplan combined on the four-hit shutout. Box

SAVANNAH 6, ROME 5 (12 innings): Rome scored three ninth-inning runs against Jared West to force extra innings, but the Gnats won in the 12th on Dustin Lawley's leadoff homer. Travis Taijeron also went deep in the game for Savannah. Box

Compiled from team reports

Left-hander Pat Misch, who was removed from the Mets' 40-man roster, has signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports.

Left-handers Pat Misch and Mike O'Connor, who were passed over for September call-ups, formally have become minor league free agents. They are eligible to sign with any organization because they were not on the Mets' 40-man roster and had amassed six years of minor league service.

Misch, 30, appeared in six games in relief for the Mets this season and allowed eight earned runs on 11 hits and four walks in seven innings. With Triple-A Buffalo, he was 8-9 with a 4.00 ERA in 22 starts spanning 141 2/3 innings.

O'Connor, 31, appeared in nine games in relief for the Mets and had a 2.70 ERA. He was 5-5 with a 5.22 ERA in 39 relief appearances for the Bisons. With Buffalo, lefty batters hit .207 and righty batters hit .333.

The Mets signed left-hander Tim Byrdak to an extension to serve as one southpaw for the 2012 bullpen. Daniel Herrera is under the team's control too after being acquired in the Francisco Rodriguez trade, but the Mets will be searching for other left-handed relief help this offseason to complement Byrdak. The concern is that NL East hitters will quickly become familiar with Herrera's screwball and have success against him.

Johan Santana is due to pitch two innings or 40 pitches with the St. Lucie Mets on Saturday, according to two organization insiders. It will mark Santana’s first minor league action since getting shut down due to shoulder discomfort days after his lone appearance with that Florida State League club, on July 28.

GM Sandy Alderson recently said there is an outside chance Santana will appear for an inning or two with the Mets at the very end of the season.

Santana is trying to return from Sept. 14, 2010 surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder.

Meanwhile, Ike Davis has joined Santana at the organization’s Florida complex to test his left ankle, which was pain-free recently while Davis ran. Davis played catch, hit off a tee and with soft tosses, and took 20 grounders. He will repeat that activity Saturday.

Davis is due to spend time with his teammates when the Mets open a three-game series against the Marlins in Miami on Monday.

While Terry Collins indicated recent progress suggested Davis could avoid surgery, assistant GM John Ricco noted the organization must first be assured that no discomfort arises as Davis ramps up his workload with lateral movement to test the ankle in coming days.

CATCHING ON: Josh Thole was due to rejoin the Mets in Washington on Friday night, after undergoing an MRI at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan in the morning. Thole has a “bad bruise” where the hand meets the wrist, Collins said, and may miss several days. Thole was struck by a fastball when he was expecting a slider from Miguel Batista.

Mike Nickeas is due to start at catcher Friday night. Collins said Ronny Paulino, who has not caught in a game since Aug. 22 because of a broken big toe, is ready to start Saturday’s game.

Still, Collins suggested, there may be the need for a fourth catcher to be summoned from the minors. Raul Chavez has major league experience and leads the International League in caught stealings, so he may be the best option if the need arose, followed by Dusty Ryan or Salomon Manriquez.

KNUCKLED UNDER: Justin Turner started at second base over Ruben Tejada on Friday. Collins described the knuckle on Tejada’s left middle finger, where the infielder was struck by a pitch the previous night, as “still sore.” Tejada was going to attempt to swing a bat pregame and maintained before doing so: “It’s good.”

WELCOME ABOARD: Left-hander Daniel Herrera, acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers as one of two players to be named to complete the Francisco Rodriguez trade, joined the Mets on Friday and was assigned No. 19.

Collins welcomed having a second left-hander in his bullpen, because it would decrease the frequency of Tim Byrdak needing to be up in the bullpen for potential use.

Collins also indicated that Herrera is not particularly a lefty specialist because his screwball is a weapon against right-handers. Still, in 115 career major league appearances -- primarily with the Cincinnati Reds -- lefties are hitting .213 and righties .373 against Herrera.

The 5-foot-6 Herrera sports only a mid-80s fastball. And he lightheartedly noted about his pitching: “A lot of movement. Not a lot of heat. I wish I did. It would make my job a little easier.”

ATTENTION ADAM SANDLER: Yes, newly promoted Josh Satin is Jewish and had a bar mitzvah.

Satin recalled his senior year of college at Cal-Berkeley finishing as runner-up to Arizona State’s Ike Davis as one magazine’s top Jewish college baseball player. (Davis’ mother was raised Jewish, but the first baseman never practiced the religion.)

STAYING PUT: Batista will proceed with Tuesday’s start against the Marlins, despite Collins mentioning after Batista’s Mets debut that the organization may use a minor leaguer the next time Jon Niese’s turn comes around.

Regardless, it is still expected that Chris Schwinden will join outfielder Mike Baxter and first baseman Valentino Pascucci as call-ups after Buffalo’s season ends Monday. Pat Misch is the other possible addition.

The Mets will need a spot starter for Thursday’s makeup doubleheader at Citi Field against the Atlanta Braves, so Schwinden (with Misch as the alternative) would be the logical candidate.

LITTLE REST: R.A. Dickey pitcher Friday night on three days’ rest for the third time in his career as a starter. The first time he returned on the short rest, in July 2008 with Seattle, Dickey allowed eight runs in 5 1/3 innings at Toronto. Earlier this season he tossed 8 1/3 scoreless innings against St. Louis. … Lucas Duda played for two seasons at Southern Cal alongside left-hander Tom Milone, who makes his major league debut Saturday for the Nationals against the Mets. “He speaks even less than me,” Duda said. … Fox has picked up the Mets’ Sept. 17 game at Atlanta, moving it to 4 p.m.

Miguel Batista notched his 100th career win in his Mets debut and the Amazin's took four of five from the Florida Marlins with a 7-5 victory in the series finale on Thursday.

Friday's news reports:

• In a partnership that fizzled, David Einhorn is out as prospective minority owner. Fred Wilpon relayed the news in a meeting in Manhattan on Thursday. Sources tell ESPNNewYork.com the Wilpons instead will attempt to raise a comparable figure to the $200 million infusion sought from Einhorn by selling small pieces to family members and friends, say in the $15 million range. Einhorn alleged the Wilpons changed agreed-upon terms in the deal. Insiders say the Wilpons feel Einhorn thought he was preying on the weak and betting they'd fail, giving him an eventual path to majority ownership.

Read coverage of the parting in the Times, Newsday, Star-Ledger, Daily News, Post and Record.

• What's the impact of the deal falling through on the Mets this offseason? Read the ESPNNewYork.com analysis here. Or here in the Post.

• Mets players expressed no interest in the parting between the Wilpons and Einhorn. "I think it has zero effect on us," David Wright said. Said R.A. Dickey: "Ask me again in spring training, you may get a different answer. But the truth of it is, in this moment, I'm neither curious nor anxious about it." Read more in Newsday.

• Josh Thole suffered a bone bruise at the base of his left hand when he was struck by a pitch from Batista while catching, while Ruben Tejada eventually also left Thursday's win after getting struck on a knuckle on his left hand by Florida's Steve Cishek.

X-rays for both players were negative. Thole nonetheless had significant swelling and stayed behind in New York for a Friday a.m. MRI at the Hospital for Special Surgery. He expected to rejoin the Mets by the evening in D.C. Terry Collins said a prolonged absence for Thole, if that materialized, would require a minor league call-up. Veteran Raul Chavez would be the most logical choice at Triple-A Buffalo. Perhaps alleviating the need for a call-up is progress for Ronny Paulino, who said his broken big toe feels passable enough to catch.

• Infielder Josh Satin and reliever Josh Stinson joined the Mets on Thursday as rosters expanded. Stinson had a $400 taxi ride (paid for by the team) from Erie, Pa., to Binghamton to retrieve his car. He then drove to New York. Satin nearly made his major league debut, but he was left in the on-deck circle in the bottom of the eighth when Jose Reyes made the Mets' final out. Watch video of the rookies discussing their promotions here. Read more in the Star-Ledger.

• Batista limited the Marlins to two runs in six innings to pick up his 100th career win. Batista also became the fourth Met to get his first win with the organization in his 40s, joining Roberto Hernandez, Orel Hershiser and Warren Spahn.

Terry Collins intimated afterward that Batista may not get another start Tuesday in Miami, however, when the Mets again face the Marlins. Collins said the start may go to a minor leaguer. Right-hander Chris Schwinden makes sense, but the organization's concern is his innings count -- 144 1/3 this year, which is 30 2/3 more innings than 2009. Pat Misch is at Triple-A as well and also may get called up after Buffalo's season ends Monda.

Position-player candidates to be called up: first baseman Valentino Pascucci and outfielder Mike Baxter. The 32-year-old Pascucci, named Triple-A Buffalo's MVP, last appeared in the majors in 2004 with the Montreal Expos.

• The Mets completed the trade involving Francisco Rodriguez and the Milwaukee Brewers by selecting ex-Reds left-hander Danny Herrera and Class A right-hander Adrian Rosario from a list of five candidates. Herrera is due to join the Mets in D.C. on Friday. Read more in the Record.

• Newsday's Zach Schonbrun caught up with former GM Omar Minaya. Regarding Reyes, Minaya told Schonbrun: "I don't know what's going on, but my guess is (the Mets are) going to do the best they can to keep him. That's my guess. I think it's fair to say, I know Jose and I'm pretty sure this is his favorite place."

• Read game reports from Thursday win in the Star-Ledger, Times, Record, Newsday and Daily News.

BIRTHDAYS: Marvelous Marv Throneberry, a Met during the first two years of the franchise, was born on this day in 1933. He died in 1994.

Chris Capuano struck out a career-high 13 batters and tossed his first shutout since July 6, 2006 with the Milwaukee Brewers. "I purposely kept not looking at how many pitches, so I wouldn't know how many I'd thrown," Capuano said.

The Mets won a homestand opener for the first time this season. They had been 0-10. Losing 10 straight homestand openers had matched the record for major league futility, previously done by the 1979 Mets.

The Mets, like the rest of the Northeast, now brace for Hurricane Irene, with play slated to resume Monday with a doubleheader against the Florida Marlins. Dillon Gee and R.A. Dickey take the mound that day in a revised rotation schedule.

Saturday news reports:

• ESPN Stats & Information's Mark Simon compares Capuano's outing to Tom Seaver's best as a Met on July 9, 1969. "That's probably the only time I'll be talked about in the same sentence as Tom Seaver," Capuano said.

• Jose Reyes went 1-for-3 with a homer and played seven innings at shortstop in his second rehab game with Double-A Binghamton. He is due to play a full nine innings on Saturday with the B-Mets, weather-permitting, and plans to be activated Monday. Reyes continued to suggest his strained left hamstring appears to have healed. "He said the first day he wasn't going to steal any bases," B-Mets manager Wally Backman said Saturday night. "Tonight, he didn't have to steal any bases, he just had to trot around the bases. Jose has told me he feels great. His legs look great. That's a good thing. He's got a shot at winning the batting title. We'll have fun with it tomorrow for the last day." Read more in the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin.

Terry Collins still is planning for Reyes to be back in 2012. He said the shortstop will definitely get sporadic rest next year in a Mets uniform, because it's better to have Reyes in the starting lineup for 150 games healthy than to lose him periodically throughout the year because of injury and for him to only play only 100 games. Read more in the Post.

• Jason Bay was scratched from Friday's game after jamming his right shoulder in Philadelphia attempting a diving catch against Placido Polanco Tuesday. The team reported an MRI came up clean. Read more in the Star-Ledger.

• In a non-story that persists, David Wright was asked Friday about being placed on waivers by the Mets earlier tis month. Virtually all players in the majors are placed on waivers in August and then either clear or are pulled back. It is nothing specific to Wright. Wright noted the difference is that these days the secretive process is leaked more than in years' past.

"It just seems like this year has become more of one where front-office people are talking about what happens on waivers," Wright said, as quoted in Newsday. "I'm sure that I've been put on waivers before. I'm sure that I've been claimed, so I just think it's part of the process. But this is the first year I can remember it being somewhat of an issue. I don't really remember so many players, kind of the cat getting out of the bag, and who claimed them and this and that. But I guess that's the direction it's going. It doesn't affect me one way or another. I'm not going to lose any sleep over it or think twice about being put on waivers."

• Read game stories in the Times, Star-Ledger, Record, Post, Daily News and Newsday.

• With Scott Hairston (strained oblique) joining Jon Niese (strained intercostal muscle) on the disabled list, the Mets promoted 40-year-old right-hander Miguel Batista before Friday's game. Batista, or possibly D.J. Carrasco, will start Thursday against the Florida Marlins. Rosters expand that day, Sept. 1. The Mets will need a starter Friday as well in D.C. Presumably, Chris Schwinden and Pat Misch would be candidates.

• The postponed weekend games will be made up with a single-admission doubleheader against the Braves on Sept. 8, with first pitch at 4:10 p.m. Saturday tickets are good for that date. Sunday tickets must be exchanged for a ticket of comparable value. Read more in Star-Ledger.

• Where will the Mets go during a hurricane/tropical storm? Bay, who lives in Westchester, said he will just ride it out in his home. But Justin Turner, who lives in a Long Island City evacuation zone, is going to spend time on higher ground with Jason Isringhausen. Gee is going to join Josh Thole in Binghamton, where Thole's in-laws reside. A handful of players were considering riding out the storm at Citi Field. Read more in the Record and Times.

• The Mets' Arizona Fall League contingent will include right-handers Collin McHugh and Brandon Moore, second baseman Reese Havens and outfielder Juan Lagares, according to Lynn Worthy in the Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin.

BIRTHDAYS: Former outfielder Brian McRae turns 44. ... Texas Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux, a reliever for the Mets in 1993 and '94, turns 50.

Mets VP Paul DePodesta said he hesitated to mention left-hander Josh Edgin’s name when the subject arose of minor leaguers who may have an impact with the Mets in 2012. But DePodesta went ahead and named the southpaw as a candidate, even though Edgin has not yet pitched above Class A St. Lucie.

“He’s got major league stuff and he’s left-handed,” DePodesta recently said. “Again, you just never know how quickly those guys can come. He’s in Port St. Lucie right now, which is why I’m squeamish about talking about 2012."

Asked if that praise had filtered back to him, Edgin -- a 30^th-round pick out of Division II Francis Marion University in South Carolina in 2010 -- said: “Actually, I haven’t really seen it. I know my agent mentioned it.”

Edgin, 24, currently is 2-0 with a 1.55 ERA and six saves in 20 appearances for St. Lucie. That comes on the heels of opening the season at Savannah and posting a 0.87 ERA along with 16 saves in 31 innings.

He throws a fastball in the 92- to 95-mph range as well as an 82-85 mph slider. He also is trying to hone his changeup, which he does not use much now in games because it is a work in progress. He’s also trying to throw a slower version of his slider -- a curveball, he labeled it -- but that has been slow to progress as well.

Edgin grew up in rural Three Springs, Pa. Where’s that?

“To be honest with you, it’s in the middle of nowhere,” Edgin said. “It’s about 45 minutes from the nearest Walmart. Have you ever heard of Chambersburg? It’s like right in the middle of the state.”

Regardless of the remoteness, Edgin found his way to Ohio State University, where he served as a reliever. In December of his junior year, Edgin then transferred to Division II Francis Marion, where he had the opportunity to start.

“The Ohio State coach wanted to keep me in the bullpen,” Edgin said. “I thought that I needed to start to get drafted. When I was playing summer ball in the Coastal Plains League, I met a guy named David Walters, who is with the Orioles now. He was on my team. We talked. He said, ‘Hey, we’re one good pitcher away from a D-II World Series team.’ Basically I got hooked up with them through him. And it just so happened that one of my catchers from Legion ball when I was in high school actually went to Francis Marion as well. That kind of drew me, and playing baseball in the South.”

Edgin was drafted after his junior year in the 50^th round by Atlanta but was not signed by the Braves. Then the Mets took him last year in the 30^th round on the recommendation of amateur scout Marlin McPhail, who has repeatedly unearthed middle-round gems for the Mets from the Carolinas over the years. Edgin actually was working construction on draft day, not expecting much news.

“Since I went that late my junior year, and I had the same exact season my senior year, I really didn’t think I’d get signed,” Edgin said. “It kind of caught me off-guard I guess, especially on the second day (of the three-day draft). I was thinking if it did happen, it would be (rounds) 40 to 50.

“I still had the questionnaires from scouts to fill out and stuff, so I didn’t really put it in the back of my head. I still, I guess, hoped to be drafted. But I started trying to figure out what I was going to do if it didn’t happen.”

Organization leaders

Average: Juan Lagares, Binghamton, .349; Danny Muno, Brooklyn, .332; Josh Satin, Buffalo, .325; Greg Pron, Kingsport, .315; Julio Concepcion, Kingsport, .311; Cam Maron; Kingsport, .308; Pedro Zapata, St. Lucie, .308; Travis Taijeron, Brooklyn, .303; Luis Figueroa, Buffalo, .301; Richard Lucas, Brooklyn, .295.

Homers: Brahiam Maldonado, Binghamton, 24; Valentino Pascucci, Buffalo, 20; Allan Dykstra, Binghamton, 17; Jordany Valdespin, Buffalo, 16.

RBI: Valentino Pascucci, Buffalo, 90; Wilmer Flores, St. Lucie, 75; Josh Satin, Buffalo, 73; Aderlin Rodriguez, Savannah, 71; Allan Dykstra, Binghamton, 69.

Steals: Jordany Valdespin, Buffalo, 34; Pedro Zapata, St. Lucie, 31; Matt den Dekker, Binghamton, 22; Darrell Ceciliani, Savannah, 22; Rafael Fernandez, Savannah, 19.

ERA: Darin Gorski, St. Lucie, 2.26; Jeurys Familia, Binghamton, 2.81; Matt Harvey, Binghamton, 3.17; Gabriel Ynoa, Kingsport, 3.29; Marcos Camarena, Brooklyn, 3.30; Gonzalez Germen, Savannah, 3.40; Greg Peavey, St. Lucie, 3.41; Ryan Fraser, Savannah, 3.50; Angel Cuan, Savannah, 3.50; Chris Schwinden, Buffalo, 3.52.

Wins: Matt Harvey, Binghamton, 12; Greg Peavey, St. Lucie, 11; Darin Gorski, St. Lucie, 11; Angel Cuan, Savannah, 10; Brandon Moore, Binghamton, 10.

Saves: Josh Edgin, St. Lucie, 24; Dale Thayer, Buffalo, 18; Hamilton Bennett, Savannah, 13; Jeffrey Kaplan, St. Lucie, 10.

Strikeouts: Matt Harvey, Binghamton, 151; Darin Gorski, St. Lucie, 131; Chris Schwinden, Buffalo, 124; Collin McHugh, Binghamton, 120; Jeurys Familia, Binghamton, 120.

Short hops

• Left-hander Shawn Teufel, a 25^th-round draft pick last year out of Liberty University, beat his father Tim Teufel’s Triple-A Buffalo squad by tossing six scoreless innings in a spot start Thursday. The 25-year-old Teufel had been promoted for the opportunity from Class A Lakeland. The Bisons loaded the bases with one out in the third, but Zach Lutz and Valentino Pascucci struck out and Buffalo’s best opportunity went for naught.

• Outfielder Juan Lagares has a 13-game hitting streak, the longest by a Binghamton player this season. In 26 Eastern League games since a promotion from St. Lucie, Lagares is hitting .381 with two homers and 16 RBIs in 113 at-bats.

• Terry Collins indicated the Mets will need two starters during next week’s series against the Florida Marlins as the result of a doubleheader and Jon Niese headed to the disabled list. Collins identified the candidates as 40-year-old Miguel Batista, Chris Schwinden and Pat Misch. With DePodesta on hand for his latest start, Batista allowed fours on nine hits, including a pair of homers, and also hit and walked a batter in 5 1/3 innings Monday at Columbus. Batista is 3-0 with a 4.24 ERA in 10 appearances (eight starts) with Buffalo since being released by the St. Louis Cardinals. He actually had limited opponents to two runs or fewer in four of his previous five starts. Misch allowed four runs in 6 2/3 innings Tuesday and is 7-9 with a 4.37 ERA with the Bisons this season. Schwinden, a 22^nd-round pick in 2008 out of Fresno Pacific, is 7-6 with a 3.60 ERA in 23 starts for Buffalo.

• After signing for $2.1 million last week at the deadline, first-round pick Brandon Nimmo -- a high school outfielder from Wyoming -- made his pro debut in the Gulf Coast League on Friday. Through four games, Nimmo is hitting .158 (3-for-19). He has struck out seven times in eight at-bats over his past two starts. After serving as DH in his debut, Nimmo has manned center field.

• Phillip Evans, the Mets’ 15^th-round pick, who signed for an over-slot $650,000, debuted Tuesday in the GCL. He went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Evans’ preference is to remain at shortstop, so the Mets will let him work there for the time being. Evans, out of La Costa Canyon High School in California, received the largest signing bonus by the organization ever for any pick below the second round. With the Gulf Coast League ending Saturday and inclement weather expected in the interim, Evans is likely the last player from this year’s draft to make his debut before the fall instructional league that opens Sept. 18.

• Savannah right-hander Taylor Whitenton (4-3, 2.70 ERA) was named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week after tossing 10 scoreless innings over a pair of starts.

• Before an approximate crowd of 14,500 at Fenway Park on Saturday, Binghamton beat Portland, the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, in 11 innings. Right-hander Collin McHugh tossed six scoreless innings. Boston College product Eric Campbell had the tiebreaking RBI in the 11^th. Catcher Kai Gronauer then added a three-run homer over the Green Monster. Campbell, who hails from Norwich, Conn., had played at the historic ballpark in high school and college, but with a fraction of Saturday’s fan presence.

• Fifth-round pick Jack Leathersich from UMass-Lowell has dominated New York-Penn League competition. Working no more than two innings every five to six days, Leathersich now has limited Brooklyn’s opponents to one run and five hits in 10 2/3 professional innings. He has struck out 22 and walked three.

• Buffalo’s Pascucci has 20 homers and leads the International League with 90 RBIs, four more than runner-up Stefan Gartrell of Gwinnett.

• Outfielder Raul Reyes earned a promotion to Buffalo on Thursday after hitting .292 with 12 homers and 50 RBIs in 367 at-bats with Binghamton.

• 2010 first-round pick Matt Harvey tossed seven scoreless innings, requiring only 85 pitches, with Jeff Wilpon in attendance Monday at Binghamton. Harvey is 4-3 with a 4.35 ERA and has 59 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings in 10 starts with the B-Mets. Although the organization is monitoring Harvey’s innings count, he is expected to be allowed to complete the season uninterrupted. “He should be fine,” farm director Adam Wogan said. “He’s strong.”

• Binghamton reliever Rhiner Cruz has bounced back from a pair of rough performances by tossing eight scoreless innings during which he has allowed only one hit and two walks over four appearances.

• Middle infielder Jordany Valdespin has multi-hit games in three of his past six games with Buffalo, and is hitting .237 in 14 games in Triple-A.

• Buffalo infielder Josh Satin lost an eight-game hitting streak Sunday, but nonetheless has collected a hit in 26 of 31 games since a promotion from Binghamton. He is hitting .325 and has a .391 on-base percentage since joining the Bisons while seeing action at third base, second base and first base.

• Lutz had eight RBIs in a four-game span with Buffalo through Monday. He has driven in at least one run in eight of the Bisons’ past 11 games. Lutz is hitting .341 with runners in scoring position this season.

• Reliever John Lujan, a probable September call-up and former minor league Rule 5 pick from the Chicago White Sox, lost a 10 2/3-inning scoreless streak with Buffalo on Friday against Toledo.

• The Arizona Fall League contingent is expected to be announced next Tuesday. Revised rules allow for as many as four prospects who have yet to appear in Double-A. The Mets’ contingent is expected to include 2008 first-round pick Reese Havens.

Adam Rubin’s farm report appears Wednesdays during the regular season

Not only did the Mets lose, 9-4, to the Phillies on Tuesday to match a season-low at eight games under .500, the Amazin's also lost two more players to the disabled list. Jon Niese and Scott Hairston both had side muscle injuries.

The Mets already needed a spot starter because of a doubleheader Monday against the Marlins. Now they'll need two starters for that series -- the other to fill Niese's rotation spot. Terry Collins expected the candidates to be Miguel Batista, Chris Schwinden and Pat Misch.

Mike Nickeas is expected to join the Mets as a third catcher to take Hairston's roster spot. The rumblings, while not certain, are that Batista is most likely to be around sooner than later.

Wednesday's news reports:

• Angel Pagan, who left Monday's lineup with a gastric issue, returned to center field on Tuesday. The center fielder said his health trouble, while in check, is no laughing matter. He has suffered from colitis, an intestional issue, since 2004 as a Mets farmhand. He even once landed on the disabled list while with the Chicago Cubs as a result of the issue. Read more in the Post and Newsday.

• Philadelphia-based attorney John V. Donnelly and University of Dayton bankruptcy law expert Jeff Morris discuss the status of the $1 billion lawsuit against Fred Wilpon and family in the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme mess. A judge is expected to rule by late September on whether to toss the case in whole or in part.

• Johan Santana was due to return to a mound on Tuesday in Port St. Lucie for the first time since appearing for Class A St. Lucie on July 28. (Newsday had him throwing 45 pitches during the session.) The Mets hope Santana can be in a game again during the final week of the minor league regular season -- the first week of September. They have not completely written off Santana appearing in the majors this year, but the timetable is not favorable, even without another setback. The best-case scenario may be one game at the very end of the season.

• Gary Carter, whose more intense round of chemotherapy had been delayed, now has a sufficient white-blood-cell count to proceed.

• Jose Reyes will begin a three-game rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton on Thursday. He will have an off-day Sunday, then should rejoin the Mets for Monday's doubleheader at Citi Field against the Marlins.

• Hotels in Philadelphia swayed, but Mets players who already had arrived at Citizens Bank Park mostly barely felt a ripple from Tuesday's earthquake centered in Virginia. Read more in Newsday, the Record and Star-Ledger.

• Ruben Tejada batted second and went 1-for-4 on Tuesday, while Lucas Duda started in right field and belted a two-run homer in the eighth off Michael Stutes.

• The Mets actually stared at five called third strikes from plate umpire Tim Welke over the first two innings -- all with two runners in scoring position. "I don't mind umpires calling strikes," Collins said. "Make no mistake about it. Tim called them the same for both sides. When the strikes are being called, you've got to be a little bit aggressive. ... We took them and struck out." Read Niese-Hairston injury stories/game recaps in the Times, Post, Star-Ledger, Record, Dailly News and Newsday.

BIRTHDAY: Former reliever Bartolome Fortunato, who was acquired from Tampa Bay with Victor Zambrano in the Scott Kazmir trade on July 30, 2004, turns 37.

Although it's subject to modifications, team insiders project this year's September call-ups to be right-handers Miguel Batista, Chris Schwinden, John Lujan and Josh Stinson, left-handers Pat Misch and Robert Carson, catcher Mike Nickeas and infielder Josh Satin.

Batista, 40, is 2-0 with a 3.92 ERA in nine appearances (seven starts) for Buffalo. He was released by the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this season.

Schwinden, 24, was the Bisons' lone representative in the Triple-A All-Star Game. He is 7-6 with a 3.76 ERA in 22 starts.

Lujan, 27, has tossed 10 1/3 straight scoreless innings over nine appearances with Buffalo. He was a December 2009 Rule 5 pick from the Chicago White Sox in the minor league phase.

The offensive-minded Satin can play three infield positions, although his strength is his bat. After hitting .325 with 11 homers, 60 RBIs and a .423 on-base percentage in 94 games with Binghamton, Satin has continued the production with Buffalo. He is hitting .347 through 25 Triple-A games.

Stinson and Carson are currently working out of the Double-A Binghamton bullpen. Misch and Nickeas are familiar from previous stints in the majors.

Fernando Martinez's third trip to the Triple-A Buffalo disabled list this season, this time for a left wrist strain, may have scuttled his chances of joining the Amazin's. Corner infielder Zach Lutz, a highly regarded hitter at Buffalo who is on the 40-man roster, may also miss out because of his limited at-bats this season (172) -- the result of two concussions as well as a hamstring injury and broken left ring finger suffered when he was struck with a foul ball in the dugout. The list also omits Buffalo relievers Mike O'Connor and Dale Thayer.

Fourteen of the 21 first-round picks out of college programs in the 2008 draft have now appeared in the major leagues, including Buster Posey (fifth overall), Gordon Beckham (eighth), Brett Wallace (13^th), Ike Davis (18^th) and Daniel Schlereth (26^th).

Reese Havens -- taken 22^nd overall that year, when the Mets had a pair of first-round picks because of losing Tom Glavine back to the Braves -- might be part of that group with major league experience as well had a persistent rib-cage injury not undermined the past year of his development.

But now, after 2010 oblique woes and then offseason surgery to remove an inch of a rib that was causing that area problems, Havens may finally have the issue behind him. He joined Double-A Binghamton on May 27. Scar tissue following the surgery had limited his activities during spring training and during the first month of the season, he suspects.

“The injuries, I’ve had a rough go with them,” Havens said. “But that’s part of it. There have been plenty of guys who have asked me the same question. My answer is: I hate being the woulda, coulda, shoulda guy. I know I could probably be in a different place right now, but I’m here. You know, I’m still in a good place. I’m just happy to be back on the field, to tell you the truth.”

A gifted hitter drafted out of the University of South Carolina, the 24-year-old Havens is hitting .278 with a homer and four RBIs through 36 at-bats with the B-Mets, where his Double-A season ended June 11 of last year because of the oblique woes. Havens is sitting roughly every fourth game with the B-Mets as the organization attempts to ease him back into action without further issue.

“They’ve got me on a schedule right now, for the time being,” Havens said.

A natural shortstop, the Mets moved Havens to second base a year ago. Given the recent major league issues at that position, Havens undoubtedly would have been prepared for a shot already at the major league level absent the injuries.

Havens said he is perfectly comfortable at second base despite injuries limiting his development time. He was working with Tim Teufel at second base with Binghamton last season. Now, Teufel has been promoted to Triple-A Buffalo’s helm, but fellow former second baseman Wally Backman has taken over managing Binghamton.

“I feel real comfortable over there,” Havens said about second base. “I’ve had plenty of time to get comfortable. I feel good turning a double play. I’ve had help from Wally. It’s made it a lot easier and sped up the process.”

Havens said there is no particular thing he needs to work on. Instead, it’s just about getting repetitions and back in a groove.

“Right now I’m getting at-bats back under my belt, and am trying to feel comfortable and make good contact,” he said. “That’s really the name of my game -- hitting early and hitting the fastball. I’m just working on getting timing back and the rhythm of being comfortable. And as far as second base goes, I’m just taking my groundballs every day. I’m just working back to being an everyday player and to where I was before I went down with this injury.”

Organization leaders

Average: Pedro Zapata, St. Lucie, .329; Juan Lagares, St. Lucie, .323; Cory Vaughn, Savannah, .317; Matt den Dekker, St. Lucie, .306; Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Buffalo, .301; Josh Satin, Binghamton, .298; Jesus Feliciano, Buffalo, .284; Michael Fisher, Buffalo, .277; Robbie Shields, Savannah, .274; Stefan Welch, St. Lucie, .273.

Homers: Brahiam Maldonado, Binghamton, 10; Lucas Duda, Buffalo, 9; Aderlin Rodriguez, Savannah, 9; Josh Satin, Binghamton, 8.

RBI: Wilmer Flores, St. Lucie, 36; Josh Satin, Binghamton, 35; Valentino Pascucci, Buffalo, 34; Brahiam Maldonado, Binghamton, 33; Aderlin Rodriguez, Savannah, 33.

Steals: Pedro Zapata, St. Lucie, 14; Jordany Valdespin, Binghamton, 11; Cesar Puello, St. Lucie, 11; Matt den Dekker, St. Lucie, 9; Rafael Fernandez, Savannah, 9.

ERA: Darin Gorski, St. Lucie, 1.62; Chase Huchingson, Savannah, 2.14; Jeurys Familia, Binghamton, 2.21; Matt Harvey, St. Lucie, 2.44; Chris Schwinden, Buffalo, 3.03; Ryan Fraser, Savannah, 3.25; Greg Peavey, Savannah, 3.27; Gonzalez Germen, Savannah, 3.63; Brad Holt, Binghamton, 3.67; Brandon Moore, Binghamton, 3.78.

Wins: Matt Harvey, St. Lucie, 6; Brandon Moore, Binghamton, 5; Greg Peavey, Savannah, 5.

Saves: Josh Edgin, Savannah, 12; Jeffrey Kaplan, St. Lucie, 9; John Lujan, Buffalo, 5.

Strikeouts: Darin Gorski, St. Lucie, 73; Matt Harvey, St. Lucie, 71; Jeurys Familia, Binghamton, 66; Taylor Whitenton, Savannah, 60; Greg Peavey, Savannah, 58.

Short hops

• Left-hander Steve Matz, the Mets’ top pick in the 2009 draft (second round, 72^nd overall), has been backed off throwing because of suspected scar tissue where he had May 18, 2010 Tommy John surgery. Players generally work through scar tissue to break it up, but the Mets proceeded more cautiously with the 20-year-old southpaw, who is a product of Ward Melville High on Long Island. Farm director Adam Wogan said Matz is due to resume throwing Friday, when the extended spring training group returns from a three-day break. Matz, who has yet to throw a professional pitch in a game, will initially be assigned to the Gulf Coast League, not Brooklyn, according to Wogan. That team starts play in Port St. Lucie on June 21.

• Full-season Class A teams had their All-Stars representatives announced, and both St. Lucie and Savannah were well-represented with six players apiece. Selected to the June 18 Florida State League All-Star Game at Clearwater, Fla.: right-handers Matt Harvey, Scott Moviel and Jeffrey Kaplan, left-hander Darin Gorski and outfielders Matt den Dekker and Pedro Zapata. Selected to the June 21 South Atlantic League game in Salisbury, Md.: right-handers Taylor Whitenton and Greg Peavey, left-handers Chase Huchingson and Josh Edgin, infielder Robbie Shields and right fielder Cory Vaughn. Sand Gnats manager Ryan Ellis and first base coach Jose Carreno also will participate.

• A pair of siblings of Mets farmhands were taken in the draft Tuesday. The Mets selected Binghamton right-hander Erik Turgeon’s brother Casey Turgeon, a high school shortstop from Dunedin, Fla., in the 22^nd round. Savannah right-hander Erik Goeddel’s brother Tyler Goeddel was selected by the Rays with the 41^st overall pick, which Tampa Bay received as compensation for losing Carl Crawford as a free agent to the Boston Red Sox. He is a high school third baseman from California. The Mets’ Goedell has not pitched in a game since May 23 because of a shoulder strain, but Wogan indicated he should be back for an inning or two soon -- perhaps at a lower level to ease back.

• Buffalo’s prospects are on the mend. Lucas Duda, who missed three weeks with a back injury, is hitting .410 with six homers and 13 RBIs in 12 games since a May 28 return while primarily splitting duty between left field and first base. Center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis (.301, 6 HR, 14 RBI, .405 OBP), who missed 10 days after landing on his right shoulder making a diving catch, returned Saturday. Third baseman Zach Lutz is poised to rejoin the Bisons after one more Florida State League game on Wednesday night. Lutz originally landed on the disabled list with Buffalo with a hamstring injury after an April 21 game. Then, while inactive and in the dugout, he was struck with a foul ball and broke the ring finger on his non-throwing hand. Lutz’s return to the Bisons will displace hot-hitting Michael Fisher from third base, but not from the lineup, because Fisher has experience at the other infield positions. Fisher, 26, originally was a Braves draft pick, and was signed as a minor league free agent last year.

• Left-hander Mike O’Connor returned to action for the Bisons on Sunday, allowing a homer to Brandon Hicks at Gwinnett. O’Connor had made nine relief appearances at the major league level before the demotion. Meanwhile, in his first start with Buffalo after clearing waivers and accepting a Triple-A assignment, Pat Misch allowed six runs in six innings Saturday against the Braves’ top affiliate. Misch pushed himself to 92 pitches, which was a feat since he had not logged more than 31 pitches in any appearance during a two-week stay in the majors.

• Binghamton infielder Josh Satin homered twice in Game 2 of Tuesday’s doubleheader against Harrisburg. The performance highlighted Satin’s return from a week-long absence, except for one game at DH, while he dealt with a thigh bruise. Satin is hitting .298 with eight homers and 35 RBIs in 178 at-bats with the B-Mets. A natural second baseman, he has assumed the third-base role since Havens’ arrival.

• Oliver Perez, pitching for Double-A Harrisburg, a Washington Nationals affiliate, is due to face Binghamton in a Thursday morning game. Perez is 2-1 with a 1.89 ERA in four Eastern League starts. He has allowed 15 hits, walked three and hit two batters while striking out 14 in 19 innings.

• Savannah center fielder Darrell Ceciliani, the 2010 New York-Penn League batting champion with Brooklyn, has a seven-game hitting streak, during which he has lifted his average from .225 to .245. That spurt has coincided with a rare rough stretch for the SAL All-Star Vaughn. He is hitting .227 (10-for-44) with no homers and three RBIs in his past 11 games.

• Recent signee Bubba Bell, who began the season with Cleveland’s Triple-A affiliate, was pushed off Buffalo’s roster to Binghamton with the recent return of prospects. Bell has manned center field in his four games with the B-Mets since arriving during the weekend. Carlos Guzman, a Brooklyn native who works out with Jose Reyes and Pedro Beato in Nassau County on Long Island during the offseason, was released. The 25-year-old outfielder was hitting .228 in 123 at-bats with Binghamton.

• Chin-lung Hu continues to experience throwing yips with Buffalo. As a result, he is only being placed at second base, and not at shortstop. He also is being pulled late in games.

• Minor league baseball is not easy, especially when rising from high-A St. Lucie to Binghamton. Right-hander Collin McHugh, an 18^th-round pick in 2008 out of Berry College, can attest. After allowing four runs on nine hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings at Akron in his second Double-A start on Sunday, McHugh (@Collin_McHugh) eloquently tweeted: “There seems to be a learning curve in AA. I'm hoping it's short and not too sharp. And that it has a guard rail.”

• The Brooklyn Cyclones’ season opens June 17 at Staten Island. Twenty-nine former Cyclones have reached the majors. The most recent: outfielder Ezequiel Carrera, who debuted with the Cleveland Indians on May 20. Carrera was one of seven players shipped out by the Mets in the J.J. Putz/Sean Green deal in December 2008. He subsequently was traded by Seattle to the Indians.

• Shortstop Wilmer Flores returned to St. Lucie’s lineup on Sunday after missing a couple of days with wrist soreness. The organization’s top position-player prospect is 0-for-his-last 11, and his average has slipped to .255 in 55 games.

• Harvey, the 2010 first-round pick from the University of North Carolina, takes the mound again for St. Lucie on Wednesday night. Since getting roughed up for a career-worst eight runs in 3 2/3 innings on May 10, Harvey has limited opponents to four runs while striking out 29 in four starts spanning 22 2/3 innings.

• When will a flurry of roster movement occur? Wogan said he never had been a big fan of tying promotions to the midpoints of seasons, after Class A leagues have determined first-half winners. But Wogan said he has now come around to the idea. After all, players get to experience extra incentive and pressure while trying to secure postseason berths for their teams -- even if they will be at a higher level when the playoff games occur in September. As a result, movement among top Mets prospects such as den Dekker and Vaughn may occur in just less than two weeks, after Savannah and St. Lucie complete their first halves. Savannah leads Greenville by 3½ games in that South Atlantic League division, with the Gnats having 11 games remaining in the half. St. Lucie, after a torrid April, is one game over .500 and clinging to a one-game lead over Fort Myers with 12 games to go.

Adam Rubin’s farm report appears Wednesdays during the season

Robbie Shields already was working out with the varsity team at Pasco High School in Florida as a seventh grader.

As a 15-year-old, he teamed with current Phillie Domonic Brown to take Dade City, Fla., to the Senior League World Series. “He was the No. 1 pitcher and I was No. 2,” Shields recalled about the Little League experience.

After being drafted in the third round in 2009 out of Florida Southern, Shields had a slower start to his professional career, including a .178 average with Brooklyn and then Tommy John surgery that year.

Now, though, he clearly is on track.

Shields, now 23, produced his 14^th multi-hit game of the season Tuesday and scored the lone run as the Gnats won, 1-0, for their ninth victory in the past 10 games. Shields was starting at second base for only the fourth time in his professional career.

Mets officials had resisted exposing the shortstop to the other middle-infield position until 10 days ago, when Shields finally started at second base. The hesitance had been because Shields underwent Tommy John surgery after the ’09 season with the Cyclones. Out of an abundance of caution, the Mets did not want Shields trying anything different besides shortstop, which might prompt him to put different pressures on his elbow.

Shields had previously only played second base during the first 30 games of his freshman season at Florida Southern.

“Our coach decided to move me to shortstop from then on,” said Shields, who is hitting .375 with the Sand Gnats since May 12. “I was lucky enough to play every inning of my college career. And then I played shortstop from then on out. So I’ve only got 30 games under my belt, and then a little more than a week ago I played my first game at second base in pro ball. I feel like it’s an easy transition for me because I played a little bit my freshman year of college. It’s just about putting your work in and getting different reps.”

During that first pro season with Brooklyn in ’09, Shields played 44 games at shortstop despite a persistent elbow problem, unaware of the actual extent of the injury. A day after the season, an MRI revealed the torn elbow ligament. He underwent the Tommy John surgery, which is often thought of as exclusively required by pitchers.

Shields required nearly nine months to get back to game action, several months shy of the standard rehab time for a pitcher.

“You don’t need to throw at top velocity all the time, so it’s a little easier to come back from a position-player standpoint,” Shields said.

Still, Shields did not suggest the elbow issue contributed to his struggles at the plate with Brooklyn.

“I definitely wouldn’t make that excuse saying that’s why I didn’t hit well,” Shields said. “I went up there and it was definitely a reality check for me. I had an awful 40 games. That’s the best way to put it. You go through adversity early in your career and, to be honest, it’s helped me now. I learned how to cope with failure -- an 0-for game or a couple of 0-fors in a row.”

Organization leaders

Average: Pedro Zapata, St. Lucie, .343; Cory Vaughn, Savannah, .333; Juan Lagares, St. Lucie, .317; Matt den Dekker, St. Lucie, .309; Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Buffalo, .302; Josh Satin, Binghamton, .296; Robbie Shields, Savannah, .291; Jefry Marte, St. Lucie, .286; Mike Fisher, Buffalo, .286.

Homers: Brahiam Maldonado, Binghamton, 10; Aderlin Rodriguez, Savannah, 9.

RBI: Wilmer Flores, St. Lucie, 35; Aderlin Rodriguez, Savannah, 31; Brahiam Maldonado, Binghamton, 31; Valentino Pascucci, Buffalo, 30; Josh Satin, Binghamton, 30.

Steals: Pedro Zapata, St. Lucie, 12; Jordany Valdespin, Binghamton, 11; Cesar Puello, St. Lucie, 10; Matt den Dekker, St. Lucie, 9; Cory Vaughn, Savannah, 8.

ERA: Jeurys Familia, Binghamton, 1.79; Darin Gorski, St. Lucie, 2.16; Chase Huchingson, Savannah, 2.40; Matt Harvey, St. Lucie, 2.50; Erik Goeddel, Savannah, 2.72; Ryan Fraser, Savannah, 2.83; Greg Peavey, Savannah, 2.85; Chris Schwinden, Buffalo, 2.87; Gonzalez Germen, Savannah, 3.22; Brad Holt, Binghamton, 3.78.

Wins: Matt Harvey, St. Lucie, 6; Greg Peavey, Savannah, 5.

Saves: Jeffrey Kaplan, St. Lucie, 9; Josh Edgin, Savannah, 9.

Strikeouts: Darin Gorski, St. Lucie, 63; Matt Harvey, St. Lucie, 62; Jeurys Familia, Binghamton, 57; Greg Peavey, Savannah, 55; Gonzalez Germen, Savannah, 50.

Short hops

• After three games with St. Lucie, 2008 first-round pick Reese Havens moved to Binghamton on Friday and started three straight games at second base. Havens was tormented by oblique problems last season, then underwent offseason surgery to remove an inch of a rib that is believed to have been contributing to the problem. The University of South Carolina product was drafted 22^nd overall three years ago, four slots after Ike Davis, when the Mets had two first-round picks that year. Havens has been limited to a combined 159 games in parts of four professional regular seasons because of injury.

• Lucas Duda, who had been sidelined three weeks with a back issue, returned Saturday and immediately homered on back-to-back days with Buffalo. Duda has split time between left field and first base, with one appearance in right field, since reentering the lineup.

• Buffalo center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis has been sidelined since injuring his right, throwing shoulder on a diving catch a week ago. Nieuwenhuis resumed playing catch Monday.

• Right-hander Chris Schwinden, who had been held out 10 days with Buffalo in case he needed to fill in for R.A. Dickey in the Mets’ rotation, returned to action Tuesday night with the Bisons. His sharpness may have been affected by the layoff. Schwinden walked five, matching the total from his previous four starts. He had his shortest of nine Triple-A starts -- lasting 4 2/3 innings -- and surrendered a pair of homers. His International League ERA rose from 2.36 to 3.04.

• Pat Misch, who cleared waivers, accepted an assignment to Buffalo and may reenter the Bisons’ rotation Saturday.

• Fast-rising left-hander Mark Cohoon, who began the 2010 season at low-A Savannah, made his Triple-A debut Monday. Benefiting from run support, the southpaw picked up the win against Charlotte despite allowing five runs on seven hits, two walks and two hit batters in five innings. The promotion from Binghamton resulted in Collin McHugh joining the B-Mets from St. Lucie. In his Eastern League debut, McHugh received a no-decision despite limiting Erie to two runs (one earned) on three hits while striking out five in six innings Tuesday.

• Savannah right-hander Greg Peavey, a sixth-round pick last year out of Oregon State, went 4-1 with a 1.75 ERA, 31 strikeouts and three walks in 36 innings in May.

• Gnats closer Josh Edgin, a 30^th-round pick last season out of Francis Marion by scout Marlin McPhail, is 1-0 with nine saves in 10 chances and a 1.21 ERA. He allowed only five hits, three walks and one run (unearned) in 16 innings in May. Edgin is sitting in the low-90s mph with his fastball and also throws a slider.

• Binghamton infielder Josh Satin, a natural second baseman, continues to get the bulk of his recent starts at third base to increase diversity and try to get his bat to the big leagues. Satin’s five most-recent games have come at the hot corner. He is hitting .296 with six homers and 30 RBIs in 169 at-bats for the B-Mets. Satin’s assignment to third has pushed Eric Campbell into more outfield exposure, including limited right-field play.

• Gnats right-hander Erik Goeddel, who had been used as a starter to open the season before shifting to the bullpen to try to limit his fast-rising innings count, landed on the disabled list with a right shoulder strain. Goeddel, a UCLA product, is 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA in nine appearances (seven starts) for Savannah. Adam Kolarek took Goeddel’s roster spot.

• Manny Acosta converted saves on three straight days for Buffalo, striking out six and walking one in three innings. Acosta has surrendered only one run over his last 13 appearances.

• St. Lucie lost 12 of 15 to finish May. The Florida State League club, after a sizzling start, is 9-20 since April 30. Among the swoons, shortstop Wilmer Flores hit .323 in April and .214 in May. Center fielder Matt den Dekker hit .376 in April and .254 in May.

• St. Lucie left-hander Darin Gorski, a seventh-round pick in 2009, struck out a career-high 13 batters in 7 2/3 innings Thursday against Dunedin. His previous best had been 10 strikeouts against Bradenton on April 27, although that came in four innings. Gorski took over the organization’s strikeout lead with 63, one ahead of St. Lucie teammate Matt Harvey.

• Veteran left-hander Casey Fossum has left Buffalo and has been placed on the restricted list, but has not announced his retirement. In his final two starts with the Bisons, the 33-year-old Fossum had allowed 15 runs in eight innings.

• Savannah outfielder Cory Vaughn has hit safely in nine of 10 games, including a 4-for-4 performance Thursday. Vaughn hit .356 with three homers and 15 RBIs in 104 at-bats in May. He had a .496 on-base percentage for the month.

Adam Rubin’s farm report appears Wednesdays during the season

Pat Misch, who had the opportunity to elect free agency, has decided to report to Triple-A Buffalo. The southpaw may reenter the Bisons rotation as soon as Saturday.

Misch allowed seven runs on 10 hits and three walks in five innings in his second tour of duty with the Mets this season.

He was designated for assigned Friday, when the Mets also demoted Fernando Martinez, activated Angel Pagan from the disabled list and promoted right-handed reliever Dale Thayer.

Daniel Murphy had first-base difficulty in the top of the ninth, then grounded into a game-ending double play a half-inning later as the Mets lost to the Phillies, 7-4, on Friday night at Citi Field. Francisco Rodriguez's scoreless streak ended at 19 2/3 innings. "You don't get it done they're going to boo you," K-Rod said about receiving jeers from the fans despite his success. "It's as simple as that."

Saturday's news reports:

• David Einhorn has a path to majority ownership of the Mets in three years, a source tells ESPNNewYork.com. The source indicated Einhorn has an option at that point to up his share from 33 percent to 60 percent, but that Fred Wilpon and family can block that transaction by returning Einhorn's $200 million yet letting him keep one-third of the team.

• Sandy Alderson met with Einhorn two months ago, as he did with other ownership candidates. The GM described the hedge-fund guru as "enthusiastic" and "knowledgeable," according to Newsday. A source told ESPNNewYork.com that all things being equal bid-wise, Alderson's recommendation was for the McCann brothers of 1-800-FLOWERS.com to be the minority owner.

• David Wright's parents think he's a superstar, the third baseman said with a laugh. As for Wilpon's apology, Wright said: "He called to say that he misspoke, and that he appreciated the response and that he loves the team and the organization and he'd never do anything to try to embarrass us." Read more from Ian Begley at ESPNNewYork.com as well as in the Star-Ledger, Journal, Post, Daily News and Newsday.

• ESPNNewYork.com columnist Ian O'Connor says it's telling that Wright never referred to Wilpon by name during a lengthy interview Friday. Writes O'Connor:

Wright appeared more likely to play a $200-million game of poker with David Einhorn, minority owner-to-be, than to acknowledge that the Mets' majority owner was actually given a name at birth. It reminded of the time a war-weary President Johnson conceded, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost Middle America."

Post columnist Joel Sherman agrees with O'Connor's assessment, writing:

As of late yesterday afternoon -- the fifth day after the story was published -- Fred had left an apology on Wright's voice mail and Wright had volleyed back a message to Fred. Thus, in an age of 24-hour communications, Fred and Wright had managed to go at least 100 hours without speaking to each other, when supposedly that was an important issue for both men. It felt like purposeful dodge ball and, again, what was spoken between the lines was Wright's belief it was now incumbent upon the owner to make this connection.

• Post columnist Kevin Kernan writes Wright ought to go to the Phillies when his contract expires in two years (including the team option for 2013):

Consider this dooms day Mets scenario: David Wright leaves the Mets, becomes the Phillies third baseman after next season and he again finds his power stroke in Citizens Bank Park. He'll be 30 and in the prime of his career. Wright's contract is up after 2012. He gets $15 million next year. In 2013, the Mets own a $16 million option, not the kind of money you really want to spend on a "very good player. Not a superstar," as Fred Wilpon noted of Wright. Maybe the Phillies see Wright in a different light.

• Record columnist Tara Sullivan writes about Wright:

If you think Wright is tortured because his owner thinks he’s merely, a “very good player” but “not a superstar,” you’re wrong. The real torture is not being on the field for games like Friday’s 6-4 loss to the Phillies, which featured a long-dormant stadium turning alive with buzz. “No question, being on the DL is much worse,” said Wright, similarly pained by missing last weekend’s Subway Series. “I’m bored as hell and driving myself crazy. It stinks that I wake up in the morning and I know I won’t have an effect on the outcome of the game. But just to watch the team gets the adrenaline flowing.”

• Sadly, doctors at Duke believe Gary Carter's four tumors on his brain likely are malignant. ESPN's Mark Simon writes about what makes Carter special. Read more about Carter's medical situation in the Star-Ledger, Daily News and Record (via AP).

Teammate Keith Hernandez tells Newsday about Carter: "I was hoping it was going to be benign. It's my worst fears. What can you say? My prayers go out to him." Said Mookie Wilson: "We know that he's a competitor. I think that gives him an edge. I think the doctors are going to detail what kind of treatment. Knowing him, he's going to go in intent on beating it.''

• R.A. Dickey has a partial tear of the plantar fascia in his right foot, the Mets announced Friday. Dickey will try to throw a bullpen session Sunday, and is hopeful he can make his regular start two days later. The Mets made a flurry of roster moves before Friday's game, activating Angel Pagan from the disabled list and adding ex-Rays reliever reliever Dale Thayer from Triple-A Buffalo, while demoting Fernando Martinez and designating Pat Misch for assignment. Pagan actually had a stress fracture in a rib. Read more in Newsday, the Post, Daily News and Star-Ledger.

• 2010 first-round pick Matt Harvey tossed seven scoreless innings in what might be his final Florida State League outing before rising to Double-A Binghamton, while top second-base prospect Reese Havens has moved to the B-Mets after overcoming oblique/rib issues.

• Read Friday game stories in the Star-Ledger, Newsday, Post, Daily News and Record.

• Star-Ledger columnist Jeff Bradley said the Mets are out-armed in the rotation against the Phillies, especially minus Johan Santana. Writes Bradley:

But battling without Santana, especially against the Phillies and their Four Aces, the Mets are fighting out of their weight class. The Mets current rotation — Chris Capuano, R.A. Dickey, Mike Pelfrey, Jonathon Niese and Dillon Gee — entered Friday night’s game with 150 career wins. That’s 25 fewer than Phillies ace Roy Halladay. To think of how hard Terry Collins’ call-ups and fill-ins have battled to hang near .500, it’s hard not to look at Santana’s empty locker and think about how much that one injury is hurting this club.

• Newsday columnist Ken Davidoff says Mets fans still feel compelled to show up, despite all the adversity.

• Newsday's Mark Herrmann profiles Rich Donnelly, the first-year Brooklyn Cyclones manager. Specifically, Herrmann discusses with Donnelly the death of the manager's daughter Amy at age 18 in January 1993 from a brain tumor, the season after Donnelly was third base coach on the 1992 Pittsburgh Pirates. Writes Hermann:

Donnelly always had been considered a good baseball man, but since Amy's death, he has focused on being a good man, period. He rekindled his Catholic faith. He began giving motivational speeches. He became involved in charitable causes such as a buddy's road race in Haddonfield, N.J., for young cancer patients. It is held under the stars and is called "The Chicken Run at Midnight." "She has touched so many lives since then. I've made so many connections with people," Donnelly said on the phone from Port St. Lucie, where he is running the Mets' extended spring training team and preparing for the Cyclones' opener in June.

BIRTHDAYS: Former Mets catcher Mike DiFelice turns 42. He hit .171 in 42 games as a Met (82 at-bats) from 2005 to 2007. DiFelice managed Kingsport for the Mets last season, but departed when the new front office arrived. There are actually six Mets position players with at least 75 plate appearances whose Mets batting average is worse than DiFelice's. Norm Sherry’s .136 rates worst. ... Reliever Ryota Igarashi, who is with Triple-A Buffalo, turns 32. -Mark Simon