MMO Farm Report: St. Lucie Improves To 25-6, RHP Jacob DeGrom Dazzles In Debut

Buffalo 4, Gwinnett 3

In danger of losing their third straight game, the comeback kids did what they do best. Rob Johnson’s two-run single with two outs in the top of the eighth inning gave the Bisons a 4-3 victory Monday night in the opening game of a four-game series against Gwinnett at Coolray Field. The win was Buffalo’s 12th comeback triumph already this season, accounting for two-thirds of the club’s 18 wins overall.

In the latest edition, the Bisons trailed 3-1 thanks to solid work from the 2011 International League’s Most Valuable Pitcher, Julio Teheran. Buffalo was 0-8 with runners in scoring position and in danger of wasting Dustin Martin’s one-out single in the eighth inning.

Josh Satin drew a two-out walk and Matt Tuiasosopo battled back from down 0-2 in the count to earn another free pass from Gwinnett reliever Jaye Champman. Fred Lewis had an easier time drawing his walk, watching four pitches sail outside the zone to force in a run.

Down 3-2, Johnson gave the Bisons their only lead of the game with a single through the left side of the infield. Buffalo’s only hit with runners in scoring position gave the Herd a 4-3 advantage.

Fernando Cabrera nailed down Elvin Ramirez’s first Triple-A win with his seventh save of the season. Ramirez came on with the bases loaded in the seventh inning and struck out Josh Wilson on four pitches. Chris Schwinden started for Buffalo in his first game since a two-start stint with the Mets. He struck out eight batters but left after five innings with a 2-1 deficit.

Herd Rumblings: To make room for the return of Chris Schwinden, the Bisons have sent RHP BRAD HOLT back to Binghamton (AA). While with the Herd, Holt had a 10.13ERA and one save in six outings (5.1IP, 3K). Jordany Valdespin hadn’t gotten to Buffalo before receiving his second promotion on Monday. He was optioned on Sunday for D. J. Carrasco but returned to New York before being activated by Buffalo to replace the injured Ruben Tejada. Valdespin hit a pinch hit three-run home run (his first major league hit) in the ninth inning of a 5-2 Mets win in Philadelphia…A day after Sunday’s off day, the Bisons used six pitchers including Jeff Stevens, Josh Edgin and Justin Hampson. (From team reports)

Binghamton Rained Out

By Tim Burns

Mother Nature won out in Binghamton on Monday night. Rain showers that blanketed the area throughout the day caused the first game of the B-Mets versus New Britain Rock Cats game to be postponed until later in the season. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on August 7th.

History: Tonight’s ‘know your opponent’ space filler is in regards to the New Britain Rock Cats. The Rock Cats first appeared in 1995 as the ‘Hardware City Rock Cats’, a bit of homage to the fact that Stanley tools is headquartered in New Britain, Connecticut. The Rock Cats (not to be confused with the potential iPhone auto-correct ‘Rockets’) adopted the ‘New Britain’ moniker after just two seasons, and have been named as such ever since. They were first affiliated with the Minnesota Twins in ’95, an affiliation that has lasted until present day and produced such MLB stars as Torii Hunter, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Michael Cuddyer.

B-Mets Buzz: Game one of the series is now scheduled for Tuesday night at 6:35, and should pit the B-Mets Mark Cohoon (2-3, 2.48 ERA) against the Rock Cats Andrew Albers (1-0, 4.35 ERA). It will be the first time this season the two teams have faced each other; in 2011 the B-Mets won the season series against New Britain 8-6.

St. Lucie 5, Dunedin 4

By Clayton Collier

Looking for their pro-ball leading 25th win, the St. Lucie Mets rallied to best the Dunedin Blue Jays and take the series by a score of 5-4.

St. Lucie’s Yohan Almonte got the nod and continued to struggle, going 5 2/3 innings, surrendering four runs on six hits while punching out seven, accounting for all of the Bue Jays’ runs in this one. After surrendering three runs in the first off Almonte as a result of three hits and two wild pitches, after which he struck out the next three batters to retire the side, then did not surrender a hit until the sixth inning.

The Mets offense were the true heroes in this one, scoring five runs including two in the eighth to take the advantage over the Jays. After scoring three in the first to tie it because of a throwing error by Dunedin third baseman Oliver Dominguez, the Mets would be held in check by hurlers John Stilson and Shawn Griffith before getting to reliever Boomer Potts in the eighth.

Down 4-3, Wilmer Florres stepped in to lead off the bottom of the eighth, and got the rally started, launching a solo shot to left field, tying the ballgame. Richard Lucas would then follow up with a double and would come around to score on an sac fly by Francisco Pena.

Things got interesting in the ninth when the spotless Adam Kolarek came in and proceeded to surrender a single and a double, putting two runners in scoring position with only one out. Kolarek would be pulled for none other than Adrian Rosario who came on, intentionally walked the first batter to face him, then shut the door, leaving the bases loaded for the Jays and picking up his 8th save on the season.

Lucie Logisitics: Wilmer Flores’ game-tying home run in the eighth was his fifth of the year, part of a three-hit game. He now has a .314 average and 20 RBIs to go with it, one of many St. Lucie Mets that will likely get the call to Bingo soon enough. With his eighth save of the year yesterday, Adrian Rosario has lowered his ERA to a staggering 1.13. The Mets head off to Brevard County to take on the Manatees in a three-game set starting tonight at 6:35.

Savannah 5, Lakewood 0 

By Sean Kenny

Jacob DeGrom and Carlos Vazquez combined for a one-hitter, and some late control problems from the BlueClaws pitchers as well as some timely hitting to ensure the victory today, 5 to 0.

Making his 2012 debut, Jacob DeGrom was lights out in his first start of the season for the Gnats and was nothing short of dominating. The 24-year old righty went six and two-third innings, allowing one hit, a double in the fifth inning and striking out seven without allowing any walks. DeGrom may not be on many, if any prospect radars after pitching poorly in Kingsport in 2010 but an arm is an arm especially at the Low-A level.

Carlos Vazquez would come out to pitch the end of the seventh inning, and would get credited with the win. Vazquez struck out two in his two and one-third innings, giving him 22 strikeouts in 21.1 innings.

The Gnats were silent on the offensive front until the bottom of the seventh inning, when some poor control led to the bases being walked full, and Albert Cordero promptly responded by drilling a two-RBI double. Luis Nieves hit a two-RBI single promptly after that, and the Gnats tacked on an insurance run in the eighth on a Brian Harrison double.

Gnats Gnotes: Only three hitters managed a hit, and Luis Nieves was the star of the day, going 3 for 3 with 2 RBI. Third baseman Aderlin Rodriguez continues to struglle and after another 0-fer is now batting .197. The team announced that Chasen Bradford was transferred from the Savannah roster to the Brooklyn Cyclones roster. The Gnats finish their seven-game home stand Tuesday at 7:05 when LHP Alex Panteliodis (3-1, 0.68) takes on RHP Colin Kleven (1-2, 3.86).