Mets Farm Report: Vaughn Slugs 12th Homer, Den Dekker Leads League In Everything

Buffalo 4, Norfolk 2

By Sean Kenny

The Bisons offense managed to capitalize on the hits that they did scratch across, and the quartet of pitchers today proved effective in their 4-2 win against the Norfolk Tides

Dylan Owen started again today, and was effectively wild on the day, limiting the Tides to two runs on four hits while walking three and striking out two in four and two-thirds innings. Owen threw 65 pitches, 37 for strikes and was pulled in the fifth with rehabbing Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts set to hit. Owen seems to be stretching himself out again, as he only thrown more than six innings once since April 29th. Justin Hampson was the first man out of the Bisons bullpen, and went one and one-third innings, walking one and striking out three. Manny Acosta went two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out one batter. Fernando Cabrera came out to notch his fourteenth save on the season, striking out two batters.

Some of the biggest news regarding the Bisons and the next possible call up involves Jenrry Mejia shifting to a strictly bullpen role. Pending the performances of many of the Mets current bullpen arms, Mejia could be seeing the new Citi Field before the end of the month.

The Bisons knocked nine hits on the day, including a two-RBI single by Fred Lewis in the third inning, an RBI double by Corey Wimberly in the fifth, and a Rob Johnson solo HR in the sixth inning. That would be all of the offense the pitching needed on the day. Josh Satin, in his second game back after clearing waivers went 2 for 4 with two strikeouts.

Herd Rumblings: Sean Kazmar has proven his defensive abilities serving as the shortstop for the Bisons, but is struggling with the bat hitting .130. Fred Lewis has hit in nine of ten games in June, including six stolen bases. Fernando Cabrera recorded his 14th save of the season. He is a perfect 14-for-14 in save opportunities.The Bisons will go into game three of the four game series against the Tides, sending RHP Jeurys Familia (5-2, 4.42) to the mound against RHP Chris Tillman (4-8, 4.01).

Trenton 3, Binghamton 2

By Tim Burns

The Binghamton Mets looked like they were on their way to sweeping the rival Double A Yanks in Trenton on Sunday afternoon, until a walk off by the Thunder in the bottom of the tenth inning gave them the 3-2 win.

Greg Peavey started the game for the B-Mets, and threw five innings. He allowed only one run on four hits in his eleventh start for Binghamton, striking out three and walking two. Armando Rodriguez came on in relief of Peavey in the bottom of the sixth, and pitched two clean innings striking out four and allowing no runs and two hits. Brad Holt pitched the ninth, and also kept the Thunder off of the board in the run column, walking one batter he faced and allowing one hit as well.

Then came the bottom of the tenth. After the B-Mets took the one run lead in the top of that frame, Adriano Rosario was brought in to close out the game. Rosario, who had not allowed a run since being assigned to Binghamton in May, had the Thunder down to their final out. Then, a single by Zoilo Almonte, a walk to Melky Mesa, and a wild pitch with Shane Brown batting – moving both runners to second and third respectively – set up the walk off for Trenton. Brown hit a pitch into left field, scoring both runners, and giving the Thunder the walk off win. For Rosario, who was charged with the loss, it was also his first blown save in a B-Mets uniform. Rosario’s line on the day read 2/3 of an inning pitched, two earned runs on two hits, no strikeouts and one walk.

Matt den Dekker’s 21st double of the season set the B-Mets up to take the lead in the game in the top of the fourth inning. Den Dekker was able to move to second when Eric Campbell grounded out second to first, and then he scored on a wild pitch with Juan Lagares at the plate.

The B-Mets would score their second run of the game in the top of the tenth inning. After Juan Lagares reached safely on a single to left field, Travis Ozga moved him over to second on a sacrifice bunt. Lagares then scored when Joe Bonfe made it to first on a throwing error by Thunder third baseman Jose Pirela.

Matt den Dekker hit safely in his eighth straight game, and proved to have the only multi-base hit in the game. He went 2/4 with his fourth inning double, and one run scored (in that frame). Juan Lagares was 1/4 in the game, with the other B-Mets run scored. Travis Ozga and Joe Bonfe both went 1/3 in the game, and their two hits combined with den Dekker’s two and Lagares’ one would complete the B-Mets team total of five in the game.

B-Mets Buzz: Adrian Rosario was saddled with his first loss and first blown save as a B-Met. The runs allowed snapped an 8.1 inning scoreless streak to start the righty’s Double-A career. The loss snapped Binghamton’s three-game winning streak and dropped them back to one game under .500. The team has the day off on Monday, but will open a six game homestand beginning Tuesday night at the NYSEG Stadium. Both series will be against a couple of teams from Pennsylvania as the Reading Phillies come in for a three game set, and then the Altoona Curve come in for the weekend series. This will be the final trip to Binghamton for the R-Phils this season, and features the second ‘Baseball in Education’ day on Thursday, which means the boys will be up early for the 10:35 start.

St. Lucie 10, Charlotte 3

By Clayton Collier

Following a tough loss to open up the series against the Charlotte Stone Crabs, the St. Lucie Mets practiced the art of a short memory as they battled through a 14-inning thriller behind excellent pitching and timely, clutch hits to win their pro-ball leading 47th win of the season.

Erik Goeddel took the hill for his eighth start of the year and had himself yet another quality outing. The 23-year old right hander got off to a rocky start, giving up a leadoff homer to the Stone Crabs Robby Price and allowing Hector Guevara to score on a Derek Dietrich groundout to stake the opposition to an early 2-0 lead, but settled down to hurl four scoreless innings. Goeddel ended the night with a final line of five innings pitched, allowing two runs on seven hits while walking none and punching out four, taking yet another no decision in the effort.

Cory Vaughn got St. Lucie on the board in the fourth with his team-leading 12th home run of the season to cut the Stone Crabs lead in half. Fast forward past some excellent bullpen work by both teams to the top of the eighth, with two out, Wilfredo Tovar and Wilmer Flores hit back-to-back doubles to tie up the ballgame that would be pushed into extras.

Top of the tenth, with runners on first and third with two outs, Charlotte reliever Theron Geith did his best Rick Ankiel impression and threw two wild pitches to Cory Vaughn that scored the go-ahead run.

In the bottom of the frame however, Adam Kolarek had his own comedy of errors. After a wild pitch and a sacrifice bunt, the Stone Crabs had the tying run at third with one out. Kolarek strikes out Hector Guevara, but on a wild pitch that would score said tying run from third, sending it further into extras.

Come top of the 14th, the Mets made sure the bullpen would have enough run support this go around. In an inning in which 12 men came to bat, nine reached base including everyone in the lineup except Blake Forsythe got on, an astonishing seven runs crossed the plate to give St. Lucie a commanding 10-3 lead which would survive the half inning and hand the Mets yet another hard-fought victory.

Lucie Logistics: With his 12th homer of the year, Cory Vaughn is now only second to Marcell Ozuna of the Jupiter Hammerheads in the Florida State league leaderboard for home runs. Wilmer Flores went 2-6 including a key RBI double in the eighth and with his two RBI’s today, leads the team and is eighth in the FSL in RBI’s with 38. Every Met in the lineup had a hit and in addition to Flores, Blake Forsythe, Robbie Shields and Wilfredo Tovar had multiple hit games (Tovar’s was a three-hit game). The Mets will wrap up their series in Charlotte tomorrow at 6:30pm behind the 5-4 Chase Huchingson.

Savannah 1, Charleston 0 (Suspended)

By Joe D.

The game was halted with two out in the bottom of the fourth inning with the Sand Gnats up 1-0. Starting pitcher Marcos Camarena was in a groove and had tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings before the rains came. The lone run came on a sac-fly by Travis Taijeron.

Gnats Gnotes: Shortstop T.J. Rivera leads the team in batting with a .323 mark this season. Rivera has hit seven home runs with 30 RBI and 39 runs scored in 232 at-bats and has a .994 on-base. Jack Leathersich continues to mow down batters at an alarming rate. He now has 37 strikeouts in 24 innings pitched and a 0.75 ERA. Team mascot Gnate the Gnat is in the Elite Eight in the vote for the Best Mascot in MiLB. Here’s the bracket.