Buffalo – Syracuse (Postponed Rain)
By Pete Shapiro
The Bisons game against the Syracuse Chiefs on Saturday afternoon was postponed due to rain. The teams will play a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. The first of two, seven-inning games will begin at 12:00 p.m. Right-handers Jeurys Familia and Chris Schwinden will toe the rubber for the Herd today.
Herd Rumblings: After today’s double-header the Bisons will head to Lehigh Valley for a three-game set against the second-place Iron Pigs. The probable Bison pitchers for the series are Jeremy Hefner (2-1 1.96), Garrett Olson (0-1 2.20), and Matt Harvey (1-1 6.63). Petey Pete will hit the road again on Tuesday and travel to Lehigh Valley for the second and third games of the series. From there he will be bringing you loads of reports, exclusive interviews, and opinions about your 2012 Buffalo Bisons, so be sure to check back later in the week for more!
Binghamton 6 – Portland 1
By Tim Burns
With a 6-1 win at NYSEG Stadium on Saturday afternoon, the Binghamton Mets have assured themselves the series win over the visiting Portland Sea Dogs. Binghamton’s Mark Cohoon pitched his longest outing of the season so far, throwing seven innings and allowing only one run, a solo home run by Sea Dogs catcher Mark Spring in the top of the third frame. Cohoon struck out three and issued no walks enroute to his first win of the season.
The B-Mets were held scoreless by Portland starter Chris Martin until the fifth inning when Joe Bonfe was able to score from third as center fielder Pedro Zapata hit into a double play. It was Bonfe’s first game with the B-Mets after being assigned to the team from St. Lucie on Friday. The Mets tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the sixth, and chased Portland reliever Will Latimer, who took the loss, after only 2/3 of an inning. The Mets added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth, with Bonfe scoring his second run of the game, making it all the way from first to home on a Juan Centeno double.
Shortstop Josh Rodriguez hit safely for the fifth game in a row, going 2/4 with a double off of Martin in the bottom of the fourth. Jefry Marte extended his multi hit game streak to three, raising his season batting average to .405.
B-Mets Buzz: The Mets will look for the sweep tomorrow afternoon at NYSEG Stadium if Mother Nature cooperates. Collin McHugh (2-1, 2.16) is on the hill against Portland’s Brock Huntzinger (0-3, 7.50). The B-Mets will have Monday off before starting a three game set against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at NYSEG Stadium on Tuesday night.
St. Lucie Sweeps Palm Beach 9-7, 6-1
By Joe DeCaro
What a huge day for the St. Lucie Mets as they took both ends of the doubleheader against the Palm Beach Cardinals 9-7 and 6-1 on Saturday.
Yohan Almonte started what would be the first game on Friday, but only pitched one inning and allowed two runs before the game was suspended and resumed on Saturday. Eric Goeddel resumed the game and allowed one run on a solo homer in three innings of work. Jeffrey Kaplan got the win in relief in the first game despite a poor performance tossing a pair of innings and allowing three earned runs on five hits and walk. Closer Adam Kolarek earned the save, his second of the season.
Danny Muno had three hits and two RBIs, and Wilmer Flores had two hits and two RBIs, including a solo home run in the second inning. Cesar Puello and Richard Harrison each had a pair of hits, and Wilfredo Tovar had a solid game with two hits, two RBI and three runs scored.
The second game was shortened to seven innings, but that didn’t stop Agnel Cuan from tossing another solid start to improve to 2-0. Cuan allowed just one run on five hits and struck out four in five innings and improved his ERA to 2.60 for the season. Adrian Rosario closed it out with two scoreless innings of relief and now sports a 0.96 ERA.
Danny Muno added another pair of hits and drove in two, and Wilfredo Tovar had three base-knocks and an RBI in this one. Third baseman Wilmer Flores is on a roll and went 2-4 with a double and two runs scored.
Lucie Logistics: The first place St. Lucie Mets are now 13-2 in their best start ever to a season. Second baseman Danny Muno finished the day with five hits and four RBI and is starting to heat up after a rough start to the season. St. Lucie continues their homestand and begin a a three-game series with Fort Myers starting at 4:00 PM.
Hickory 6 – Savannah 1
By Brandon Butler
The Savannah Sand Gnats came into the day hoping to end a 2-game skid. Tyler Pill started the game for the Gnats, but unfortunately right-hander didn’t have the kind of start that the Gnats were hoping for. Pill lasted just 3.1 innings and gave up three earned runs on five hits and two walks, but he struck out seven Crawdads in the process.
Marcos Camarena and Jack Leathersich pitched in relief after Pill was pulled and the two of them combined for 5.2 innings and allowed three runs on four hits and two walks, and struck out five.
The Gnats were once again shut down offensively by the Crawdads and the only run for the good guys came in the 8th inning on a Tillman Pugh solo home run, his first of the season.
Gnats Gnotes: With the loss today, the Gnats are now on a 3-game skid and they are currently 2.5 games back of the first place Charleston River Dogs. T.J. Rivera is continuing to swing a hot bat offensively and went 2 for 4, with a single and a double in the game. The Gnats will play the Hickory Crawdads in the final game of a the 4-game series at 2:05 PM.
