Buffalo 6 – Syracuse 1

Syracuse 1 – Buffalo 0

By Pete Shapiro

The Buffalo Bisons split their double-header yesterday with the Syracuse Chiefs, winning the opener by a score of 6-1 behind starter Jeurys Familia (2-1), before dropping the nightcap by a heartbreaking score of 1-0 and making a hard luck loser of Chris Schwinden (2-2). The Bisons record now stands at 9-9 for the year, good for a tie for 4th place in their division, and 3.5 games back of the 1st place Pawtucket Red Sox.

In game one Familia was dealing, as he dominated the opposition for the first time in 2012. Going 5 innings and allowing just 1 run on 4 hits, 3 walks and 8 strikeouts, in picking up his second win of the year against one defeat. At times Familia was virtually unhittable, at one stretch striking out 6 of 7 hitters, and making them look really bad while doing so. Reliever Jack Egbert pitched the final two innings giving up just one hit, to secure the win.

The hitting stars of the game were 3B Zach Lutz and SS Omar Quintanilla. For the game, Lutz went 2-3 with a two-run homer in the second which gave the Herd the early lead. Then with Quintanilla batting in the 6th with no-outs and the bases loaded, he slashed a deep drive to left-center that split the outfielders, who were playing very shallow, and rolled all the way to the wall.

Quintanilla’s drive would go for a bases clearing double, breaking the game open and turning a 3-1 contest into a 6-1 affair. For the day the Bison shortstop went 3-3 with 3 RBI’s. The lone run for the Chiefs came in the 4th when phenom Bryce Harper went deep to RF off Familia for his first home run of the year.

In the second game, an outstanding effort by Chris Schwinden went by the wayside, as the Herd was unable to muster any offense at all, managing just 3 hits all game, two by Matt Tuiasosopo. Schwinden pitched 6 innings, with no walks and four strikeouts. He only allowed 3 hits all game as well, but one of them was a lead-off home run to CF Corey Brown, his second of the year, in the 4th inning which would be the game’s only tally.

Herd Rumblings: The Herd travels to Lehigh Valley today where they will begin a three-game series tonite. Right-hander Jeremy Hefner (2-1 1.96) makes his fourth start of the year for Buffalo. Hefner’s last game was April 18th against Lehigh Valley, when he threw 7 innings while only giving up one unearned run, and getting the win. He is currently 8th in the International League in ERA. I will be heading to LV for tomorrow’s and Wednesday’s games, and will have some current reports and interviews to share with you later this week so stay tuned.

Binghamton 7 – Portland 2 

By Tim Burns

The brooms were out in Binghamton on Sunday afternoon, as the B-Mets swept the Portland Sea Dogs out of town with a 7-2 win. The win extended the Mets current streak to four games, and they also continued their dominance over the Red Sox AA affiliate with a 6-2 record. In the eight games the two teams have met this year, the B-Mets have outscored the Sea Dogs by a 46-20 margin.

It was a cold and damp day at NYSEG Stadium, the game time temp on the thermometer in left field read 42 as Binghamton starter Collin McHugh took the hill for his 4th start of the season. Despite the cold temperatures, McHugh pitched another strong game, allowing only one run and striking out five Sea Dogs in five innings worth of work. Its McHugh’s third win in as many starts, where he’s held his opponents to three runs while striking out 17 in that time span.

The Mets scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning, which would prove enough for the win. With the bases loaded, Rylan Sandoval hit a double to right field scoring all three runners. Matt den Dekker followed with another double to right field, and Sandoval scored from second on the play.

The one, two punch of Sandoval and den Dekker struck again for the home team in the bottom of the fourth. Sandoval tripled in the inning, hitting in Pedro Zapata who was on third at the time. Next up to bat, den Dekker hit a sacrifice fly to Sea Dogs center fielder Ron Bermudez and Sandoval scored from third.

The Mets seventh and final run came in the sixth, when Josh Rodriguez hit a single to right field and Matt den Dekker scored from third base.

Portland Sea Dogs starter Brock Huntzinger (0-4) took the loss, lasting only 3 2/3, giving up six runs on eight hits. It was the second time this season the B-Mets have beaten Huntzinger; on April 12th the B-Mets scored five runs on eight hits over four innings worth of work for the Portland pitcher.

Rylan Sandoval led the B-Mets offense on Sunday afternoon, with four RBI’s on a double and a triple in four at bats. Matt den Dekker had two doubles in four at bats resulting in two RBI’s on the afternoon. The Mets leading hitter Josh Rodriguez went 4/5 with a double and RBI in the game, increasing his batting average to .367.

B-Mets Buzz: A day off on Monday is probably well timed with the forecast calling for rain or snow or a mix of the two. The Toronto Blue Jays AA affiliate, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, come to town for a three game set starting Tuesday night. New Hampshire took two of three games from the B-Mets in a series played last week in Manchester.

St. Lucie 9 – Fort Myers 8

By Joe DeCaro

St. Lucie rallied from a 6-0 deficit to beat Fort Myers 9-8 thanks to a dramatic walkoff double by Danny Muno to score Wilfredo Tovar in the bottom of the ninth. It was part of a huge night for Muno who also blasted a two-run homer the fifth and was a triple short of hitting for the cycle.

Also with solid performances were shortstop Wilfredo Tovar who 2-3 with a walk and scored three runs, and second baseman Robbie Shields who went 3-4 with a pair of runs scored. Center fielder Darrell Cecilliani also had a big two-RBI double in the game and score two runs.

Cory Mazzoni started and was absolutely mugged by Fort Myers. He lasted just 3 innings and gave up a whopping six earned runs in his worst start of the season to see his ERA jump to 3.79. John Church and Hamilton Bennett relieved and combined for six strikeouts in their four innings of work. Closer Taylor Whitenton came in to pick up a two inning save, but instead he earned his first blown save of the season after allowing Fort Myers to tie the game, but the Mets would prevail and make a winner out of Whitenton, his first win of the season.

Lucie Logistics: Wilfredo Tovar continues to lead the team with a .347 batting average, but still finds himself batting ninth in the order. Danny Muno is red hot and is batting .322/.412/.596 with 11 extra-base hits, 12 RBI and 4 stolen bases in 15 games. St. Lucie remains undefeated at home with a perfect 8-0 record. Gonzalez German takes the hill at Digital Domain as the Mets host the Miracle on Monday night at 6:30 PM.

Hickory 1 – Savannah 0

By Joe DeCaro

The Sand Gnats were swept away this weekend after falling to the Hickory Crawdads 1-0 on Sunday in a game that was called after five innings due to rain.

Right-hander Michael Fulmer started for the Gnats and actually delivered a solid performance allowing no earned runs on four hits and striking out four. But Fulmer would be the hard luck loser again and see his record go to 0-2 after three starts this season despite an impressive 2.57 ERA and a 13/3 K/BB ratio.

The Gnats came up empty on offense and the only player to get a hit was center fielder Tillman Pugh. Savannah’s offense is slumping badly and in yesterday’s game, T.J. Rivera (.381) was the only player in the lineup hitting over .260 with four players batting under .200.

Gnats Gnotes: After the weekend bashing at the hands of the Crawdads, the Gnats find themselves in a four-game slide and dropping to third place in the standings, four games behind Charleston. They are 6-1 on the road, but only 4-7 at home, and they have the worst team batting averag in the league – a woeful .214. They’ll have the day off today to regroup and try to get back on track before beginning a three game set with the West Virginia Power Tuesday night at 7:00PM.