Those pesky Sand Gnats blasted five homers last night.
Buffalo Game PPD Due To Rain
By Joe DeCaro
Monday’s game between the Buffalo Bisons and the Rochester Red Wings at Coca-Cola Field has been postponed due to rain. The teams will make up the game the next time the Red Wings visit Buffalo, August 25-28.
Herd Rumblings: If Chris Schwinden falters in his next start, look for the Mets to consider Jeremy Hefner or Garrett Olson for a trial run in the rotation. If Manny Acosta and Miguel Batista don’t shape up soon, look for them to get shipped out and one of them replaced by Bisons reliever Jack Egbert who gets high grades from Backman and at 29 is ready to prove he belongs. D.J. Carrasco should also get a shot, but he will be on an extremely short leash. How freaking awesome has Bobby Scales been this season and at what point will the Mets call his number? I’m putting the over/under at May 15. Scales continues to batter Int. Lg. pitching at a .413 clip with a scintillating 1.417 OPS. Garrett Olson takes the hill against Syracuse tonight at 6:05 PM.
Akron 3, Binghamton 2
By Tim Burns
The fans in Akron on Monday night, which numbered just over 2000, were treated to a pitching duel in which both starters held their opponent to six hits in six innings pitched. In the end it would actually be the relief pitchers that would decide the game as the Binghamton Mets dropped the first game of their four game set at Canal Park by a score of 3-2.
B-Mets starter Darin Gorski pitched six innings, and along the way scattered six Aeros hits, while striking out three and walking three as well. Gorski gave up only one run in the game, that coming in the bottom of the fifth. After a single by Thomas Neal and subsequent walks to Kyle Bellows and Roberto Perez loaded the bases, Tim Fedroff grounded out to B-Mets first baseman Travis Ozga. Neal was able to score from third on the play. Gorski got himself out of the inning without further run damage by getting the next two batters to ground out in the infield and pop out to second baseman Reese Havens. Edgar Ramirez came on in relief of Gorski in the bottom of the seventh. After pitching a clean sheet in the seventh in the run column, Akron tagged Ramirez for two runs in the bottom of the eighth. Both of the Aeros runs in the frame came off of a Ryan Rohlinger single to left field which scored Chun-Hsiu Chen and Ben Copeland who were on first and second at the time. Ramirez would finish the night with two runs allowed on three hits and one strikeout, and would take the loss for the visiting Binghamton Mets.
The B-Mets scored their first run of the game in the fifth inning as well when Travis Ozga scored on a Josh Rodriguez sacrifice fly to right field. The B-Mets then tried to take the lead in the top of the ninth, with two outs, but they ran out of time. Juan Lagares, Juan Centeno, and Travis Ozga all singled in consecutive at bats, with Lagares scoring from third on Ozga’s hit. With Rylan Sandoval, who had replaced Juan Centeno as a pinch runner, on third and Travis Ozga on first, pinch hitter Rafael Fernandez struck out swinging to end the game. Travis Ozga, who went 2/4 with a run scored on the night, was the only B-Met with an extra base hit, that being a double in the top of the fifth. Right fielder Juan Lagares went 2/3 and scored the Mets only other run of the game in the top of the ninth inning.
Akron starter Steven Wright pitched 6 1/3, allowing one run and striking out five B-Mets batters. Rob Bryson, who came on in relief of Wright in the seventh and was the eventual game winner, threw 2 2/3 striking out four and also allowing only one run.
B-Mets Buzz: Game two is at 7:05 on Tuesday night at Canal Park. The B-Mets look to even up the series by sending RHP Greg Peavey (2-1, 7.56) to the mound against the Aeros T.J. House (2-0, 1.44 at Single A Carolina). It will be House’s first AA start of the season after being assigned to Akron over the weekend from the Carolina Mudcats. On Monday, outfielder Raul Reyes was sent to Binghamton after playing the last 15 games for the Buffalo Bisons.
St. Lucie 2, Fort Myers 1
By Clayton Collier
The St. Lucie Mets once again continued their steam rolling of the Florida State League, complete the sweep of the Fort Myers Miracle by a score of 2-1.
DJ Carrasco took the hill in a one-inning rehab outing to start off the evening, pitching a scoreless first, maintaining his perfect 0.00 ERA in his rehab stint in St. Lucie. The real starter Chase Huchingson then entered the game and kept the theme of strong pitching going as he hurled 5 1/3 innings allowing only one run on four hits, picking up the win to improve to 4-1 on the year. Adam Kolarek came on for the final two innings of the game and threw no-hit ball whille punched out three.
St. Lucie’s two runs came in the form of a Blake Forsythe solo shot and a Richard Lucas RBI single. The Mets continue to have exceptional pitching and enough offense to dominate any opposition put before them.
Lucie Logistics: Wilmer went 1-4 with a double and has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games. Cesar Puello swiped two bags yesterday, now with a total of seven on the year. Adam Kolarek’s no-hit performance got him his fourth save of the year and also kept his spotless 0.00 ERA intact. The Mets go back home to start off another homestand tonight at 7:05 PM against Jupiter.
Savannah 10, Lexington 9
By Brandon Butler
The Savannah Sand Gnats suddenly had a case of home run fever yesterday in Savannah’s 10-9 win over Lexington.
Rafel Montero started for Savannah but he struggled tossing five innings and allowing six runs on seven hits (including 2 HR’s), and struck out only three.
The Gnats would get on the board quickly when Travis Taijeron hit a 3-run home run to center field in the first inning. They would put another three runs on the board in the second inning, as Cam Maron would hit a solo shot to left-center field. Then, Travis Taijeron would hit his second home run of the night, a two-run bomb.
Over the next three innings, the Gnats would continue to put up runs on the board via the longball. In the third, Brian Harrison hit a solo shot to left field and then T.J. Rivera would hit a solo homer to left field in the fourth.
All told the Gnats blasted five home runs in the game, but it wasn’t enough and the game went into extras knotted at 9-9. It took a a wild pitch by Legends pitcher Dyan Diaz in the 12th inning, for the Gnats to score the winning run and go on to win the game, 10-9.
Jeffrey Walters (1-0) who entered the game in the 11th inning , got the win.
Gnats Gnotes: Tillman Pugh stole two bases in the game. The Savannah Sand Gnats hit a season high five home runs, but the winning run scored on a wild pitch in the 12th inning. Center fielder Travis Taijeron was a beast in the game belting two homers among his three hits and collecting five RBIs.
We are looking for a couple of writers to cover the St. Lucie, Savannah, Brooklyn and Kingsport beats for us. Experience not necessary, but helpful. Bonus Points if you live in those areas and attend some games. Opportunity for clubhouse access, player interviews, and something cool to have on your resume. Email me at [email protected] if interested in joining our Minor League Team at MMO.
