BUFFALO BISONS

AAA

The SWB Yankees pounded out 7 runs on 13 hits as they lassoed the Herd Friday afternoon in Buffalo by a score of 7-5. The loss drops Buffalo’s record this year to 4-5. Chase Whitley (1-0), pitching in relief of starter D.J. Mitchell, picked up the win by throwing four scoreless innings, striking out three, and only giving up one hit. Kevin Whelan gave up a run in the ninth, but still picked up his first save.

The key in this game was poor fielding by the Bisons. An unearned run scored in the fourth on a single to RF that was butchered by Adam Loewen. He misplayed the ball into a two-base error which left the runner on third, and he scored moments later. Two more unearned runs scored in the sixth after a crucial error by SS Omar Quintanilla.

The loss goes to Bison starter Jeremy Hefner (1-1) who pitched better than his line says. He went 4.2 innings giving up 5 runs, but only two earned, on 8 hits, with one walk and two strikeouts.

Herd Rumblings: The Herd stampedes their way into Pawtucket after the end of Friday’s game, where they will play a strange little two-game set on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s game time is 1:05 pm. LHP Garrett Olson gets the call for Buffalo.

BINGHAMTON METS

AA

Center fielder Juan Carlos Linares blasted a two-run homer off reliever Eric Turgeon (0-1) in the bottom-of-the-eighth inning to lead the Portland Sea Dogs to a 4-3 victory over the Binghamton Mets on Friday night. The loss dropped the B-Mets record for the year to 3-4. Eric Campbell launched a three-run shot in the top-of-the-first inning for his first homer of the year, which gave Binghamton an early 3-0 lead.

Binghamton starter Zack Wheeler cruised through five dominant innings, but Portland reached him for a run in the sixth. He gave up the one run, 5 hits, no walks, struck out 9, and hit three batters. (The only three opponents whose last names begin with the letter H – Hissey, Hee, and Hazelbaker, were the ones hit by Wheeler.)

After replacing Wheeler, Turgeon hit a speed-bump in the seventh when Portland right-fielder Bryce Brentz banged a two-out solo shot, his first of the season to right-center field, which narrowed Binghamton’s lead to 3-2. But the turning-point came in the eighth, when Turgeon coughed up the lead on the two-run home run by Linares, his third of the year and second in two nights.

Caleb Clay (1-1) got the win for Portland with two perfect innings of relief, and Aaron Kurcz came on to pick up his first save.

B-Mets Buzz: Left-fielder Pedro Zapata had one of his best games of the year so far going 2-5 with a triple. Wheeler’s record now stands at 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA after two starts. In 9 IP, he has issued 3 runs, on 9 hits, 3 walks, 4 HBP, and 13 strikeouts. The B-Mets try to bounce back when they take on the Sea Dogs in the third game of the four-game series Saturday at 1:00 pm. Darin Gorski (1-0) makes his second start of the season for Bingo.

ST. LUCIE METS

High A

Left-hander Chase Huchingson improved his record to 2-0 after delivering another dominating performance as the St. Lucie Mets shutout the Palm Beach Cardinals 2-0 and maintained their hold on first place. The Fayetteville, Arkansas native tossed six scoreless inning allowing just three hits, two walks and striking out five. He has yet to allow a run this season and has a 12.2 scoreless innings streak.

The bullpen got solid performances from Adam Kolarek who tossed two scoreless innings and struck out three, and closer Adrian Rosario who struck out the side and picked up the save. Kolarek, by the way, hasn’t allowed a run in four appearances spanning 5.2 innings and has struck out eight.

The Mets only had four hits, but they made them count. In the third inning, back to back doubles by first baseman Joe Bonfe and shortstop Daniel Muno plated the first run of the game, and center fielder Alonzo Harris plated another run in the seventh with a double of his own.

Lucie Logistics: Left fielder Cory Vaughn was on base three times with a single, two walks and he stole a base. He’s batting .310 on the season. Robbie Shields went 0-for-5 and saw his average drop to a dismal .364. St. Lucie leads the league in team: ERA 1.87, WHIP 1.09, is tied for fewest walks 19, is the only staff in the league that has not allowed a HR yet this season. Their hitters as a team lead the league in: SLG% .398, OPS .735, 2B’s 21, and 3B’s 4. St. Lucie will play the Cardinals tonight at 6:35 pm in their second game of the weekend series. RHP Johan Almonte straddles the bump for St. Lucie.

SAVANNAH SAND GNATS

Low A

The Sand Gnats pummeled the Augusta Green Jackets 10-0 on Friday night with an impressive pairing of great pitching by starter Alex Panteliodis and a 14 hit offensive outburst.

Panteliodis allowed only six baserunners over five scoreless innings and struck out three to pick up his second win of the season in as many starts. The 20 year old left-hander has not allowed a run yet this season and the league is batting just .167 against him.

The bullpen continues to be a strength for St. Lucie… Last night’s heroics came from Jack Leathersich who tossed two hitless innings in the sixth and seventh and struck out three. T.J. Chism and Jared West followed suit with a scoreless inning each to end the game.

Second baseman Brandon Brown was the indisputable star of the game on offense last night as the Florida native smacked two big triples, drew a walk, scored a couple of runs, and picked up four RBIs during last night’s barrage. Center fielder Travis Taijeron and catcher Albert Cordero also had big nights with three hits and two runs scored apiece. Brown, Taijeron and Cordero provided all their thump from the bottom of the batting order and drove in seven of the ten runs scored against Augusta.

Gnats Gnotes: Savannah’s pitching staff leads the SAL in ERA 2.39, and WHIP 1.01 Leathersich has yet to allow a run in 7 innings out of the pen and has whiffed 12 batters while walking only two. In four games, Brandon Brown has put together a .300/.429/.800 slash and may start seeing more playing time. Shortstop T.J. Rivera is batting .412 with 13 hits in 34 at-bats with six walks and only four strikeouts. Cam Maron went 0-5 last night and dropped his average to the Mendoza Line, an even .200. The Gnats continue their three game series with Augusta tonight at 7:05 pm with 100 mph fire-baller Domingo Tapia on the mound.