Buffalo Bisons 7 – Norfolk Tides 4

A mixed bag tonight for Chris Schwinden. In a common theme to his starts lately, he began the game off pitching very poorly. He gave up a run on four hits and two walks over the first two innings and threw a lot of pitches. A Michael Fisher dropped foul ball to begin the 3rd inning enabled two runs to score on a two-out double. Schwinden finished strong after that and recorded three of his final four outs via the strikeout to finish with seven for the game. Ryota Igarashi continues to be a Triple-A stud and MLB dud.

The offense had an outburst in the 7th inning for the come for behind victory. Luis Figueroa set the table for a walk, Michael Fisher singled, and then Zach Lutz doubled both of htem home to hand Buffalo the lead for the first time all game. Following a walk and two wild pitches that scored Lutz, Nick Evans picked up the two out RBI with a double.

Fernando Martinez limped off the field because of soreness in his right knee (the arthritic one).

Stars of the Game: 1. Zach Lutz (3-for-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB) (18pts) 2. Val Pascucci (2-for-2, 2 2B, R, RBI, 3 BB) (5pts) 3. Michael Fisher (2-for-4, 2B, 2 R, BB) (22pts)

Binghamton Mets 9 – Richmond Flying Squirrels 11

It has come to a point where I have run out of bad things to say about Brad Holt. Today was possibly the culmination of all the bad in Holt’s season coming together and resulting in a season high eight runs given up. Out of the 71 pitches Holt threw 32 were balls (45%). Holt did pick up two hits so maybe the Mets can make him follow a similar path as Rick Ankiel (jokes). Eric Niesen one upped Holt by walking three in an inning of work and throwing 47% balls.

The offense somehow almost managed to overcome the pitching performances of those two. Jordany Valdespin has just been on another planet lately and a large reason for the near comeback with two homeruns tonight. Valdespin is 12-for-38 (.429) over his last seven games with two doubles, three homeruns, six runs, seven RBIs, and five stolen bases. He has turned his season from mediocre to impressive in a matter of a week. The only negative was he committed his 15th error of the season tonight. With three more hits and a walk Josh Satin wants to know “Where’s my call up?”

Stars of the Game: 1. Jordany Valdespin (3-for-6, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI) (30pts) 2. Josh Satin (3-for-5, 2 R, BB, 2 K) (49pts) 3. Reese Havens (2-for-5, 2B, BB, K) (12pts)

St. Lucie Mets 6 – Palm Beach Cardinals 9

This now marks the fourth of the last five starts for Scott Moviel that have been below average performances. After posting a 5.67 ERA in May Moviel is up to 6.91 in the month of June after giving up four earned runs in three innings during game one of this double header.

Moviel’s start was even more disappointing in the fact that the offense gave him a three run lead in the 1st inning on a two-RBI double from Wilmer Flores and RBI single from Cesar Puello that he could not hold up. The offense chipped away one run apiece in the 5th, 6th, and 7th innings, but ultimately fell short. Francico Pena hit his third homerun of the year.

Stars of the Game: 1. Jefry Marte (2-for-3, R, 2 RBI, BB) (28pts) 2. Francisco Pena (1-for-3, HR, R, RBI) (8pts) 3. Wilmer Flores (1-for-3, 2 RBI, BB) (35pts)

St. Lucie Mets 6 – Palm Beach Cardinals 5

I am sick and tired of Jack Egbert getting starts at Single-A. I was actually sick of it three starts ago now I am a bit ticked off about it. There are four pitchers on the Savannah staff who deserve these starts more than him. Josh Edgin got in his first work in St. Lucie and picked up the win after pitching a scoreless inning. Trying to earn the save, Nick Carr walked the bases loaded after getting the first two outs, but managed to settle down and strikeout the last batter.

Wilmer Flores continues to pick up RBIs despite hitting for such an empty average. From the double header today I thought it was a bit interesting that the Mets kept Flores at shortstop and moved Robbie Shields to second base. Shields picked up his first two RBIs with a single to drive in Flores and Stefan Welch in the 2nd inning. Flores’s “RBI” from today actually won the game as he walked with the bases loaded in the 6th to put the Mets ahead 6-5.

Stars of the Game: 1. Cesar Puello (3-for-4, 2B, R, K) (24pts) 2. Wilmer Flores (2-for-3, 2 R, RBI, BB, K) (37pts) 3. Robbie Shields (1-for-2, R, 2 RBI) (1pt)

Savannah Sand Gnats 2 – Greenville Drive 3

Tonight had the makings of a terrible start early on for Taylor Whitenton. He walked the bases loaded in the 1st inning and then gave up a two-out single to drive in two runs. That would be the only hit he gave up. Over the next five innings Whitenton faced the minimum, although he did hit a batter who was thrown out at second. When it was all said and done Whitenton had a great start striking out five in six innings.

The offense struggled mightily and ran themselves out of two innings by having Darrell Ceciliani and Alonzo Harris get picked off. The Gnats played small ball in the 7th and 8th to muster out two runs to tie the game up only to see Gabriel Zavala blow the game in the 9th.

Stars of the Game: 1. Taylor Whitenton (6 IP, H, 2 R, BB, 5 SO) (7pts) 2. Blake Forsythe (2-for-4, K) (22pts) 3. Alonzo Harris (2-for-3, CS) (8pts)