Buffalo Bisons 16 – Norfolk Tides 2

This offense outburst came out of nowhere. The Bisons got off to an 11-0 lead before Norfolk even got on the scoreboard. The amazing part is how much scoring they did with two outs.

Val Pascuccci broke the ice with a two-run home run in the 1st inning, but it wasn’t until the 3rd when everything took off. Two straight walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases and then with two outs, Nick Evans scorched a double that scored two and Luis Hernandez followed with a single to bring two more home. In the 4th inning with bases loaded two outs, Jason Botts walked in the first run of the inning and then it was Evans and Hernandez again who drove in two runs apiece. Already up by 11 in the 8th inning, Bubba Bell had a bases loaded clearing double with two outs to make the score even more lopsided.

On the pitching side Pat Misch did what he needed to do. When he got the early lead he threw strikes and picked up some easy outs. Not a stellar performance by any means, but it got the job done, he got the victory, and he technically earned a complete game.

Stars of the Game: 1. Nick Evans (2-for-4, 2B, 3 R, 5 RBI, BB) (25pts) 2. Luis Hernandez (3-for-4, 2B, R, 5 RBI) (7pts) 3. Bubba Bell (2-for-4, 2 2B, 3 RBI, BB) (6pts)

Binghamton Mets 8 – Trenton Thunder 10

What a sloppy and unacceptable performance from Binghamton yet again.

The B-Mets picked up four straight hits in the 3rd inning from Jose Coronado (more on him later), Raul Reyes, Jordany Valdespin (yes, him again), and Josh Satin that included two doubles and two singles to score three runs and give the B-Mets the lead. Tobi Stoner, who actually pitched a pretty good ballgame by going six innings and giving up just three runs while striking out six, coughed the lead up the very next inning by getting himself into trouble with a leadoff walk and then giving up two doubles to tie the game.

In the 5th inning Satin led off with a double and Reese Havens singled him in making it that Stoner left with the lead intact, but then that is when the trouble started. In the 7th with two outs and a man on first, Coronado simply couldn’t catch a line drive hit right at him and all runners were safe. Back-to-back singles after that plated two runs and gave the Thunder the lead. Showing some resiliency, the B-Mets tied it back up in the bottom half of the inning when Valdespin created a “Reyes run” by being hit by a pitch, stealing second, and then being singled in by Satin. That was the last time the B-Mets would have a share of the lead as a Havens error in the next half inning opened the gates for four unearned runs to score. It was the B-Mets fourth error of the game. The B-Mets fought back in the next two innings without prevail.

Stars of the Game: 1. Josh Satin (3-for-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI, K) (54pts) 2. Jordany Valdespin (1-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, HBP, SB) (33pts) 3. Raul Reyes (2-for-4, 2B, R, RBI, BB) (7pts)

St. Lucie Mets (OFF)

Savannah Sand Gnats 1 – Greenville Drive 12

What a bad game and series. The Drive have come in, completely shutdown the Sand Gnats offense, and put a damper on the first half championship celebration.

Gonzalez German got run out of the game after just two innings, by far his shortest and worst start his year. German only gave up three hits, but he walked two and one of those three hits happened to be a three run homer. Not German’s best start, but it is not like the bullpen came in and really shut the door. Angel Cuan and Gabriel Zavala both gave up four runs apiece in relief to make this game a joke.

The offense actually went hit for hit with the Drive today, but the score was drastically different because the Gnats only had one extra base hit and went 0-for-7 with RISP compared to the Drive’s 5-for-12. Alonzo Harris is finally getting consistent playing time now that Robbie Shields has been promoted and he has been doing extremely well, picking up three more hits today.

Stars of the Game: 1. Rafael Fernandez (3-for-4, R) (21pts) 2. Alonzo Harris (3-for-4) (11pts) 3. Aderlin Rodriguez (2-for-4, 2B, 2K) (32pts)

Brooklyn Cyclones 5 – Staten Island Yankees 3

2010 7th round draft pick, Jeff Walters, made his 2011 debut and came just as advertised. Power stuff, great sinker, but a bit wild. He didn’t pitch that deep into the game, yet he still showed some encouraging signs. He only gave up two singles, had a 5:1 GO:AO, and struckout four in 4.1 innings. Hunter Carnavale in the win in relief. He struckout four batters in just two innings.

With a single off Phil Hughes to leadoff the first inning, Danny Muno has now led all three games to start the season off with a hit. As he should, Hughes dominated the Cyclones a the only run the Cyclones were able to put up against him was a solo home run from Nelfi Zapata in his second at-bat of the season. With two outs during a tie game in the 7th inning, Javier Rodriguez singled home Chase Greene and Muno for the Cyclones victory.

Stars of the Game: 1. Javier Rodriguez (1-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 K) (3pts) 2. Danny Muno (1-for-3, R, BB, 2 E) (7pts) 3. Nelfi Zapata (1-for-4, HR, R, RBI) (1pts)