Buffalo Bisons 3 – Durham Bulls 9

Well, Mark Cohoon looked very unimpressive yet again today to say the least. He was sitting 86 mph with his fastball and had the occasional 87 and 88 mph one, but wasn’t getting much more than that and while he didn’t walk anybody his command was way off. As long been the book on Cohoon, with that fastball he needs to be spot on with his command and I just wasn’t seeing the pinpoint control he showed at other levels in this game. The command was especially bad with his curve ball that he was leaving up in the zone all game. Durham hitters looked VERY comfortable against him all game, as is evident with the 10 hits in 4.2 innings. The game was still close when Cohoon left, but Justin Hampson and Dale Thayer got bombed late in the game to give the Bulls an easy win.

Michael Fisher was able to extend his hitting streak to 16 games with a single in the 7th inning. Nick Evans continued to tear the cover off the ball in Triple-A. He picked up two more hits including a double he scorched right down the left field line. Fernando Martinez got into his first action in nearly a week since his hamstring problem and walked twice, but also struckout three times. Zach Lutz was supposed to have a scheduled day off today, but Luis Figueroa appeared to injure his hand or finger and had to leave the game.

Stars of the Game: Nick Evans (2-for-4, 2B, R, K) (30pts) 2. Val Pascucci (1-for-2, HR, R, RBI, 2 BB, K) (7pts) 3. Mike Nickeas (2-for-4, 2 2B, K) (4pts)

Binghamton Mets 3 – Akron Aeros 2

Not a very good follow up start for Robert Carson to his seven strikeout performance when he outpitched Manny Banuelos. He was all over the place tonight and walked a season high six men. He is very fortunate the score wasn’t worse as he allowed two or men to reach base in all four innings he pitched. The B-Mets newest reliever, Brad Holt, made just the second relief appearance of his career. Things started off good for Holt who struckout the first batter he faced on three pitches, but then resorted back to his old tricks and walked two of the next three batters. Holt was better in his second inning of work and wound up earning the victory. Rhiner Cruz pitched into trouble in the 9th inning with two hits, but came away with the save anyway.

Despite just five hits all game, the baby Mets were able to string together a three run 6th inning to earn the rare win. Following a Jon Malo leadoff triple, Matt Den Dekker, who was very good in his first game at Double-A offensively and defensively, singled him home with a single he took right back up the middle. Den Dekker stole 2nd and then after a Reese Havens walk, a wild pitch moved him up to third base. Brahiam Maldonado singled him home and then Havens came around to score the would be winning run on a fielder’s choice.

Stars of the Game: 1. Matt Den Dekker (1-for-4, R, RBI, SB) (3pts) 2. Reese Havens (0-for-2, R, 2 BB, K) (13pts) 3. Brahiam Maldonado (1-for-4, RBI) (32pts)

St. Lucie Mets 7 – Charlotte Stone Crabs 5

Kyle Allen‘s back injury is long enough removed that it can no longer be considered a mulligan for his poor performance and you have to consider him a non-prospect at just 21-years-old. The only thing he still has going for him is the high percentage of ground balls he gets. Tonight he actually wasn’t that bad. Outside the 1st inning his line was 4 IP, H, BB, 2 SO but I just don’t have a good feeling about him anymore. The Mets terrific back end of the bullpen was in full effect tonight with Josh Edgin being lights out and Nick Carr earning his 8th save of the season.

Dock Doyle made just his third appearance of the season tonight and got a big rally going in the 6th inning. Six men in a row would reach safely to begin the inning with the biggest blow being a ground-rule double off the bat of Wilmer Flores that scored Robbie Shields and Juan Lagares. Doyle was in the thick of things again the 9th when he and Rylan Sandoval led off with walks and came around to score crucial runs on a Juan Lagares double.

Stars of the Game: 1. Juan Lagares (3-for-5, 2 2B, R, 4 RBI) (36pts) 2. Dock Doyle (1-for-2, 2 R, 2 BB, K) (2pts) 3. Pedro Zapata (3-for-5, 2B, R) (15pts)

Brooklyn Cyclones 5 – Aberdeen IronBirds 2

Eduardo Aldama was much better tonight than he was his first time out there. He broke the whole “75 pitches or five innings rule” pitching into the 6th. He gave up just a double in the 4th inning and walked three men while striking out six. Danny Muno got right back into the swing of things with two more hits, including his third double. Hulking 2011 draftee Charley Thurber got into his first game and also picked up two hits with a double.

Stars of the Game: 1. Charley Thurber (3pts) 2. Eduardo Aldama (2pts) 3. Danny Muno (11pts)

Kingsport Mets 3 – Johnson City Cardinals 5

The hard throwing Domingo Tapia was very good in his first start of the year. He allowed just three hits over five innings, walked none, and struckout six. Jonathan Kountis struckout three in two innings of relief, but also gave up a two-run home run. Greg Pron had a double and Tilman Pugh and Camden Maron had the only RBIs.

Stars of the Game: 1. Domingo Tapia (5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 6 SO) (3pts) 2. Camden Maron (1-for-4, RBI) (4pts) 3. Greg Pron (1-for-3, 2B) (4pts)

GCL Mets 8 – GCL Astros 5

Alberto Baldonado went five innings nad allowed one run on three hits while walked one and striking out six. Carlos Leyva had a monster day driving in five runs.

Stars of the Game: 1. Carlos Leyva (3-for-4, 2 2B, R, 5 RBI) (3pts) 2. Alberto Baldonado (5 IP, 3 H, R, BB, 6 SO) (2pts) 3. Gilbert Gomez (2-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, K) (1pt)