Indianapolis 6, Buffalo 2
By Sean Kenny
St. Lucie 8, Clearwater 3
T.J. Rivera went 2-for-5 with an RBI single and the Mets used a four-run fifth inning to defeat the Clearwater Threshers 8-3 on Monday in the series opener.
The Mets trailed 2-0 entering the fifth, before rallying with four runs to take the lead. Rafael Fernandez doubled to right for the first hit of the game for the Mets and they loaded the bases with no outs. Travis Taijeron had an RBI single to left to score Blake Forsythe. Robbie Shields followed by ripping a single to left to bring in Fernandez to tie the game. Alonzo Harris grounded in a double play, but Aderlin Rodriguez scored from third base to make it 3-2.
Rivera delivered a two-out, RBI single to center to plate Taijeron to give the Mets a 4-2 lead. Fernandez drilled an RBI single in the sixth inning to score Cory Vaughn to give the Mets a 5-3 advantage. Vaughn helped the Mets pull away in the ninth with a two-run triple as they scored three times in the ninth.
Chase Huchingson picked up the victory as he tossed five innings and allowed three runs and eight hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Jack Leathersich struck out four batters and pitched two scoreless innings. Taylor Whitenton struck out three in two innings of work and earned his fourth save.
The Mets will visit the Clearwater Threshers on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Rafael Montero is the scheduled starter for the Mets. (Team Report)
Brooklyn 5, Mahoning Valley 1
By Joe D.
The Brooklyn Cyclones combined great pitching and timely hitting to put Mahoning Valley away 5-1 on Monday night.
Rainy Lara was brilliant and notched 10 strikeouts to become the third pitcher in Cyclones history to record double-digit strikeouts multiple times in the same season. Lara allowed just one run in the in the first and was lights out the rest of the way. He finished the night with seven innings, allowing just the run on three hits and no walks. He lowered his ERA to 2.72 for the season.
The other big story in this game was Brandon Nimmo who went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and an RBI. Nimmo, 19, was fresh off of a four-hit game on Sunday and suddenly the 2011 first round pick is batting .252 with a respectable .776 OPS. Nimmo now leads the team in hits, walks, RBIs and total bases.
Johnson City 3, Kingsport 2
Shortstop Gavin Cecchini went 1-for-3 with a walk. Center fielder Eris Peguero had a solo homer and is batting .280. After surrendering a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth, Akeel Morris is now 0-6 with a 11.72 ERA.