The Herd:
Fernando Martinez admits he’s swinging the bat so well it’s almost like batting practice during the games. Martinez gave winning pitcher Brandon Knight the offensive boost he needed by driving in three runs, including a towering two-run shot to left in the Buffalo Bisons’ 4-1 triumph Sunday over the Louisville Bats at Coca-Cola Field. “He’s been our most consistent hitter overall,” said Bisons manager Ken Oberkfell. “I think he went through a little spell when he started over-swinging, but he’s got his confidence back. “The key with him is hitting the ball all over the field. He’s hitting the ball to left-center, right-center, down both lines. He’s got to be patient and stay within himself.” For the four-game series in which the Bisons earned a much-needed split, Martinez went 8 for 14 with two doubles and a pair of home runs. His double in the first inning Sunday was his International League-high 10th of the season. “I’m trying to be relaxed at the plate and I try not to think too much,” he said. “Sometimes when you try and do too much, things happen.”
http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bisons/story/660407.html
Brandon Knight went nine days since his last start but the layoff produced little rust, if any, for the Buffalo Bisons pitcher. Knight, in fact, sparkled through seven innings of scoreless baseball against the Louisville Bats and struck out a season-high nine in the Bisons' 4-1 victory Sunday afternoon at Coca-Cola Field. The victory gave the Bisons (4-18) their first season split against an International League opponent and — surprise! — the Herd has won two of its last three after losing seven straight before Saturday's win over the Bats in the Game One of a doubleheader. The Bisons reached the win column once again in front of a paid attendance crowd of 5,416, which enjoyed a dominant display by Knight (1-2). After giving up a double to Norris Hopper to start the game, Knight bore down. He got Chris Valaika to line out to right, then struck out Wes Bankston and Kevin Barker with fastballs to end the inning. At one point, Knight retired nine consecutive batters, including striking out the side in the fourth to earn his first victory of the season. He missed two starts because of rainouts, which gave his side work more importance. "Sometimes you'll go through the motions ... but this time I was trying to get more involved and get more sweat," Knight said of his side work. "I wanted to stay sharp." Knight was concerned about his velocity falling off, but his fastball was crisp, especially early on. He didn't throw a change-up until the third inning, going strictly with either a fastball or slider before leaning on a change-up. "I tried to move the ball a little bit more and get quick outs," he said. "I wanted to get through the innings as quickly as possible."
http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bisons/story/660059.html
It was an occasion for bittersweet perspective Saturday afternoon at Coca- Cola Field. Certainly the Buffalo Bisons 5-1 rout of the Louisville Bats in Game One of a double-header was worthy of celebration. It ended a seven- game losing streak.
But in Game Two, a 2-0 loss to the Bats in front of a paid attendance of 4,870, the Bisons were shut out for the sixth time this season. The Game One victory was the Bisons first since an April 21 win over Scranton Wilkes- Barre, but the Game Two loss left the Herd with a 3-18 record and more proof the team is foundering through a season that should have been much better.
But at least the Bisons took a brief break from futility. The Herd dropped its ninth consecutive at home, breaking the franchise record of eight set in 1988, with a 4-3 loss to the Bats on Friday night. The record for the most consecutive losses overall is 10.
“No one likes to lose,” Bisons manager Ken Oberkfell said. “We turn around and don’t get the second game but we’re showing signs. I’m seeing signs of life on the offensive side of the ball and pitching has done pretty well but you still have to score to win.”
http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bisons/story/659591.html
B-Mets:
The split personality pattern continued for the Binghamton Mets. Over the first month of the season, the B-Mets have alternated streaks of playing well with streaks of playing poorly.
On Sunday afternoon, the latter continued, as the B-Mets dropped a 4-3 decision to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in the finale of a three-game series at NYSEG Stadium.
Heading into a four-game series with Portland starting tonight at NYSEG Stadium, the B-Mets (11-10) have lost consecutive games. They haven't lost more than two games in a row all season, but they haven't won more than three in a row.
"We're playing .500 baseball, a game out, a game up," said designated hitter Shawn Bowman, who hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning. "We're doing alright. Obviously, we can be doing better. I think once our hitting clicks with our pitching, we're going to be a pretty good ball club. It seems like days we get good pitching, our hitting's a little off, and days we get good hitting, our pitching's a little off."
http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20090504/SPORTS02/905040343/1118/sports
Monday, May 4 Portland 6:35 pm RHP Jose Sanchez (1-3, 8.68) vs. RHP Jarod Plummer (1-1, 5.27)
Tuesday, May 5 Portland 6:35 pm RHP Ryan Coultas (1-1, 3.05) vs. LHP Felix Doubront (2-1, 4.34)
Wednesday, May 6 Portland 6:35 pm RHP Fernando Nieve (0-0, 6.75) vs. RHP Junichi Tazawa (2-2, 3.76)
Thursday, May 6 Portland 6:35 pm LHP Mike Antonini (3-1, 5.84) vs. RHP Blake Maxwell (0-1, 8.59)
Dylan Owen:
2008: Opened season with St. Lucie (High-A) making 24 starts, including 2 complete games: 6/17 at Jupiter in Game 1 of a doubleheader and a shutout 7/9 at Tampa in Game 1 of a twin bill...Led the Florida State League in wins (12), shutouts (1) and complete games (2)...Finished fourth in FSL in strikeouts (116) and eighth in ERA (3.43)...Made three starts for Binghamton (AA) after being called up 8/20...Won his AA debut with six innings against New Hampshire 8/20.
2007: Spent rookie season with Brooklyn (SS-A)...Led the New York-Penn League in wins (9) and ERA (1.49)...Finished the season with 13 consecutive scoreless inning spanning starts against Aberdeen 8/31 and Lowell 9/5...Named the Brooklyn Sterling Award winner...Member of the New York-Penn League All-Star Team...Named Pitcher of the Week for the week ending 8/26.
Personal: 20th-round pick of the Mets out of Francis Marion University in Florence, SC...2006 Peach Belt Pitcher of the Year finishing with a 10-1 record and 2.02 ERA for the Patriots...Led team to the Division II College World Series in 2006...Played against fellow B-Mets starter
"I was just trying to be too fine with my pitches," Antonini said. "I was just missing the corners. I thought some of them were good pitches, but I was just missing spots and falling into hitters' counts."
Antonini wasn't the only pitcher who struggled on Saturday. Between the teams, nine pitchers combined to issue 19 walks.
Five B-Mets pitchers had 10 walks - five of which were issued by reliever Nick Abel in the fifth inning. The 14 runs are the most they've given up in a game this season.
"It was a bad day for pitching," B-Mets manager Mako Oliveras said.
Antonini, the B-Mets' opening day starter, entered the season ranked as the 15th-best prospect in the Mets organization. He pitched well over his first four starts, posting a 4.35 ERA with a team-best 17 strikeouts coming into Saturday.
http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20090503/SPORTS02/905030400/1118/sports
Gnats:
3B Wilmer Flores took a line drive off his right wrist Saturday night, but no problemo, he was in the lineup with a wrist guard, on Sunday…
Jeff Kaplan (2-1) pitched seven scoreless innings while Sean Ratliff went 4-for-4 with three doubles, a home run and three RBI in the Sand Gnats, 7-0, win over the Asheville Tourists in front of 2,754 at Historic Grayson Stadium.
The Gnats got offense going in the first with two outs when Eric Campbell drew a walk from Tourists' starter Robinson Fabian (1-1). Ratliff clubbed the first of this three doubles to put runners at second and third with two away. Josh Satin followed with an RBI single to drive in both Campbell and Ratliff to put Savannah on top, 2-0.
Two runs would be more than enough for Kaplan, who is the first pitcher to throw seven innings for the Gnats this season. He allowed just three hits, the first coming in the fifth, while walking one and striking out three. At one point in the game, Kaplan had retired 11 straight Asheville batters. Manny Olivares pitched the final two innings to preserve the shutout.
Even more impressive is the series that the 22-year-old Ratliff is having. In the series, Ratliff is 8-for-8 with six doubles, one home run, three RBI, and four runs scored. If you extend it out over his last five games, the Oklahoma City, Okla. native is 15-for-21 with eight doubles, two home runs, six RBI and 10 runs scored
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090503&content_id=575730&vkey=news_t543&fext=.jsp&sid=t543
Fernando Martinez admits he’s swinging the bat so well it’s almost like batting practice during the games. Martinez gave winning pitcher Brandon Knight the offensive boost he needed by driving in three runs, including a towering two-run shot to left in the Buffalo Bisons’ 4-1 triumph Sunday over the Louisville Bats at Coca-Cola Field. “He’s been our most consistent hitter overall,” said Bisons manager Ken Oberkfell. “I think he went through a little spell when he started over-swinging, but he’s got his confidence back. “The key with him is hitting the ball all over the field. He’s hitting the ball to left-center, right-center, down both lines. He’s got to be patient and stay within himself.” For the four-game series in which the Bisons earned a much-needed split, Martinez went 8 for 14 with two doubles and a pair of home runs. His double in the first inning Sunday was his International League-high 10th of the season. “I’m trying to be relaxed at the plate and I try not to think too much,” he said. “Sometimes when you try and do too much, things happen.”
http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bisons/story/660407.html
Brandon Knight went nine days since his last start but the layoff produced little rust, if any, for the Buffalo Bisons pitcher. Knight, in fact, sparkled through seven innings of scoreless baseball against the Louisville Bats and struck out a season-high nine in the Bisons' 4-1 victory Sunday afternoon at Coca-Cola Field. The victory gave the Bisons (4-18) their first season split against an International League opponent and — surprise! — the Herd has won two of its last three after losing seven straight before Saturday's win over the Bats in the Game One of a doubleheader. The Bisons reached the win column once again in front of a paid attendance crowd of 5,416, which enjoyed a dominant display by Knight (1-2). After giving up a double to Norris Hopper to start the game, Knight bore down. He got Chris Valaika to line out to right, then struck out Wes Bankston and Kevin Barker with fastballs to end the inning. At one point, Knight retired nine consecutive batters, including striking out the side in the fourth to earn his first victory of the season. He missed two starts because of rainouts, which gave his side work more importance. "Sometimes you'll go through the motions ... but this time I was trying to get more involved and get more sweat," Knight said of his side work. "I wanted to stay sharp." Knight was concerned about his velocity falling off, but his fastball was crisp, especially early on. He didn't throw a change-up until the third inning, going strictly with either a fastball or slider before leaning on a change-up. "I tried to move the ball a little bit more and get quick outs," he said. "I wanted to get through the innings as quickly as possible."
http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bisons/story/660059.html
It was an occasion for bittersweet perspective Saturday afternoon at Coca- Cola Field. Certainly the Buffalo Bisons 5-1 rout of the Louisville Bats in Game One of a double-header was worthy of celebration. It ended a seven- game losing streak.
But in Game Two, a 2-0 loss to the Bats in front of a paid attendance of 4,870, the Bisons were shut out for the sixth time this season. The Game One victory was the Bisons first since an April 21 win over Scranton Wilkes- Barre, but the Game Two loss left the Herd with a 3-18 record and more proof the team is foundering through a season that should have been much better.
But at least the Bisons took a brief break from futility. The Herd dropped its ninth consecutive at home, breaking the franchise record of eight set in 1988, with a 4-3 loss to the Bats on Friday night. The record for the most consecutive losses overall is 10.
“No one likes to lose,” Bisons manager Ken Oberkfell said. “We turn around and don’t get the second game but we’re showing signs. I’m seeing signs of life on the offensive side of the ball and pitching has done pretty well but you still have to score to win.”
http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bisons/story/659591.html
B-Mets:
The split personality pattern continued for the Binghamton Mets. Over the first month of the season, the B-Mets have alternated streaks of playing well with streaks of playing poorly.
On Sunday afternoon, the latter continued, as the B-Mets dropped a 4-3 decision to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in the finale of a three-game series at NYSEG Stadium.
Heading into a four-game series with Portland starting tonight at NYSEG Stadium, the B-Mets (11-10) have lost consecutive games. They haven't lost more than two games in a row all season, but they haven't won more than three in a row.
"We're playing .500 baseball, a game out, a game up," said designated hitter Shawn Bowman, who hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning. "We're doing alright. Obviously, we can be doing better. I think once our hitting clicks with our pitching, we're going to be a pretty good ball club. It seems like days we get good pitching, our hitting's a little off, and days we get good hitting, our pitching's a little off."
http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20090504/SPORTS02/905040343/1118/sports
Monday, May 4 Portland 6:35 pm RHP Jose Sanchez (1-3, 8.68) vs. RHP Jarod Plummer (1-1, 5.27)
Tuesday, May 5 Portland 6:35 pm RHP Ryan Coultas (1-1, 3.05) vs. LHP Felix Doubront (2-1, 4.34)
Wednesday, May 6 Portland 6:35 pm RHP Fernando Nieve (0-0, 6.75) vs. RHP Junichi Tazawa (2-2, 3.76)
Thursday, May 6 Portland 6:35 pm LHP Mike Antonini (3-1, 5.84) vs. RHP Blake Maxwell (0-1, 8.59)
Dylan Owen:
2008: Opened season with St. Lucie (High-A) making 24 starts, including 2 complete games: 6/17 at Jupiter in Game 1 of a doubleheader and a shutout 7/9 at Tampa in Game 1 of a twin bill...Led the Florida State League in wins (12), shutouts (1) and complete games (2)...Finished fourth in FSL in strikeouts (116) and eighth in ERA (3.43)...Made three starts for Binghamton (AA) after being called up 8/20...Won his AA debut with six innings against New Hampshire 8/20.
2007: Spent rookie season with Brooklyn (SS-A)...Led the New York-Penn League in wins (9) and ERA (1.49)...Finished the season with 13 consecutive scoreless inning spanning starts against Aberdeen 8/31 and Lowell 9/5...Named the Brooklyn Sterling Award winner...Member of the New York-Penn League All-Star Team...Named Pitcher of the Week for the week ending 8/26.
Personal: 20th-round pick of the Mets out of Francis Marion University in Florence, SC...2006 Peach Belt Pitcher of the Year finishing with a 10-1 record and 2.02 ERA for the Patriots...Led team to the Division II College World Series in 2006...Played against fellow B-Mets starter
"I was just trying to be too fine with my pitches," Antonini said. "I was just missing the corners. I thought some of them were good pitches, but I was just missing spots and falling into hitters' counts."
Antonini wasn't the only pitcher who struggled on Saturday. Between the teams, nine pitchers combined to issue 19 walks.
Five B-Mets pitchers had 10 walks - five of which were issued by reliever Nick Abel in the fifth inning. The 14 runs are the most they've given up in a game this season.
"It was a bad day for pitching," B-Mets manager Mako Oliveras said.
Antonini, the B-Mets' opening day starter, entered the season ranked as the 15th-best prospect in the Mets organization. He pitched well over his first four starts, posting a 4.35 ERA with a team-best 17 strikeouts coming into Saturday.
http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20090503/SPORTS02/905030400/1118/sports
Gnats:
3B Wilmer Flores took a line drive off his right wrist Saturday night, but no problemo, he was in the lineup with a wrist guard, on Sunday…
Jeff Kaplan (2-1) pitched seven scoreless innings while Sean Ratliff went 4-for-4 with three doubles, a home run and three RBI in the Sand Gnats, 7-0, win over the Asheville Tourists in front of 2,754 at Historic Grayson Stadium.
The Gnats got offense going in the first with two outs when Eric Campbell drew a walk from Tourists' starter Robinson Fabian (1-1). Ratliff clubbed the first of this three doubles to put runners at second and third with two away. Josh Satin followed with an RBI single to drive in both Campbell and Ratliff to put Savannah on top, 2-0.
Two runs would be more than enough for Kaplan, who is the first pitcher to throw seven innings for the Gnats this season. He allowed just three hits, the first coming in the fifth, while walking one and striking out three. At one point in the game, Kaplan had retired 11 straight Asheville batters. Manny Olivares pitched the final two innings to preserve the shutout.
Even more impressive is the series that the 22-year-old Ratliff is having. In the series, Ratliff is 8-for-8 with six doubles, one home run, three RBI, and four runs scored. If you extend it out over his last five games, the Oklahoma City, Okla. native is 15-for-21 with eight doubles, two home runs, six RBI and 10 runs scored
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090503&content_id=575730&vkey=news_t543&fext=.jsp&sid=t543
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