More Stuff

Extended Camp:

Transactions this month:
Signed: RHP Nelson Figueroa, 3B Mike Lamb
Recalled: LHP Jonathon Niese
Placed on 7-day DL: C Mike Nickeas, 2B Andy Green, OF Caleb Stewart, OF Seth Williams
Reinstated from DL: 2B Ramon Martinez, 3B Jose Jimenez


The Herd:

A two-run deficit in the first inning has basically meant game-over for the Buffalo Bisons this season. The Herd finally showed some resilience Monday night in Coca-Cola Field and, amazingly enough, it resulted in an actual comeback win.
Jesus Feliciano did the ultimate honors, belting a two-run walk-off home to right field with two out in the bottom of the ninth that gave Buffalo a 5-3 win over the Norfolk Tides.

Feliciano’s first homer of the season came on a 2-1 slider from Norfolk reliever Andy Mitchell and gave the Herd a split of the four-game series.

But there is no home plate celebration in this one if the Bisons (7-22) don’t battle back for one of the few times this season.

A two-run homer by Norfolk’s Oscar Salazar’s in the top of the first off Tim Redding was a bad omen, as Buffalo was just 1-18 this year when opponents score first and had only won one other time when trailing by more than one run.

“They battled back and Redding shut them down after that two-run homer,” said manager Ken Oberkfell. “That was nice, really nice to see that. It’s fun to win. I want to see that on a more consistent basis.”

The Herd scratched out a run in the third on Feliciano’s RBI double and two more in the fourth for a 3-2 lead. Norfolk tied it in the seventh on Carlos Rojas’ beautiful squeeze bunt before Feliciano delivered in the ninth

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bisons/story/668760.html



THE WEEK IN REVIEW: The Bisons split six games last week and are 6-21 overall. They own the league's worst record and are sixth in the North Division.

WHO'S HOT AND WHO'S NOT: OF Fernando Martinez has hit .371 with two homers, nine RBIs and seven runs scored in his last 10 games. ... IF Argenis Reyes has batted .500 with four runs scored in his last eight games and begins the week in a 7-for-14 groove. ... 3B Mike Lamb has hit .088 in his last 10 games but has six RBIs in that span. ... Nine position players have hit below the Mendoza line over the last 10 games, including OF Wily Mo Pena (.130) and 1B Nick Evans (.063).

KNIGHT TIME: RHP Brandon Knight has posted four consecutive quality starts by allowing three runs or fewer while pitching at least six innings. He has won his last two starts in impressive fashion: On May 3 he gave up five hits over seven shutout innings to beat Louisville, and on May 8 he allowed four hits and one run over eight innings to knock off Norfolk. On the season, Knight is 2-2 with a 3.27 ERA.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "[Fernando Martinez] has been our most consistent hitter overall. I think he went through a little spell when he started overswinging, 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." -- Bisons manager Ken Oberkfell to the Buffalo News. On the season, Martinez is batting .278 with three homers and 17 RBIs.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090510&content_id=582076&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp



B-Mets:

Tobi Stoner came off the disabled list in grand fashion Monday night, firing seven scoreless innings to help the Binghamton Mets snap a three-game losing skid with a 3-2 win over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Stoner, who had been sidelined with a slight labrum tear in his right shoulder, allowed two hits, struck out three and walked two in his first action for Binghamton this season.

He faced two over the minimum and retired the final 11 batters he faced, leaving with a 3-0 lead after the seventh.

Julio De La Cruz and Roy Merritt then closed out the win despite allowing one run each over the eighth and ninth innings, respectively. Merritt pitched the final 1 2/3 innings, earning his 10th save.

Right fielder Carl Loadenthal went 3-for-4 for the B-Mets, who took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Mark Kiger singled with two outs, took third on Loadenthal's first hit, then scored when Ruben Tejada reached on a fielding error.

Josh Thole gave the B-Mets a 2-0 lead in the third, homering to right. Loadenthal then singled up the middle to score Shawn Bowman in the sixth, pushing the Binghamton lead to 3-0.

http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20090512/SPORTS02/905120385/1118/Sports




Gnats:

MONDAY'S SCORE: Bowling Green 5, Savannah 2

FOR THE RECORD: Savannah 16-14, Bowling Green 16-15

SEEING STARS: Designated hitter Jake Jefferies entered the game hitting under .270, but came through with the big hit of the night - a three-run homer off Robert Carson in the third inning to expand a 1-0 lead to 4-0.

The Hot Rods' final run came when the Tampa Bay Rays' top draft pick and the overall No. 1 pick of the 2008 draft, Tim Beckham, doubled in a run in the eighth inning.

Sean Ratliff provided Savannah with a highlight by blasting his fourth home run of the season. He had two of the team's five hits and added a stolen base. Eric Campbell's run-scoring single in the eighth inning rounded out the Gnats' scoring.

DECISION MAKING: Frank De Los Santos, a 21-year-old left-hander, was nearly flawless, surrendering only three hits and one run in six innings. He picked up his second win of the season while lowering his earned run average to 2.76.

Carson didn't pitch badly for the Gnats, but a third-inning error by third baseman Jefry Marte led to four unearned runs. Carson lowered his ERA to 2.20, but his record dropped to 2-3.