The Herd:
From the start, the Buffalo Bisons were in the hole.
The Herd gave up four runs in the first inning and never could get its bearings as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs took the series opener, 12-6, in front of 15,867 at Coca-Cola Field Friday night.
That ties the season high for runs scored by an opponent against the Herd this year. On June 29, Charlotte took a 12-7 win in 10 innings over the Bisons.
The Bisons managed to put hits up on the scoreboard � 15 in all � but failed to plate runs to keep pace with the IronPigs.
"We had a lot of chances but we never could get the momentum turned," Bisons manager Ken Oberkfell said. "We'd score a couple and then they'd come back with one or two. Our offense is good and has been good lately but I don't think either team's pitching was very good tonight."
A five-run, sixth-inning outburst carried the Binghamton Mets to a 7-5 Eastern League victory Friday night over the Reading Phillies.
B-Mets starter Brad Holt allowed five runs in 5 1/3 innings and recorded an RBI with a bases-loaded walk in the sixth inning at First Energy Stadium. Josh Thole had two hits for a second straight night and drove in a run.
Binghamton got on the board first against Phillies starter Kyle Drabek in the fourth inning. After Caleb Stewart and D.J. Wabick singled, Shawn Bowman doubled to left-center to drive in both for a 2-0 lead. It was Bowman's first game back after missing 26 games because of injury.
Reading catcher Kevin Nelson provided the answer in the last of the fifth. Neil Sellers and Steve Susdorf opened the inning with singles off Holt. With the corner infielders expecting bunt, Nelson connected on a first-pitch fastball from Holt and sent it over the left-field wall to give the Phillies their only lead, 3-2.
B-Mets starter Brad Holt allowed five runs in 5 1/3 innings and recorded an RBI with a bases-loaded walk in the sixth inning at First Energy Stadium. Josh Thole had two hits for a second straight night and drove in a run.
Binghamton got on the board first against Phillies starter Kyle Drabek in the fourth inning. After Caleb Stewart and D.J. Wabick singled, Shawn Bowman doubled to left-center to drive in both for a 2-0 lead. It was Bowman's first game back after missing 26 games because of injury.
Reading catcher Kevin Nelson provided the answer in the last of the fifth. Neil Sellers and Steve Susdorf opened the inning with singles off Holt. With the corner infielders expecting bunt, Nelson connected on a first-pitch fastball from Holt and sent it over the left-field wall to give the Phillies their only lead, 3-2.
Gnats:
Jean Luc Blaquiere's full count smash over the head of center fielder Xavier Avery drove in Josh Satin and completed the Gnats ninth-inning comeback as they dropped the Shorebirds, 5-4, in front of 3,397 at Grayson Stadium. It's the Gnats fourth walk-off win of the 2009 season.
Jefry Marte drew a leadoff walk off reliever Brett Bordes (2-2) to start the ninth. Luis Alen, who came into the game earlier when Wilmer Flores was ejected, put down a sacrifice bunt to move Marte to second with one down. The team leader in walks, Satin, came to the plate and drew a walk to put the go-ahead run on at first.
Shorebirds' manager Orlando Gomez visited the mound before Sean Ratliff's at bat batted but elected to leave the left-handed throwing Bordes in to face the lefty Ratliff. Ratliff hit a line drive toward left-center that Avery had bounce off his glove, allowing Marte to score and moving Satin to second.
Jefry Marte drew a leadoff walk off reliever Brett Bordes (2-2) to start the ninth. Luis Alen, who came into the game earlier when Wilmer Flores was ejected, put down a sacrifice bunt to move Marte to second with one down. The team leader in walks, Satin, came to the plate and drew a walk to put the go-ahead run on at first.
Shorebirds' manager Orlando Gomez visited the mound before Sean Ratliff's at bat batted but elected to leave the left-handed throwing Bordes in to face the lefty Ratliff. Ratliff hit a line drive toward left-center that Avery had bounce off his glove, allowing Marte to score and moving Satin to second.
Box ScoreThe Brooklyn Cyclones (34-20) scored two runs with two outs in the eighth inning to beat the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (34-20) by a score of 2-1 on Thursday night. The victory gives the Cyclones the series win, and once again ties them with the Scrappers for the best record in the NYPL.Lefthander Jim Fuller had another great outing. The recently-named All-Star allowed just one run over 5.1 innings, scattering six hits and allowing one walk. Fuller has been a "hard-luck" starter for the Cyclones this season, going just 3-5, despite a 2.09 ERA that ranks seventh in the league, and 64 strikeouts, which rank second.Brandon Sage relieved Fuller with 2.2 one-hit innings to earn his third win of the season, before Michael Powers (also recently named to the All-Star Team) tossed a scoreless ninth for his league-leading 11th save of the year.The Cyclones' offense struck in the eighth inning, when Ralph Henriquez singled with two outs to represent the tying run. Alex Gregory (pictured, by George Napolitano) then delivered an RBI double, and came all the way around to score when his two-base hit was mishandled by the Scrappers.The Cyclones return to Brooklyn on Friday, August 14th to kick off a series with the Oneonta Tigers. On the 14th, fireworks will accompany the Friday night game.
Tom (NYC): Given the rash of NY Mets injuries at the major and minor league level, as well as the apparent fading of some of their higher prospects' value, can you please give me an idea how you would now rank their top 10 prospects? Thank you
Matthew Eddy: Let's begin with a ranking question. Given that this year he had his most sustained success since he played in the Sally League, Fernando Martinez would have to top the list (again). He qualifies by virtue of his latest injury. I might go with Holt next, followed by Flores, Niese and Mejia. Next up: Ike Davis, Havens and then probably Steve Matz (assuming he signs). The final two spots would be a bit up in the air . . . Marte? Thole? Duda?
After Robert Parnell contributed his six innings of work the Mets turned to their bullpen and got good performances from Brian Stokes, Pedro Feliciano and Francisco Rodriguez. The three pitchers kept the shutout alive, though in the eighth inning a runner actually reached third base. Freddie Sanchez ground out to third for the Giants to end the inning. The Giants were retired in order in the seventh and ninth.
The Giants just are not a good hitting team and their catalyst at the beginning of the year, Aaron Rowand did not look good in his three at bats at the plate. He struck out in all three at bats and made contact on only one of the ten pitches thrown his way. Pablo Sandoval continued his slump, popping the ball in the air for easy pop-ups or fly ball outs. Sandoval did get one hit in the first inning.
In previous years the Mets have made excuses that a poor bullpen has been the reason they have not made the playoffs. When they went out to buy a bullpen they point out the number of injuries to their starting lineup and pitching staff. At some point the fans are going to grow tired of all the reasons a team has for not winning, especially when you are charging close to $100 per ticket for decent seats.
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