LHP Eric Niesen (0-1, 6.75) vs. LHP Jon Kibler (0-1, 1.80)
LAST GAME: The B-Mets used three home runs to power past
the winless Erie SeaWolves 7-4 Monday night at NYSEG Stadium.
Nick Evans led the way with two of the three shots. His
first came in the first inning, a two-run shot off starter Andy
Oliver. Designated hitter Marshall Hubbard added an RBI
double in the first frame to put the B-Mets ahead by three.
After adding another run in the second thanks to an error by
Erie shortstop Cale Iorg, the B-Mets struck with their second
homer of the game, a solo shot from Zach Lutz in the third.
The SeaWolves, who had scored just three runs in their previous
four games, put up a three-spot in their fourth inning
against Binghamton starter Eddie Kunz who surrendered a
three-run homer to Deik Scram. Erie struck again in the fifth
when Santo De Leon left the yard to left to get within two runs,
but they would get no closer. Evans hit his second homer in
the seventh off reliever Zach Simons. Kunz picked up the win
in his first professional start after allowing four runs over five
innings.
STARTING PITCHING MATCHUP: LHP Eric Niesen, the B-Mets
Opening Night starter, will take the ball for the second time
this season. He allowed three runs in four-plus innings last
Thursday against Akron to take the loss. Niesen led all Mets
minor leaguers with 134 strikeouts in 2009. He was the Mets’
third-round choice in 2007 out of Wake Forest and is considered
the No. 24 prospect in the Mets farm system by Baseball
America.
LHP Jon Kibler will go for Erie. Kibler pitched well enough to
win his last time, allowing two runs, one earned, over five
innings at Trenton last Thursday, but took the loss as the
SeaWolves were shutout 4-0 by the Thunder. Last season, the
southpaw spent the year with Erie and notched a 6-9 mark
with a 4.06 ERA over 27 starts spanning 161.2 innings. He
tied for first the Eastern League in starts, led the league in
complete games (3) and was third in innings pitched. He was
the Tigers 30th round pick in 2007 out of Michigan State.
EVANS LEAVES TWICE: B-Mets first baseman hit a pair of
homers in Monday night’s 7-4 victory over Erie, a two-run shot
in the first and a solo job in the seventh. It was the first time
he had hit two long balls in a game since April 16, 2009 when
he hit two out against Scranton/Wilkes Barre at Coca Field for
the Buffalo Bisons (AAA).
BULLPEN BREAKS BACK: After surrendering 14 earned runs in
19 innings (6.63 ERA) over the first four games of the season,
Jose De La Torre and Roy Merritt combined to shutout Erie
over the final four innings last night to secure the win for the B
-Mets, allowing just one hit with seven strikeouts.
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