Minor League Update — 5/27/09

Buffalo Bisons (AAA):
13-31 (15.5 games back)

Jon Niese’s AAA struggles continued tonight, as he allowed five earned runs over six innings in a 5-3 against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia Phillies). Kyle Kendrick started the game for the IronPigs and allowed just three runs over his six innings of work, the IronPigs bullpen threw three hitless innings in relief of Kendrick. The two teams finish their three-game series tomorrow with a 1:05 p.m. game.

• Argenis Reyes, batting leadoff and playing shortstop, had two hits in four at bats and is now batting .283 for the season
• Javier Valentin, getting the start at third base, had one hit on the night while batting third in the order, Fernando Martinez usual batting spot while in Buffalo
• Jon Niese pitched six innings and allowed five runs (all earned) on seven hits and three walks; Niese struck out two, but gave up two home runs; the performance lowered his ERA from 8.06 to 7.96
• Robinson Cancel batted as the tying run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but he flew out to center field

Binghamton Mets (AA):
20-23 (4.0 games back)

The Binghamton Mets used late inning magic to win another extra-inning game from the first place Connecticut Defenders (San Francisco Giants). Binghamton trailed 5-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth, but scored a run on a suicide squeeze laid down by shortstop Ruben Tejaeda. Connecticut turned to its perfect closer, Dan Otero (he had not allowed a run or blown a save heading into the game), in the bottom of the ninth inning. Otero struck out Nick Evans swinging and caught Lucas Duda looking to begin the ninth, but then gave up three consecutive singles to Shawn Bowman, D.J. Wabick, and Jose Corondao to blow the save. Binghamton won it in the 11th on an errant throw by pitcher Dan Griffin, who was attempting to turn a groundball into a force out at third.

• Josh Thole had an off night with just one hit in six at bats; he is now second in the league with a .349 batting average
• Lucas Duda had two hits in five at bats and drew a walk; he now ranks third in the league in walks (26)
• D.J. Wabick, Jose Coronado and Ruben Tejada (who played second base tonight) all had three hits; Coronado and Tejada each drove in two runs
• Michael Antonini allowed four runs (all earned) on five hits and two walks in 6.1 innings, he struck out eight and now has a 5.02 ERA for the season (4.88 heading into the game)

St. Lucie Mets (A+):
21-21 (7.0 game back)

The St. Lucie Mets played a double header with the first place Brevard County Manatees (Milwaukee Brewers) tonight. Each game was scheduled to last seven innings, however, it took the Manatees eight innings to win game one by the final score of 6-5. St. Lucie hit three home runs in the game (Daniel Stegall in the third, Zach Lutz in the fifth, and Brahiam Maldonado in the sixth.St. Lucie bounced back to win game two 5-0 behind a brilliant performance by starting pitcher Eric Niesen.

• Ike Davis struggled in today’s first game, going 0 for 4 at the plate, but rebounded for two hits, including a double, a walk and two runs batted in in the second game
• Reese Havens had two hits and scored two runs in the double header
• Zach Lutz home run in the fifth inning of game one came with two men on base, at the time it gave St. Lucie a 4-3 lead
• Jenrry Mejia pitched four innings in the first game and struck out eight; however, he left after allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and four walks; the 18-year-old has a 2.06 ERA this season
• Eric Niesen pitched six shutout innings in the second game of the double header, striking out six and only allowing two walks and five hits, he has a 2.16 ERA for the year

Savannah Sand Gnats (A):
23-22 (2.5 games back)

The Sand Gnats scored a run in the bottom of the first inning and made it hold into the ninth, but the Lexington Legends (Houston Astros) scored three times in the top of the ninth inning and won the game 3-1. Savannah scored its run on an RBI single by Sean Ratliff, the team had nine more hits to follow but was incapable of scoring another run. Lexington scored their runs on a fielder’s choice, an infield single and a bases loaded walk.

• Jefry Marte was hitless in five at bats and is now batting just .190 for the season; Marte turns 18 on fathers day and may not be ready for long season baseball
• Sean Ratliff had two hits in four at bats and drove in the team’s only run
• Wilmer Flores continues to heat up, collecting another two hits on the night; the 17-year-old is now batting .255 for the 2009 season
• Jeffrey Kaplan pitched 7.2 scoreless innings, allowing six hits and two walks while striking out three; Kaplan has a 1.05 ERA for the seaosn