Stars of the Day:

AAA: Tagg Bozied

AA: Kevin Rios

A+: Ivan Naccarata

A: Nick Evans

SSA: Joe Holden

R (APP): Greg Mullens

R (GCL): - Ben Saylor

 

 

Norfolk (AAA - International League)

@ Louisville 3, Norfolk 2

Norfolk 9 @ Louisville 1

 

            Norfolk split a doubleheader — well almost, as the Tides lost the end of a suspended game from Friday, halted when it rained in the first inning, against Louisville, dropping the opener on a late homer, while Tagg Bozied led an offensive explosion in the nightcap with a pair of home runs.

 

            Steve Schmoll (3-2) took the loss after surrendering an eighth inning shot to Ray Olmedo, wasting Willie Collazo’s strong starting effort, as well as chris Basak’s two run double.

 

            In the second game, Bozied’s second home run, in the seventh inning, capped a seven run explosion that turned a close game into a laugher. Tim LaVigne (2-2) got the win in relief of starter Blake McGinley. Lastings Milledge hit a home run.

 

Binghamton (AA - Eastern League)

@ Binghamton 5, Bowie 4

 

            Don’t look now, but Binghamton is making a run, moving within a game of .500 and now only 7 ½ game behind first-place Portland and just three back of second place Trenton in the Eastern League’s Northern Division. The B-Mets did it Saturday night in stirring fashion, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat Bowie.

 

After Jay Caligiuri tripled to lead off the ninth, Ambi Concepcion singled him home to tied the game and then Kevin Rios doubled in Concepcion for the game winner. Matt Lindstrom (2-2) picked up the win for streaking Binghamton.

 

 

St. Lucie (A+ - Florida State League)

@ St. Lucie 7, Brevard County 2

 

            Blake Eager threw one-hit, shut out ball for seven innings while Ivan Naccarata slugged three hits, including a home, to lead St. Lucie to an easy win Saturday night.  Eager (1-2) turned in one of his best performances in his career, collecting eight strikeouts and walking just one to pick up his first win of the season.

            Naccarata collected a single, double and home run, pacing the 10-hit Mets’ attack.

 

 

Hagerstown (A – South Atlantic League)

Hickory 6, @ Hagerstown 4

 

            Jeramy Simmons found the adjustment from short-season A Brooklyn to the wild and wooly South Atlantic League a bit much, as he allowed five runs in just 2.1 innings of work as a starter — an ERA of 19.29 — as Hagerstown fell to Hickory.

            Nick Evans was the lone Sun to have more than one hit, with a pair of singles.

 

Brooklyn (SSA – New York Penn League)

Brooklyn 6, @ Vermont 4

 

            Tim Grogan and Joe Holden both drove in a pair of runs to help Brooklyn overcome some shaky pitching and defeat the Lake Monsters (nee Expos).

            Eric Brown (1-0), who had his struggled at Hagerstown this season continued with them last night in his first start for the Cyclones, allowing seven hits and four runs in 5.2 innings of work. Holden, who is finally showing signs of life after his inexplicable demotion from Hagerstown, clubbed a two-run homer in the first to set the tone for the game.

 

 

Kingsport Mets (R – Appalachian League)

Kingsport 4, @ Pulaski 2

 

            Greg Mullens, making his first start since being returned from Brooklyn, picked up right where he left off, winning his fourth start in the Appalachian League, beating Pulaski.

            Mullens, who pitched solidly in his lone start for the Cyclones but lost last week, improved his record to 4-0 by scattering six hits and two runs in five innings of work. Junior Conteras continued his assault on the Appy League with two more hits to boost his average to .370.

 

GCL Mets (R – Gulf Coast League)

@GCL Mets 12, GCL Marlins 8

 

            Ben Saylor ripped three doubles and drove in five runs leading the Mets to a slugfest win over the Marlins. Matt Durkin, making his first start since his injury, pitched a pair of scoreless innings, striking out three and allowing just two hits.

            The Mets scored all 12 of their runs in the first three innings and then held on before Hayden Beard was able to shut things down in the ninth, stopping a two-run rally cold. Alezis Beras picked up the win.