It’s nice to have Pedro back isn’t it?

            Brian Bannister began his rehab assignment Wednesday.  His first rehab start in St. Lucie was not numerically pretty: four runs, two earned in five innings with 1 strike out and four walks, but Bannister reported being pain free and a little rusty to Marty Noble in a very encouraging feature at mets.com. 

            Noble raises an important point: will there be room for Bannister with Pedro, Glavine, Trax, Maine, Pelfrey and El Duque around?  This is a great problem to have and Bannister’s at least a few starts away still. 

 

Stars of the Day:

AAA: Lastings Milledge & Rueben Gotay

AA: Rich Rundles/Carlos Gomez & Michel Abreu

A+: Rain

A: -

SSA: Tobi Stoner

R (APP): Emmanuel Garcia & Sean Henry
R (GCL): -

 

Norfolk (AAA - International League)

Indianapolis 6, @ Norfolk 5

 

            Yusaku Iriki gave up three runs in three innings before leaving due to a strained quadriceps he pulled running the bases. 

            Lastings Milledge’s 2-4 night included a bunt basehit and two runs scored from the top of the order.  Carrying the tying run in the seventh inning, he was thrown out on a pitchout by the Indians.  Recently acquired Rueben Gotay was 2-3 while Jose Offerman drove home three runs in a 1-4 night. 

            Heath Bell, recently sent back to Norfolk, pitched a scoreless, one-hit ninth. 

 

Binghamton (AA - Eastern League)

@ Binghamton 6, Harrisburg 4

 

            The B-Mets won their eight straight behind lefhander Rich Rundles who made his longest and best start in Binghamton.  He dealt 6.1 innings allowing only two runs, one earned on four hits, while striking out three, lowering his ERA to 4.76.  Henry Owens gave up two hits and a run in the ninth, but held on for his 15th AA save. 

            Carlos Gomez (.278/.340/.434) had his 18-game hit streak broken Wednesday night, but he bounced back with a 3-4 effort that included a triple.  At this point, I’m thrilled by his progress in AA.  He’s not walking yet (his OBP is sustained by a team leading 15 HBP), but he’s been a completely different hitter this month.  Here are his strikeout rates by month in K/AB: April -24%, May-24%, June-25%, July-13%.

            Gomez was one of three B-Mets with three hit nights as Michel Abreu (.348/.409/.541) and Jorge Padilla (.297/.369/.423) each joined in the fun.  Abreu is leading the Eastern League in AVG and OBP and is second in SLG. He’s listed as a 26 year old, born 10/27/79 in the minor league baseball database.  However, the Red Sox signed him for 425K last fall, over a year after he originally defected from Cuba, but voided the contract both out of fear of visa problems and questions about his age.  According to Soxprospects.com, which cites a Peter Gammons report, when the Cuban National team played the Orioles in 1999 his birthdate was listed as 2/8/75 – making him 31 these days.  The B-Mets website uses the ‘79 date.  Scout.com picks the ‘75 date.  Roto world lists a birthdate in 2050, and makes his listed age -44.  Who to believe? 

 

St. Lucie (A+ - Florida State League)

St. Lucie @ Lakeland

 

            Postponed due to rain. 

 

Hagerstown (A – South Atlantic League)

Kannapolis 4, @ Hagerstown 0

 

            The Intimidators got to Waner Mateo for four runs in five innings of work, while the Suns offense collected just three singles. 

 

Brooklyn (SSA – New York Penn League)

Brooklyn 4, @ Mahoning Valley 0 (7 innings)

 

            Tobi Stoner improved to 3-1 by dealing 6.1 shutout innings with seven strikeouts.  He walked one and gave up three hits in a game shortened to seven innings by rain.

            No Cyclone had more than one hit, but Jose Sanchez drove home two runs with a double.

 

Kingsport Mets (R – Appalachian League)

Kingsport 7, @ Princeton 2

 

            Again, the top of the lineup was explosive for the Mets.  Emmanuel Garcia was 3-5 with a run scored, while Sean Henry was 2-5 with 3 stolen bases, two runs scored, and an RBI. 

            Start Julio Polanco gave up one run in four innings while Steven Cheney swooped in for the win with three innings of 1 run relief.

GCL Mets (R – Gulf Coast League)

@ GCL Nationals 4, GCL Mets 0

 

            Starter Nathan Hedrick took the loss for allowing 2 runs in four innings while Zac Clements, the catcher turned knuckler, gave up two runs on five hits in four innings, although he did strike out five.

            The offense had four hits.