Another day at the ballpark turned into a 15 inning, 4 hour and 42 marathon in Visalia, where Shaun Cumberland’s bases loaded single, just shy of midnight, gave the Oaks a 9-8 win.  Maybe I’m nuts, but I thought it was fun. 

            17 runs on 16 hits also looked fun. 

 

            Mike McGann from NYbaseballcentral.com stops by for a recap of Saturday’s action: 

 

            On a day when Mike Pelfrey made his Major League debut and pitched well, if not great, and when John Maine really would have liked to borrow a couple of those 17 runs  the Mets scored for Pelfrey — only Binghamton managed to beat both their opponent or the rain to post a victory.

 

Stars of the Day:

AAA: Michael Tucker

AA: Carlos Gomez

A+: The poncho sales guy (rain)

A: Eric Brown

SSA: Dustin Martin

R (APP): David Wabick

R (GCL): Rain

 

 

 

Norfolk (AAA - International League)

Ottawa 5, @ Norfolk 1

 

            Tim Lavigne was unable to bail out a suddenly short-handed Norfolk starting staff, allowing four runs in three innings of work as Ottawa subdued the Tides at scenic Harbor Park.

 

            Michael Tucker had three hits — half the total Norfolk offensive output — and the lone extra-base hit. Lavigne (1-2) who has been effective all season long out of the Tides’ pen, allowed six hits and fours in his three innings of work, although the bullpen, Blake McGinely, Anderson Garcia and Royce Ring allowed just a single run — off Ring — in six innings of relief work.

(Ed: That snaps Ring’s Tides’ record 26.2 scoreless innings streak.  He hadn’t allowed a run since April 17th.)

 

 

Binghamton (AA - Eastern League)

Binghamton 6, @ Trenton 2

 

            Carlos Gomez continued his offensive break out, collecting three hits — including a homer — and a pair of RBI as the B-Mets beat the Thunder. 

(Ed: And what a breakout it’s been.  Gomez, who was 0-4 on June 29th to drop his season average to .214 has hit safely in seven of his last eight games to raise his season line to .245/.329/.3271. In his last eight games, he’s hitting .452 (14H/31 AB) with 1 2B, 2 3B, HR, and 6 RBI.)

 

            Miguel Perez (3-4) picked up the win with five mostly solid innings of work, helped out by strong relief work by Ryan Cullen and Ivan Maldonado. Jorge Paddilla added three hits to boost the B-Mets’ offense.

 

 

St. Lucie (A+ - Florida State League)

Jupiter @ St. Lucie

 

            As it has since the days dinosaurs ran through stop signs at third base and pouted over their contract situations millions of years ago, it rained in July in Florida. A lot. Therefore, Saturday’s scheduled game with the Hammerheads was rescheduled for Sunday as part of a doubleheader.

 

We’ll pause for a moment for people to regain their shock at such a development.

 

 

Hagerstown (A – South Atlantic League)

Lakewood 3 @Hagerstown 2

 

            Suns’ ace Jon Niese was just a bit off his game — and the Hagerstown bats couldn’t get it going to pick him up — as the Suns lost at historic Hagerstown Municipal Stadium Saturday night.

            Niese (8-5) was so-so, but couldn’t get out of the fifth inning and left trailing 3-1 — but Eric Brown pitched a scoreless 4.1 innings in hope of some Hagerstown offense. The offense made a cameo appearance in the seventh, scoring once, but a rally fizzled.

 

 

Brooklyn (SSA – New York Penn League)

State College 4, @ Brooklyn 1

 

            Three hits. When that’s all you collect in a game, the runs aren’t going to be plentiful, as Brooklyn discovered Saturday night against State College.

 

            While four State College pitchers held the ‘Clones to three singles, Jeramy Simmons pitched gamely, if not effectively, allowing all four runs in six innings of work. Dustin Martin had the lone RBI of the night for Brooklyn (6-12).

 

 

 

Kingsport Mets (R – Appalachian League)

Danville 8, @ KIngsport 7

 

            Despite David Wabick’s three hits and two RBI, the K-Mets blew an early lead and couldn’t come back against Danville. Starter Jusef Frias pitched OK 3.2 innings, allowing three hits and three runs. Reliever Daniel Arizmendi struggled, allowing fours in 1.2 innings of work.  Wabick’s three hits included a home run and a double.

 

 

GCL Mets (R – Gulf Coast League)

GCL Marlins @ GCL Mets

 

            As stunning as it might seem, with Class-A St. Lucie postponed, the GCL Mets who play 150 yards from Tradition Field, where St. Lucie plays, were also rained out. No make up date has been announced.