The Mets certainly could turn a fan into some kind of sports hypochondriac.  Early in the season, one might fret over second base.  Later it was Wagner and the bullpen.  As the summer warmed up, the rotation and pitching depth was scarily shallow.  Then it was the corner outfielders, and now it’s Pedro.  14 games.  14 games.  14 games.  Still, it’s Pedro.  It’s ok, I’ll tell myself - 14 games. 

            I got an in-person look at the hottest team in baseball in LA Monday as the Dodgers beat the Marlins 4-1.  Joe Girardi made as strange a decision as I’ve seen this year.  Down 2-1 in the top of the seventh, with runners at first and third, and Dontrelle Willis’ pinch count into the mid-90s, Girardi let Willis hit for himself.  Yes, he’s a wonderful athlete and he’d already tripled home a run against Derek Lowe, but he’s still a tiring pitcher hitting with the game on the line.  He’d already given up two runs in the seventh on a Nomar HR and was consistently leaving his FB up, a sure sign of fatigue.  D-Train grounded out, and the Dodgers tacked on two runs in the 8th to put the game away. 

            Also in other news, the Visalia Oaks squirrel mascot, Chatter, is going to become the first Oak to reach the big leagues in Tampa Bay. 

 

Stars of the Day:

AAA: Oliver Perez/Edgardo Alfonzo

AA: -

A+: Mike Carp

A: -

SSA: Jonathan Schemmel

R (APP): Timothy Stronach
R (GCL): Kevin Deaton

 

Norfolk (AAA - International League)

Columbus 3, @ Norfolk 2

 

            Oliver Perez turned in his finest start as a Mets farmhand, delivering six one-run innings.  He fanned seven and walked just one.   Blake McGinley was touched for a run in the tenth after blowing the save. 

            Edgardo Algonzo drilled a solo HR in a 2-4 afternoon.  He was the only Tide with two hits although he left the game after the ninth with a sore triceps.  In other injury news, Sandy Martinez did not break his right thumb, it’s just sore and he’s day-to-day.
            Brian Bannister starts Tuesday night in Indianapolis.

 

Binghamton (AA - Eastern League)

Binghamton

 

Off.

 

St. Lucie (A+ - Florida State League)

Clearwater 7, @ St. Lucie 3

 

            Rich Rundles was tagged with the loss, his first in St. Lucie.  He gave up nine hits, and three runs, two earned in 6.2 IP.  Tim McNab yielded three more runs in his inning of work.

            At the plate, Mike Carp was 2-3 with 2 RBI.  Jon Malo and Caleb Stewart also added two hits apiece. 

 

Hagerstown (A – South Atlantic League)

Hagerstown

 

            Off.  The Suns begin an 11 game roadie at Lakewood on Tuesday. 

 

Brooklyn (SSA – New York Penn League)

Batavia 7, @ Brooklyn 3

 

            Nelson Portillo allowed just one run through the first five innings, but tired in the sixth, when he allowed four runs as the Muckdogs came back from 3-1 down. 

            Joe Holden (2-5) and Jon Schemmel (2-4, 2B) did a fine job getting aboard at the top of the order. 

 

 

Kingsport Mets (R – Appalachian League)

@ Kingsport 3, Bristol 1

 

            The K-Mets won their ninth straight game, but remain three back of division leading Elizabethton.  Timothy Stronach dealt six shutout innings with three strikeouts, but wasn’t around for the decision which went to Brandon Wilson who gave up one run in two relief innings.  Steven Cheney yielded two hits, but no runs in the ninth.

            DH Bradley Hubbert was the only K-Met with two hits.  Anthony Manuel drove home two runs in the K-Mets two-run bottom of the seventh breaking a 1-1 tie.

GCL Mets (R – Gulf Coast League)

GCL Marlins 8, @ GCL Mets 3

 

            Kevin Deaton was ok in 4.2 IP of rehab work  He was charged with two runs on seven hits and two walks.  He and the Mets offense combined to build a 3-2 lead heading into the eighth when John Holdzkom was touched for five runs, all unearned in just .2 of an inning.