More roster moves Wednesday.  The Mets promoted Royce Ring Michael Pelfrey headed down to AAA Norfolk where he’ll start on Friday night.  Ring (2-1-10, 2.97) deserves the call, but I wonder whether the Mets gave any thought to putting Pelfrey in the MLB bullpen.  No, he’s never relieved before, but the Twins started Liriano out of the ‘pen earlier this year. 

            Matt Lindstrom was named the top reliever prospect in the Eastern League and owner of the best fastball in BA’s “tools” survey of Eastern League manager.  No, “best defensive 1B” is neither a very interesting award for Travis Ishikawa of the Connecticut Defenders, nor is it truly a tool.   

            It’s very weird, and a little disorienting, to listen to an old minidisc of a basketball broadcast of mine from the NCAA tournament in April of 2005 while writing about minor league baseball in August of 2006.

 

Stars of the Day:

AAA: Sandy Martinez

AA: Jorge Padilla

A+: *Jesus Flores*

A: **Fernando Martinez**

SSA: Dustin Martin

R (APP): -
R (GCL): Richard Pena

 

Norfolk (AAA - International League)

@ Richmond 5, Norfolk 3

 

            The Tides left 13 men on base in scoring 3 runs on 12 hits.  Rashad Eldridge, recently promoted from AA Binghamton was 2-4.  Sandy Martinez had a solo HR in a 2-5 night. 

            Yusaku Iriki walked four in five innings, but gave up just one run.  Steve Schmoll was tagged with the loss when he yielded three runs on a HR to Jonathan Schuerholz in the bottom of the eighth. 

 

Binghamton (AA - Eastern League)

@ New Britain 3, Binghamton 2

 

            The Rock Cats scored off B-Mets closer Matt Lindstrom in the bottom of the ninth snapping the B-Mets 12 game winning streak.  Starter Rich Rundles was wild: 4 BB in 4.2 IP.  He allowed two runs on four hits. 

            Jorge Padilla had two hits in the loss, one a double.  Wilson Batista was 1-3 with a solo HR.    

            Day game Wednesday at 11:35.

           

 

St. Lucie (A+ - Florida State League)

@ St. Lucie 6, Daytona 2

 

            Jesus Flores had a big night: 4-4 with a double and a HR.  He scored two runs and drove home three.  Alhaji Turay was 3-4 with a bomb and a 2 RBI. 

            Blake Eager earned the win giving up two runs in six innings.  Tim McNab, recently sent down from AA, helped out with two scoreless innings.  

 

Hagerstown (A – South Atlantic League)

Hagerstown 5, @ Augusta 2

 

            Fernando Martinez (.335/391/.495) hit a game-winning grand slam in the top of the ninth.  Martinez already has four game winning hits since his return from the DL.  He drove home the Suns first run in the top of the fifth.  Jonel Pacheco and Nick Evans each had two hits. 

            Zac Clements, the former catcher turned knuckballer allowed two runs on four hits in 5.1 IP with 3 walks.  Brandon Nall picked up his third win with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief while Kevin Tomasiewicz was responsible for the save.

 

Brooklyn (SSA – New York Penn League)

Brooklyn 5, @ Oneonta 4

 

            The Cyclones won their 10th straight in Oneonta Wednesday.  It’s the Cyclones 12th victory in their last 13 and 19th in 23 games. 

            Dustin Martin (.326/.426/.485) was 3-4 with a triple and two runs scored.  Daniel Cummins (.221/.293/.279) drove home three runs with a pair of doubles.  Joe Holden (.231/.255/.88) homered again, his fifth of the year. 

 

Kingsport Mets (R – Appalachian League)

Kingsport

 

            Off.

GCL Mets (R – Gulf Coast League)

GCL Dodgers 11, GCL Mets 2

 

            Matt Durkin, who the Mets drafted out of San Jose State in 2004, was tattooed for eight runs on nine hits in 2.2 IP.  The good news on the pitching side is that John Holdzkom dealt a scoreless inning.

            RF Richard Pena had a 2-3 night from the top of the order.