Adam Rubin talks about Fernando Martinez’s recent discovery that he’s allergic to shellfish at his minor league report at his blog.  I was more interested in the revelation that Mets VP Tony Bernazard helped Martinez by having him stand up taller in the batters box.  Binghamton manager Mako Oliveras explained both the change in Martinez’s stance, and the positive results; he’s “more straight up and not so wide. He’s been staying inside the ball and he’s been very, very, very good lately.”  I’ll take three verys. 

 

Stars of the Day:

AAA: Chris Aguila

AA: Off

A+: Dylan Owen & Matt Wise & Stephen Clyne & Edgar Alfonzo

A: Maikel Cleto/Matt Bouchard

 

New Orleans (AAA – Pacific Coast League)

Sacramento River Cats (22-16) 3, @ New Orleans Zephyrs (20-18, -1.5) 2

 

            A couple of late runs by the Zephyrs couldn’t overcome a strong return from Oakland screwballer Dallas Braden and solid relief work from Brad Knox.  On the other side, Tony Armas tossed six innings for New Orleans, giving up three runs, two earned fanning eight.  He fell to 1-4, 3.02 with the loss.  Jose Santiago added three scoreless innings in relief that allowed his club to make it close. 

            RF Chris Aguila (.290/.369/.516) began the Zephyrs scoring wit ha solo homer in the seventh in a 2-3 night with a walk.  CF Jesus Feliciano slapped a few more singles.  Valentino Pascucci doubled and has now hit safely in 11 of his first 13 games as a Zephyr. 

 

Binghamton (AA - Eastern League)

Binghamton Mets

 

            Off.  The B-Mets begin a six game homestand against New Britain and Erie Tuesday. 

 

St. Lucie (A+ - Florida State League)

@ Vero Beach (17-20) 1, St. Lucie Mets (8-29, -14.0) 0 (13 innings)

 

            Wow.  The Mets offense managed just four hits, while the pitchers were outstanding. 

            Dylan Owen struck out eight, and walked one in six innings lowering his ERA to 3.38.  Matt Wise, returned to St. Lucie to stay sharp while Jorge Sosa’s ERA climbed over 7 after Monday’s effort, fired a perfect seventh inning.  Stephen Clyne and Edgar Alfonzo each worked two innings with Alfonzo fanning three. Ryan Coultas gave up a run in the 13th, on a couple of singles sandwiched around a throwing error by second baseman Luis Rivera. 

            SS Ruben Tejada (.224/.294/.279) ran his hit streak to four with a 2-5 evening. 

 

Savannah (A – South Atlantic League)

Asheville Tourists (27-11) 3, @ Savannah Sand Gnats (15-22, -11.5) 2

 

            Both teams did all of their scoring in the sixth inning.  Gnats starter Maikel Cleto almost wriggled out of a bases loaded no-body out jam, but gave up a two-out three run double before closing the inning.  The Tourists loaded the bases on two walks and an error by C Jared Abruzzo, so all of the runs were unearned since they scored with two outs.  Cleto (0-2, 4.63) struck out nine.  Brant Rustich worked an inning in relief hitting a batter without giving up a hit. 

            The Gnats attack in the bottom of the sixth began with a Daniell Stegall triple and a SS Matt Bouchard (.228/.291/.353) ground rule double.  Bouchard was 2-4.

 

 

Toby Hyde has written Toby’s Mets Minor League Report since 2004.  Please pass this along to friends, family, co-workers, and Mets fans of all types.  To subscribe to the email newsletter, sign up here: http://groups.google.com/group/mets-minors?hl=en.  Archives are available at http://metsminors.metsblog.com.