A disappointing Thursday for the Mets was echoed in losses by the top three farm teams.  However, down in the South Atlantic League, Maikel Cleto’s beautiful pitching performance provided a big welcome bright spot.

Stars of the Day:

AAA: Nelson Figueroa/Abraham Nunez

AA: Dan Murphy & Salomon Manriquez & Manny Garcia

A+: None

A: *Maikel Cleto*

New Orleans (AAA – Pacific Coast League)

@ Oklahoma Red Hawks (27-20) 6, New Orleans Zephyrs (21-25, -5.5) 2

            Oklahoma beat up on Adam Bostick for six runs on six hits in just an inning and a third to sweep the Zs in Oklahoma City.  Nelson Figueroa tossed 4.2 scoreless innings behind Bostick, but the damage had already been done. 

            Recently acquired 3B Abraham Nunez was 3-4.  RF Valentino Pascucci and 2B Argenis Reyes were each 2-4.

Binghamton (AA - Eastern League)

@ Connecticut Defenders (21-23) 7, Binghamton Mets (22-23, -8.0) 4

            The Defenders used three homers to salvage the finale from the B-Mets and Jose Sanchez (4-3, 4.59) who lasted 4.1 and yielded the first two bombs.  

            On the flip side, the Mets offense had ten hits, eight of which were singles.  3B Dan Murphy (.341/385/.494) was 2-3 with a double, 2 RBI and a walk.  C Salomon Manriquez was 2-4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI.  Manny Garcia (.212/.310/.238) also singled twice from the top of the order. 

St. Lucie (A+ - Florida State League)

@ Sarasota Reds (23-24) 9, St. Lucie Mets (9-38, -20.0) 1

            This game was scoreless through three innings, but the Reds scored in every time at-bat from the fourth through the eighth innings, to ease by the Mets. Dylan Owen (2-4, 3.52) was responsible for the first four runs on five hits in five innings.  Emary Frederick gave up another quartet in his two innings of work. 

            No Met had multiple hits, although 3B Leivi Ventura and C Josh Thole each doubled.

            St. Lucie has lost 17 of their last 19 games and is 4-17 in May.

Savannah (A – South Atlantic League)

Savannah Sand Gnats (19-28, -12.5) 3, @ Augusta Green Jackets (27-20) 0

            Maikel Cleto was sensational, firing a complete-game three-hit shutout in Augusta.  The 29-year old Cleto (1-3, 3.81) didn’t allow a runner to third all night.  He fanned two and walked one.  I love this: the complete game shutout was the Gnats’ first since John Lannan in August 25, 2006. 

            Greg Veloz singled home a run in the fifth to put the Gnats ahead 1-0.  Savannah added two more runs in the sixth.  2B Veloz was 2-5 while LF Michael Parker was 2-4.  3B Joaquin Rodriguez was 2-4 and drove home a run. 

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.