In a full night of action, the "core four" minor league teams had a rough go of it, managing only one win out of four games. Here's the rundown:
In the final game of a four game set in Georgia, Buffalo dropped a bad one to Gwinnett, 10-4. Unfortunately, Dillon Gee was the main culprit as he started, went only three innings, and gave up nine hits, seven earned (double ouch) and struck out four. Little to see on the offensive side, though Fernando Martinez went 2-3 with a double, a run scored and a walk while recent acquisition Jorge Padilla hit his second home run with the club, a two run shot in the fourth off the rehabbing Jair Jurrjens.
In Binghamton, the Mets faired much better, taking an easy one from the Rock Cats, 5-1. It was all thanks to two guys really, starter Eric Niesen (more on him later) and LF Brahaim Maldonado. Eric Niesen went seven innings, giving up only four hits, two walks, one earned and striking out four. In the bottom of the seventh, after scoring a run to tie the game then loading the bases with no outs, Maldonado came up and crushed a grand slam to put the game away. Way to be Brahaim. How could I forget reliever Manny Alvarez? He went the last two, giving up only one hit and striking out FIVE.
In St. Lucie, the Mets lost their opener at home against Palm Beach, 6-3. Jordany Valdespin continued his torrid season with another 2-4 day and two RBIs. Wilmer Flores and Juan Lagares, fresh off their promtions, both went 1-5 in their debut. Erik Turgeon, also making his first appearance since being promoted, went 1.2 innings in relief, giving up a hit and striking out two. That was about all the silver lining there was.
Down in Savannah, the new look Gnats got shutout by Asheville, 2-0. Pedro Zapata got the only extra base hit of the night, going 1-3 with a double. The Gnats managed only two hits overall. Armando Rodriguez had himself a decent start, going 4.1, giving up four hits, a walk, one unearned run and struck out two. The bullpen did a good job hold Asheville to only one run over the next 4.2, but it just wasn't enough on a night where Asheville's pitching was one step ahead.
Down On The Farm - 6/24/10
