4/12 Minor League Report! TRINITY! CORONADO! DUDA!

New Orleans 9, Round Rock 0

Finally, one of our affiliates has one of those "close early, blew it open late" games. Been done to us enough already. New Orleans led 2-0 thru 7, but then scored 5 in the 8th and 2 in the 9th, winning easily 9-0. Anderson Hernandez had a bases clearing triple in the 8th, his lone hit of the day. Interestingly (and disturbingly at the same time) Fernando Tatis played shortstop today, going 2 for 4 with 3 runs scored. God help us all if THAT is the plan if Jose is to miss significant time. I'd take virtually anyone over that. Brian Stokes had an outstanding outing today, going 7 shutout innings, allowing 3 hits and a walk while K-ing 5.

And in big news - Dirty pitched a scoreless 8th, striking out 1. He threw 9 strikes in 14 pitches, and got 2 ground ball outs. If he feels no adverse effects tomorrow, expect to see him back on Tuesday or Wednesday. Best guess would be Carlos Muniz going down, although it could be Joe Smith.

Anderson Hernandez (2b) 1 for 5, run, 3b, 3 RBI, K, .244
Michel Abreu (1b) 0 for 2, run, 3 BBs, .286
Caleb Stewart (cf) 1 for 5, K, .200
Brian Stokes 7 IP, 3 H, BB, 5 Ks, 1.64 era, W (1-1)
Duaner Sanchez IP, K, 0.00 era, 14:9:5, 2:0:1
Robert Paulk IP, 3 BBs, 4.15 era, 23:7:16, 3:0:0

Binghamton 11, Erie 10

More absolute sheer INSANITY in Erie today, Binghamton with 19 hits and 11 runs, running their two day total to 29 runs on 41 hits, and Erie with 13 hits and 10 runs today, running their two day total to 23 runs and 30 hits. Once again, the Trinity in the middle did the most damage for the BMets, with Dan Murphy, Nick Evans, and Mike Carp combining to go 9 for 15 with a 2b, 3b, HR, 6 RBI. They are now batting .474, .444, .474 through 10 games. Absolutely amazing. Carp had his 4th double and 4th homer of the season, Evans his 2nd triple. How ridiculous is it? Nick Evans went 2 for 5 today to lower his average to .444. As pointed out in the minor league thread on NYFS, overshadowed by the Trinity, Jose Coronado had 4 hits of his own, and is now batting .400, giving the BMets FOUR .400 hitters in the lineup. Some of these numbers are absolutely ridiculous, but several positives remain. Mike Carp's numbers versus LHP, a serious cause for concern in 2006 (.238) and especially in 2007 (.177), have shown a remarkable turnaround in 2008 (6 for 16 so far - .375/.412/.813).

Jacob Ruckle was completely overshadowed today, but he fired another 6 good innings, allowing 6 hits and 2 earned (3 total). This on top of his season debut of 5.2 shutout innings, he's a deep sleeper, as well. I've had my eye on him since 2006 when he dominated St. Lucie and then was fucked over by being demoted to Brooklyn mid season. Doesn't throw hard, but has a deceptive delivery, very Dontrelle like, but from the right side.

Fernando Martinez (cf) 1 for 4, run, BB, K, .225
Emmanuel Garcia (2b) 0 for 5, run, BB, .167
Dan Murphy (3b) 3 for 5, 2 runs, RBI, .474/.500/.605/1.105 (18 for 38, 10 runs, 3 2b, 3b, 8 RBI, 3/4 BB/K, 2/3 SBs)
Nick Evans (1b) 2 for 5, run, 3b, 2 RBI, K, .444/.476/.806/1.282 (16 for 36, 7 runs, 3 2b, 2 3b, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 4/5 BB/K)
Mike Carp (dh) 4 for 5, 2 runs, 2b, HR, 3 RBI, .474/.500/.895/1.395 (18 for 38, 8 runs, 4 2b, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 2/4 BB/K)
Ambiorix Concepcion (rf) 1 for 5, run, K, .270
Jose Coronado (ss) 4 for 5, run, RBI, .400/.447/.457/.905 (14 for 35, 5 runs, 2 2b, 4 RBI, 3/2 BB/K, SB)
Jacob Ruckle 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, K, HR, 1.54 era, W (1-0)
NicK Abel 0.1 IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 2 BBs, 22.09 era
Salvador Aguilar 1.2 IP, 2 H, 3.00 era (allowed all 3 of Abel's IHR to score)
Eddie Kunz IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BBs, K, 6.23 era

St. Lucie 6, Jupiter 11

Eric Niesen shouldn't be starting. His fastball is a plus pitch relieving, and only an average one starting. Well, whatever. He started and got pounded for 5 runs, 4 earned in 5 innings. Allowed 6 hits, 2 walks, and a homer, while striking out 4. Gary Bakker came in and sucked worse, allowing 5 earned in 2 innings, turning a 5-4 game into a 10-4 game. You'd think they could find a younger pitcher who wouldn't blow so terribly, Bakker's 25 in high A and pitching to a 16.20 era. Hopefully when Brant Rustich is ready to go, Bakker's given his walking (running) papers. It's kinda been a corner infielder kinda weekend, Lucas Duda got into the act with 3 hits and 2 walks today, and is now batting .325. Hector Pellot had 2 ribbies, and Duda, Ezequiel Carrera and Jason Jacobs had one apiece.

Ezequiel Carrera (cf) 0 for 5, RBI, .293
Ruben Tejada (ss) 1 for 5, 2 runs, .222
Lucas Duda (1b) 3 for 4, run, RBI, 2 BBs, K, .325
Brahiam Maldonado (lf) 1 for 5, run, 2b, BB, K, .188
Hector Pellot (2b) 1 for 3, 2 RBI, BB, K, .231
Eric Niesen 5 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BBs, 4 Ks, HR, 4.50 era, L (0-1)
Gary Bakker 2 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, HR, 16.20 era
Will Morgan 2 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, K, 3 era

Savannah 2, Columbus 9

If you go HERE, you can see play by play from Rachel, one of the minor league followers on NYFS (I promise this isn't a Rickroll!)

Edited in: And if you go HERE, you can see Nathan Vineyard delivering a pitch (also not a Rickroll, lol)

Nathan Vineyard had a rough outing tonight, giving up all 9 runs in just 4+ innings of work. He allowed 7 hits and 4 walks, and didn't strike out a batter. According to the aforementioned lovely Rachel, his fastball was 88-92, and obviously his control wasn't spot on. His ERA is an ugly 14.63. Nick Waechter did an outstanding job in long relief, tossing 4 scoreless innings, allowing 5 hits and K-ing 4. Savannah couldn't muster any offense, however, outside of Jacob Elgsti's 8th inning 2 run homer. Richard Pena left the game with an injury to his left ankle (again courtesy Rachel at NYFS), trying to beat out a play at first. Matt Bouchard, Pena, Dan Stegall, Jose Jimenez, and Greg Veloz took 0-fers.

Richard Lucas (dh) 1 for 4, 2b, .222
Francisco Pena (c) 1 for 4, .226
Raul Reyes (cf, rf) 1 for 3, run, 2b, K, .286
Darren Clark (lf) 1 for 3, 2b, K, .206
Jacob Elgsti (3b) 1 for 3, run, HR, 2 RBI, .154
Nathan Vineyard (The Grape Hotdog?) 4 IP, 7 H, 9 ER, 4 BBs, 14.63 era, L (0-2)
Nick Waechter 4 IP, 5 H, 4 Ks, 2.16 era