4.30 Minor League Report! MURPHY, ANTONINI!

New Orleans 7, Tacoma 6

Adam Bostick was ejected 3 batters into the game, but the Zs bullpen stepped up and delievered 9 innings of 3 run relief, and the Zs bats came alive enough to overcome a 3-0 deficit, leading to a 6 pitcher-3 hour 9 minute victory. Tim McNab and Ivan Maldonado combined for 5 shutout innings in relief, but Jose Santiago got the win allowing a run in his 1.1 innings. Carlos Muniz bent but did not break, allowing 2 hits and 2 walks in his 1.2 innings, picking up his 3rd save. In a combined 11.1 innings between AAA and the majors, he's yet to allow a run.

Argenis Reyes and Jesus Feliciano, the top 2 in the order, combined to go 6 for 7 with 2 runs, an RBI and 2 walks. Chris Aguila and Anderson Hernandez also had multi-hit games for the Zs, who are 16-10 on the season. Fernando Tatis (0 for 4, BB, 2 Ks, .226) and Shawn Wooten (0 for 4, run, .152) took 0-fers.

Argenis Reyes (2b) 3 for 4, run, BB, .266, SB (7)
Jesus Feliciano (cf) 3 for 3, run, RBI, BB, .338
Michel Abreu (1b) 1 for 5, run, 2b, 2 RBI, 2 Ks, .272
Chris Aguila (lf) 2 for 5, .341
Anderson Hernandez (ss) 2 for 4, 2 runs, 2b, HR, RBI, .213
Adam Bostick 0.0 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, BB, 3.86 era
Tim McNab 3 IP, 3 Ks, 1.88 era, 40:29:11, 5:1:3
Ivan Maldonado 2 IP, 2 BBs, 2 Ks, 7.07 era
Jose Santiago 1.1 IP, 4 H, ER, K, HR, 6.43 era, W (2-0)
Nate Field IP, 2 H, 2 ER, K, HR, 8.10 era
Carlos Muniz 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 BBs, 2 Ks, 0.00 era, SV (3), 28:15:13, 2:1:2

Binghamton 2, New Britain 11

Jon Niese was cruising through 4, having given up 2 hits and 2 walks, but then the 5th inning came, and Niese lasted just 1 out, giving up 2 hits and 4 walks, and 4 runs. Salvador Aguilar saved Niese 2 IHRs, but gave up 3 of his own in his 3.2 innings, and German Marte completed the disasterous game by giving up 4 in his inning of work.

Dan Murphy thought it was 2 weeks ago, as he went 3 for 3 with a walk, but the other 2 members of the Trinity weren't cooperating, Nick Evans took an 0-fer, and Mike Carp had one hit. 3 others besides Evans took 0-fers, Emmanuel Garcia and Fernando Martinez both went 0 for 5, with 1 and 2 Ks, respectively, they're batting .217 and .254. Jose Coronado also took an 0-fer, going 0 for 2 with a walk, and is now batting .261. Coronado is 3 for his last 32 with 10 Ks, and has seen his average plummet from .350, 11 games ago, to .261. The Mets have lost 7 of 8 and are now 10-16.

Dan Murphy (3b) 3 for 3, run, RBI, BB, .363
Mike Carp (1b) 1 for 4, K, .356
Ambi Concepcion (rf) 1 for 4, RBI, 2 Ks, .235
Jon Niese 4.1 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 6 BBs, 5 Ks, 1.82 era, L (2-2)
Salvador Aguilar 3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, BB, 3 Ks, 3.04 era
German Marte IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 2 BBs, 3 Ks, 4.26 era

St. Lucie 7, Daytona 4

All St. Lucie needed was a cleanup hitter. OK, not really, but Ramon Castro was 2 for 2 with a homer in his second rehab game, and St. Lucie's won 3 of 4, and are charging up the standings, they're now 5-21.

A good outing from Tobi "420" Stoner didn't hurt, he only allowed a run over 5 innings, on 7 hits and a walk, while striking out 5. Ryan Coultas gave up 3, 2 earned, in 3.2 innings, and recently demoted Edgar Alfonzo picked up the save.

Ezequiel Carrera had a big day out of the leadoff spot, going 2 for 4 with 2 runs, a double and triple, and walk. Lucas Duda drew 3 walks, and Jamar Hill had 2 XBH (2b and HR), while 3 Mets took 0-fers, Lucas Duda (0 for 2, 3 BBs, .330), Josh Thole (0 for 2, K, .228), and Jason Jacobs (0 for 3, run, 2 BBs, 2 Ks, .314)

Ezequiel Carrera (cf) 2 for 4, 2 runs, 2b, 3b, BB, .257
Ramon Castro (c) 2 for 2, 2 runs, HR, 2 RBI, .800
DJ Wabick (lf) 1 for 4, BB, .271
Jamar Hill (rf) 2 for 4, run, 2b, RBI, BB, .231
Tobi Stoner 5 IP, 7 H, ER, BB, 5 Ks, 3.24 era, W (1-1)
Ryan Coultas 3.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BBs, 2 Ks, 3.79 era
Edgar Alfonzo 0.1 IP, 0.00 era, SV (1)

Savannah 4, Hickory 2

Michael Antonini was in complete control of the game today, retiring the first 17 batters to face him before allowing a 2 out double in the 6th. That would be the only hit he would allow. The only other blemish on his record was a 2 out walk in the 7th, and Jose Bierd allowed that runner to score, so Antonini was charged with a run. His final line was brilliant, 6.2 ip, h, er, bb, 4 ks. Bierd finished the game, earning his 4th save of the season.

Two of the newest Gnats, Michael Hernandez and Joaquin Rodriguez, had multi hit games, while 4 Gnats took 0-fers, Michael Parker (0 for 3, RBI, .200), Jordan Abruzzo (0 for 4, 2 Ks, .350), Jose Jimenez (0 for 3, .187) and Matt Bouchard (0 for 3, .204).

Greg Veloz (2b) 1 for 4, run, 3b, RBI, .206
Michael Hernandez (rf) 3 for 4, 2 runs, .476
Francisco Pena (c) 1 for 4, 2b, RBI, .250
Joaquin Rodriguez (3b) 2 for 4, 2b, RBI, K, .500
Dan Stegall (cf) 1 for 3, run, K, .205
Michael Antonini 6.2 IP, H, ER, BB, 4 Ks, 3.26 era, W (2-1)
Jose Bierd 2.1 IP, 3 H, ER, K, HR, 1.64 era

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I found myself curious about Michael Antonini, so I dug into my files and found some info on him from the MPH Draft Database 2007 Edition.

Round 18, Pick 573: Michael Antonini

Michael Antonini (LHP - Georgia College & State University)

Antonini features 5 pitches. A two and four seam fastball, slider, change and curve. He feels his slider is his most dominating breaking pitch. He likes to throw his changeup, but it needs work. His fastball sits between 88 and 92, while his slider is 78-81, and his change is 78-80.

Thanks to Coach Chris Calciano from Georgia College & State University for this scouting report:

Antonini is a winner first and foremost!! Tough kid, very ballsy. Velocity is 87-91, fastball has some life. Cutter is a solid secondary pitch for strikeouts and is 79-81. Has an average curveball which he typically just uses as a first pitch get me over. Has a feel for the change with decent run and sink. Solid strike thrower. Slightly above average pickoff move. Average athleticism and fields his position very well.

2007: 7-6, 3.97 era, 15 GS, 90.2 IP, 89 H, 19 BBs, 89 Ks, BAA .254
2006: 11-1, 2.93 era, 16 G, 15 GS, 101.1 IP, 102 H, 20 BBs, 63 Ks, BAA .271