Mike Attack: Aug. 30, 2008

By Mike McGann
Posted Saturday, August 30, 2008

Just another day in the office, working the phones trying to figure out where the Mets’ AAA and full-season A teams will play in 2009 — and beyond knowing that New Orleans and Savannah appear to be out — it remains unclear where things are headed. Syracuse remains at the top of the AAA list, but anything — from a return to Hagerstown (and in that case, it may mean the same franchise, but a different location) to Bowling Green and a brand-new ballpark. Stay tuned.

Losses:

Cubs 50
Brewers 56
Mets 60
Cardinals 61
Phillies 62

It may not have been pretty, but Friday night’s game was the kind of game winning teams manage to pull out and the Mets did. While Carlos Beltran’s grand slam was the headline, Luis Ayala’s ability to gut it out — hurting with a sore hamstring and knowing Aaron Heilman was unavailable says something about the alleged spare part the Mets picked up from the Nationals. Still, the bullpen remains a major, major worry.

Not a lot of news of Billy Wagner front — although the team should have a better sense of whether he’ll pitch again this season this week. As for additions to the pen, beyond Al Reyes and Bobby Parnell, it doesn’t seem like much in the way calvary is coming, even with rosters expanding tomorrow.

But — and this is crucial — with the Marlins reeling, after a series of late-inning collapses, it’s important to kill the will of a young team when you can. The Mets got some of that job done last night, but they need to reenforce it with another strong performance tonight — and they need Mike Pelfrey to do the one thing he hasn’t been able to manage this season: pitch well against the Marlins.

New Orleans
The New Orleans Zephyrs got word in the sixth inning that, due to Hurricane Gustavo, Friday's game would be their last of the 2008 season — and very likely their final one as a New York Mets’ affiliate. They made it a memorable one.

The Zephyrs rallied from a three-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings, and after falling behind in the top of the 11th, got a walk-off, two-run homer from Chris Aguila in the bottom half to win what turned out to be their season finale, 11-10 over the Nashville Sounds.

With Hurricane Gustavo churning in the Gulf of Mexico and evacuation plans underway in the New Orleans area, the Zephyrs moved Saturday's game from 6:00, to 1:00, and then to 11:00 a.m. before finally canceling the game while Friday's contest was in progress. The Z's had a 6-2 lead at the time, thanks to a four-run fourth inning highlighted by home runs from Aguila and Trot Nixon.

Nashville came back with two in the sixth, two in the seventh, two in the eighth, and three in the ninth to forge a 9-6 lead. Brendan Katin's three-run homer in the ninth off Carlos Muniz capped the Sounds' comeback, but the bullpen could not hold the lead.

Luis Pena walked all three batters he faced in the bottom of the ninth, and Nixon cleared the bases with a double into the right-center field gap, tying the score at 9-9. But the Zephyrs failed to get the winning run home, sending the game into extra innings.

In the 11th, Nashville's agressive baserunning gave them a 10-9 advantage, as Mat Gamel scored on a force out at second base after a hard slide by Adam Heether to break up a potential double play ball.

Again, however, the Zephyrs came back, this time on a leadoff single by Valentino Pascucci and, one out later, Aguila's towering drive over the wall in center field to provide the Zephyrs with a season-ending win.

Aguila went 4-for-5 with two homers and four RBI in the game, and finished the season with 29 homers, one short of the New Orleans club record of 30 held by 2004 teammates Phil Hiatt and Mike Coolbaugh.

Nixon chipped in four RBI of his own, and pitcher Brandon Knight, in his first game back from winning a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics, had a two-run double at the plate.

The Z's used eight pitchers, with Ivan Maldonado (4-5) picking up the win after allowing one run in one inning.

The Zephyrs conclude the 2008 season with a record of 66-75.

Binghamton

Salvador Paniagua’s two-run homer in the ninth propelled the Binghamton Mets to a 3-1 win over the New Britain Rock Cats at New Britain Stadium Friday. The B-Mets have won three in a row.

New Britain (61-77) went ahead in the third on Brandon Roberts’ RBI double off Dillon Gee. That was all the righthander would allow over seven innings.

Binghamton (73-66) rallied to tie in the sixth. Jose Coronado led off with a walk before Caleb Stewart brought him in with a two-out double to left.

Ambiorix Concepcion opened the ninth with a single off Jose Mijares (1-1) before Paniagua followed with his two-run shot to right-center.

Edgar Alfonzo (2-2) followed Gee with a scoreless inning before Al Reyes got the final three outs for his first save in as many chances.

Saturday, the Binghamton Mets play the second of four against the New Britain Rock Cats. Jose Sanchez (13-6, 3.72) will start for Binghamton against lefty Ryan Mullins (8-9, 4.52) of New Britain. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at New Britain Stadium with the radio broadcast beginning at 6:50 on Newsradio 1290 WNBF.

The B-Mets remain one game out of a playoff spot with two games to play.

Notes: Paniagua homered for the first time since 7/26 @ AKR…Gee has allowed a run and gone six innings or more in all four of his B-Mets starts…New Britain pitchers had thrown 25 consecutive scoreless innings before Binghamton scored in the sixth…over the first four games of this seven-game trip, Binghamton’s bullpen has allowed a run over 12 2/3 innings.

St. Lucie
St. Lucie was swept in a doubleheader by Brevard County. The Mets dropped the opener 10-1, and dropped the nightcap, 5-2. St. Lucie wraps up the season with two more games against Brevard County, today and tomorrow, weather permitting.

Gnats
The Savannah Sand Gnats fell 9-4 Friday night to the hometown Columbus Catfish at Golden Park. It is the last game ever played at the facility as the team will move to Bowling Green, Ky. after the season.

It was an offensive explosion on the team's final game at home as the Catfish scored a run in every inning but the first and connected for three home runs off of Savannah pitching. Columbus started the scoring in the second when catcher Mike McCormick hit the first of Columbus' three home runs to give them a 2-0 lead.

Trailing 3-0, Savannah would pull within a run in the fourth inning. Michael Parker walked followed by a Carlos Guzman single and a Jefferies Tatford walk to load the bases. With the sacks full of Gnats, Ralph Henriquez popped out and Stefan Welch struck out. Nick Giarraputo, who finished the game 2-for-4, hit a bleeder down the right-field line to score a pair and pull the Gnats within a run.

Columbus would plate two in the bottom half of the inning off starting pitcher Eric Beaulac (1-2) to once again widen its lead.

Guzman finished the game 3-for-5 to continue his hot hitting while Henriquez and Richard Pena each added two hits. Beaulac lasted four innings, giving up five runs on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Mitch Houck made his Sand Gnats debut tonight and went two innings, allowing two runs on four hits. One of the four hits was a home run.

Savannah will make the four-hour bus ride back to Georgia's First City to play its final three-game series of the 2008 season. RHP Mike Olmsted (1-0, 0.00), who is coming off a road win against Charleston in his first start at Class-A, takes the ball on Fan Appreciation Night. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.

Clones
The Cyclones completed a sweep of the Oneonta Tigers on Friday night, defeating them 3-2. Brooklyn has now won a season-high six straight games. Friday also put Brooklyn over the 40-win mark (40-28) for the seventh time in club history.

Offensively, the Cyclones banged out nine hits. It was the seventh straight game that Brooklyn got nine or more hits in a game. CF Sean Ratliff continued his hot hitting, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. 17-year-old SS Wilmer Flores also continued his hot hitting. Flores went 3-for-4 with a run scored for the second straight night. Seth Williams also added a pair of hits with two RBI’s. RF Kirk Nieuwenhuis and 1B Ike Davis each had doubles.

RHP Pedro P. Martinez made his team-leading 14th start of the year. Martinez pitched 3.1 and allowed two runs. RHP Jeff Kaplan relieved Martinez and threw 4.2 scoreless innings, with four strikeouts. LHP Jimmy Johnson came on in the ninth and got two outs before RHP Yury Santana got a strikeout to earn his 11th save of the season.

On Saturday, the Cyclones travel to Hudson Valley and then return home on Sunday, August 31st at 5pm to conclude a home and hopme series. On Sunday, the first 1,500 kids will receive a mini Pee Wee Bobblehead and will also be Baby’s First ballgame -- parents will be able to stroll their kids around the bases after the game!.

This day in Mets’ history
1965: Casey Stengel announces his retirement as manager of the Mets.
1979: Mets sell Dale Murray to the Montreal Expos.
1990: Mets trade Kevin Brown and Julio Machado to the Milwaukee Brewers for Charlie O’Brien and Kevin Carmody.
1990: Montreal Expos claimed Orlando Mercado from the Mets on waivers.
1990: Mets deal Nikco Riesgo and Rocky Elli to the Philadelphia Phillies for Tom Herr.
1990: Mets send Archie Corbin to the Kansas City Royals for Pat Tabler.
2000: Mets trade Nelson Cruz to the Oakland Athletics for Jorge Velandia.
2006: Mets send Victor Diaz to the Texas Rangers for Mike Nickeas.