Game 4: Postponed

Aaaaaaaaand they banged it.

Make-up date TBA.

Game 4: Pre-Game Notes

1:10 PM — The Thunder just announced that the game is going to start at 2:05.  If that happens, I’ll eat my game notes.

12:50 PM — Nooooooooo chance of this starting on time.  Radar not looking good either.

12:10 PM — Yay!  Tampa won’t be an informational black hole anymore.  Check this out…

11:55 AM — Just noticed they put the lineups out, here ya go…

METS

Emmanuel Garcia, CF
Ruben Tejada, SS
Matt Bouchard, 2B
Shawn Bowman, 3B
Lucas Duda, DH
Mark Kiger, 1B
D.J. Wabick, LF
Mike Nickeas, C
Carl Loadenthal, RF

Ryan Coutlas, P

THUNDER

Eduardo Nunez, DH
Reegie Corona, SS
Colin Curtis, LF
Edwar Gonzalez, RF
Marcos Vechionacci, 3B
Francisco Cervelli, C
Seth Fortenberry, CF
Kevin Smith, 1B
Justin Snyder, 2B

Ryan Pope, P

11:50 AM — Not much new here, other than rain. 

Talked to Tony Franklin before the game…doesn’t seem like much will be going on until next week, when the team will need to make a move to accomodate Ivan Nova on the roster.

He said that putting Kyle Anson in last night was more a product of Francisco Cervelli having caught 14 innings than it was his 0-for-10 start.

He also said that his bullpen is pretty taxed right now, but Sunday’s off day helps alleviate the possibility of having to call someone up from Tampa.  Franklin said he hopes to only have to use two or three pitchers today…but with Ryan Pope making his Double-A debut, we’ll see how that works.

Photo courtesy of Robert Pimpsner from Baby-Bombers.com

Zach McAllister seemed pretty satisfied with his start.  He was happy about breaking a few bats, and said that the weather or the mound weren’t really problems for him.  He didn’t seem to think it was too big of an adjustment going from facing A-Ball hitters to Double-A guys…just from talking to him a few times, I like McAllister.  He’s pretty no-frills, and doesn’t make excuses.

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Choices, Choices, Choices…

I can comfortably sit here and apologize for missing last night’s Thunder game to cover the Trenton Devils playoff opener.

I cannot, however, tell you I made the wrong choice.

I ended up getting to cover the longest game in ECHL history, as the Devils eventually fell to the Elmira Jackals, 5-4, in four overtimes. Had I missed that, I’d still be kicking myself at this point next season…so ultimately, I made the right move.

But never fear, Thunder fans…I will be back to cover the game this afternoon and plan on covering all three games in the Harrisburg series as well.

I wish things worked out to where I didn’t have any schedule conflicts, but when you work three beats, it’s bound to happen.

Had I not gotten home at 1:10 in the morning, I’d have posted a story from my chat with Bill Masse…now, look for that either Sunday night or Monday.

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Thunder Fall To B-Mets, 4-3

(PR) (Trenton, NJ)- Binghamton Third baseman Shawn Bowman had the go-ahead RBI single in the seventh inning, and the Mets slipped past Trenton 4-3 on Friday night from Waterfront Park.

With the score tied 3-3 in the seventh inning, Binghamton Center fielder Emmanuel Garcia walked to start the frame against Trenton reliever Wilkins Arias (0-1). After a sacrifice bunt by Binghamton Shortstop Ruben Tejada, Binghamton Catcher Josh Thole was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Bowman followed with an RBI single to put the Mets (2-1) on top 4-3. Binghamton’s bullpen tossed three shutout innings to preserve the win. RHP Julio De La Cruz gave up only one hit in two innings, and LHP Roy Merritt came on in the ninth inning to record his second save of the series. Binghamton Starting Pitcher Jose Sanchez (1-0) yielded seven hits and three runs in six innings to earn the win.

Down 3-0, Trenton (1-2) chipped away to tie game at 3-3. In the fourth inning, Right fielder Edwar Gonzalez connected on an RBI single off of Binghamton Starting Pitcher Jose Sanchez to cut the deficit to 3-1. Gonzalez finished the game with three hits and also scored a run. Trenton Second baseman Reegie Corona picked up an RBI groundout in the sixth inning to slice the Binghamton lead to 3-2. The Thunder tied the game at 3-3 in the sixth inning on an RBI single by First Baseman Chris Malec. Trenton shortstop Eduardo Nunez had two hits in the game, and now has back-to-back multi-hit games. Trenton Starting Pitcher Zach McAllister allowed only four hits and three runs (one earned) in five innings. He picked up a no-decision in his Double-A debut. Trenton committed three errors in the game, and now has nine errors in the series.

The four-game series will wrap up on Saturday afternoon. Thunder RHP Ryan Pope (0-0, 0.00) will make his Double-A debut against Binghamton RHP Ryan Coultas (RHP). Game time is set for 1:05 p.m.