Herd it through the grapevine
The Bisons are just about toast in the IL wild-card race after Monday night's 4-1, 10-inning loss to Syracuse in Coca-Cola Field. They're 3 1/2 games out with eight to play, meaning they're likely going to have to go at least 6-2 and maybe 7-1 -- and get help in the form of a Columbus slide -- to sneak in.
Too bad really. We haven't seen too many 17-3 runs like the one this team put together to get back in the race. But not getting a doubleheader in on Aug. 21 against a tired Pawtucket team really semed to hurt. The Herd won the opener, the nightcap was rained out and the PawSox bounced back to win two the next day as Jesus Feliciano was called up early in the morning and Justin Turner hurt his knee on the game's first play.
Turner returned last night but the loss dropped Buffalo to 3-8 in its last 11, likely a fatal slide.
---Most of the attention last night properly went to the Triple-A debut of Jenrry Mejia, the 20-year-old who is the Mets' top prospect. He was sharp, retiring the first 13 men and still hitting 96-97 mph in the seventh inning. Solid bet he starts Saturday in Wrigley Field. But lost in the Mejia talk was the great escape Syracuse pulled in the bottom of the ninth to preserve a 1-1 tie.
Not only did the Chiefs use a five-man infield with one out and runners at the corners, but right fielder Leonard Davis hung in at second base to turn the relay on a game-saving double play. Mike Cervenak's comebacker to the mound was foolishly thrown to second by pitcher Colin Balester as Lucas Duda broke for home. Davis made the out at second and Chase Lambin made a great scoop at first for the miraculous third out that prevented a Buffalo win.
---As for Mejia, manager Ken Oberkfell called him "electric." Totally agree. Wicked fastball, great change. The Chiefs couldn't touch him for the first four innings. He lost some location in the later innings but not any velocity. He's given up just one run in his last three minor-league starts over 22 innings. He's ready.
---Tomorrow is Sept. 1. What do the Mets do? Probably call up a pitcher (Raul Valdes?). What about Lucas Duda? The New York outfield is crowded and Duda, Buffalo's second-half MVP, is not on the 40-man roster. He likely stays here until the season ends and then we see next Monday about his first trip to New York. Hopefully the Mets leave the Bisons alone until the playoff race is decided.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
