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EL1 Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Mets go on the road

August 26, 2005 - Eastern League (EL1)
Binghamton Rumble Ponies News Release


Lastings Milledge hit a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 10th to give the Binghamton Mets a 4-3, extra-inning victory over the Harrisburg Senators last night at NYSEG Stadium. Brett Harper's two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth tied the game and sent the B-Mets and Senators into extras for the second time in four games. Corey Ragsdale went 3 for 4 and Jonathan Slack had a hit and drove in a run for the B-Mets, who took three of four from Harrisburg and have won six of eight. Going Back-To-Back After taking two of three from Trenton to start their just-concluded homestand and three of four from Harrisburg, the B-Mets picked up back-to-back series victories for just the second time this season. Binghamton took two of three vs. Altoona May 20th-22nd and swept four vs. Trenton May 27th-30th (a four-game series May 23rd-26th at Portland was rained out).

Speaking of Milledge, today and tomorrow will be his last days in a B-Mets uniform this season. The centerfielder has been selected to play for the United States in the International Baseball Federation World Cup September 2nd-17th in the Netherlands. The team will be managed by former New York Mets skipper Davey Johnson. Milledge will depart after tomorrow's day-night doubleheader. B-Mets pitcher Orlando Roman is a member of the Puerto Rican squad competing in the same tournament. He will also be leaving this weekend.

Two familiar faces are rejoining the B-Mets for this series as righthanded pitcher Tim Lavigne and lefthanded pitcher Blake McGinley have been sent down from AAA Norfolk. Lavigne began this season with Binghamton and has pitched for the B-Mets for part of every campaign since 2002. McGinley was 9-2 out of the bullpen for Binghamton last season before being called up to the Tides. Norfolk, which has clinched its division, will have both pitchers back for the play

RHP Luz Portobanco (2-10, 7.01) Last Time Out: Sun. vs. TRE (L): 4+ IP, 6 R, 7 H, 3 BB, 4 K (L 15-6)...Luz allowed a Yobal Duenas homer in the second and led 3-1 going into the fifth. However, the righthander began that frame by issuing back-to-back walks before giving up a Ramiro Pena RBI single. Bronson Sardinha also had a two-run single in the inning, as Luz didn't retire any of the five hitters he faced in the frame, coughing up the lead in the process. This Season: Luz is 0-2 with a 9.50 ERA in five starts since joining the rotation August 1st. He hasn't lasted more than 4 1/3 innings in any of his outings and has yielded four runs or more in each of his last four starts. Luz has allowed 27 hits and 11 walks over his 18 innings as a starter, averaging 19 baserunners per nine innings. Before joining the rotation, Luz had struggled out of the bullpen, going 0-4 over his last eight relief outings, giving up 15 earned runs in 15 2/3 innings.

In addition to his start Sunday, Luz has made two relief appearances against the Thunder. He relived starter Matt Lindstrom during a four-run third inning June 5th at Trenton and allowed an inherited runner to score on a bases-loaded walk to Eric Duncan (IP, 2 R, H, 3 BB, 0 K). Binghamton lost that game 14-10. Luz also threw a scoreless ninth inning May 29th vs. Trenton in an 8-4 B-Mets victory (IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, K), allowing an Omir Santos leadoff single, but retiring the next three hitters. Background: The Miami, FL native is in his sixth professional season and second working primarily as a reliever. He was 1-3 with a 3.77 ERA in 34 games for High-A St. Lucie in 2004. Luz made two spot starts last year, combining to allow a run in 7 2/3 innings.

Tomorrow @ Trenton (DH), 1:35/7:05: RHP Bryan Edwards (5-5, 3.49) & TBA, BNG vs. RHP Jeff Karstens (11-11, 4.03) & TBA, TRE Sunday @ Trenton, 1:35: RHP Rafael Lopez (2-8, 5.81), BNG vs. RHP Matt DeSalvo (7-5, 3.27), TRE Tuesday @ New Hampshire, 6:35: TBA, BNG vs. TBA, NH

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Eastern League Stories from August 26, 2005


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