Pitching Matchups; Game of the Day 7/9/11

5:05pm
Binghamton Mets (Jeurys Familia 1-2, 3.02) GAME1
vs. New Britain Rock Cats (Bobby Lanigan 5-6, 3.46)

Binghamton Mets (Robert Carson 2-7, 4.27)
vs. New Britain Rock Cats (Liam Hendriks 8-2, 2.70) GAME2

Hudson Valley Renegades (Jason McEachern 3-0, 0.40)
vs. Lowell Spinners (Hunter Cervenka 0-2, 9.00)

6:05pm
Buffalo Bisons (Pat Misch 3-4, 5.00)
vs. Pawtucket Red Sox (Tony Pena Jr. 6-4, 2.98)

Staten Island Yankees (Bryan Mitchell 0-0, 5.93)
vs. Vermont Lake Monsters (Brent Powers 0-0, 3.75)

7:05pm
Portland Sea Dogs (Chris Balcom-Miller 1-4, 4.96)
vs. New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Chad Jenkins 2-2, 3.34)

Brooklyn Cyclones (Carlos Vazquez 1-2, 2.41)
vs. Connecticut Tigers (Tyler Barrett 1-1, 3.12)

Game of the Day – BMets vs. Rock Cats (x2) – The BMets are the worst team in the Eastern League (31-55), yet despite their futility they are loaded with some highly-ranked pitching prospects (although most are struggling), two of which will see action this evening. In GAME ONE Jeurys Familia gets his tenth start for Binghamton. His first Double-A start came against New Britain back on May 10th when he dazzled in 7 innings, allowing only 1 earned run while striking out 6 batters. He has struck out 6 or more batters in 6 of his 9 starts since his jump to Double-A, including games with 10 and 11 Ks. Between Binghamton and St. Lucie he has 93 strikeouts in 87 innings of work. He will be opposed by the Rock Cats' Bobby Lanigan who is looking to square up his 5-6 record. Lanigan’s 96 1/3 innings is third most in the E.L. and his 3.46 ERA is 14th best in league, but he has allowed a team-high 106 hits. He had a no decision against the BMets back on May 25th when he allowed 3 earned runs over 6 innings…
In GAME TWO the BMets have Robert Carson on the hill, the 12th rated New York Mets prospect coming into the season according to Baseball America. Carson’s 14 prior starts have not been pretty, as he has been saddled with a 4.27 ERA and 1.55 WHIP. In two starts against New Britain this season Carson is 0-2 with a 6.10 ERA. The “Man From Perth,” Liam Hendriks, gets the go for the Cats in the nightcap, bringing his 8 wins (second best in the E.L.) to the table. Hendriks hasn’t lost a game since May 19th, a game that was sandwiched by two wins against the BMets. In those two starts against Binghamton, Hendriks allowed 6 runs and struck out 11 batters over 12 innings. After tonight Hendriks will be on a whirlwind tour as he heads to Phoenix for the Futures Game tomorrow, then to New Hampshire for the Eastern League All-Star Game on July 13th…With New Hampshire and Trenton both backpedaling a bit, the time is now for New Britain to charge forward and gain a few games in the Eastern Division before the All-Star break. They will get their second whack this week at winning two games in one day, having already done so on Thursday against New Hampshire.

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