Norfolk Tides
Triple-A International League
Lastings Milledge and Victor Diaz homered and four Tides pitchers combined on a three-hitter as Norfolk defeated Columbus Thursday, 5-1.
Milledge homered in the first inning off Jeff Karstens (0-4), his second, and Diaz added his first homer to help start a three-run sixth inning.
Jose Lima started for the Tides and retired all six batters he faced, while Anderson Garcia (1-0), Steve Schmoll and Bartolome Fortunato followed in relief.
Notes: Michael Tucker made his Tides debut batting cleanup and had three hits, including a double, and stole a base … Jeff Keppinger had two hits for Norfolk.
Binghamton Mets
Double-A Eastern League
Mike Pelfrey allowed five runs and 13 hits in his second Double-A start, taking a no-decision as the Akron Aeros defeated Binghamton Thursday, 7-5.
Pelfrey walked one and struck out three in a four-inning start. Akron's Kevin Kouzmanoff lifted the Aeros to the victory with his fifth hit of the game, a run-scoring single off Tim McNab (0-1) in the eighth inning.
Notes: There were 32 hits in the game, 20 by Akron. … Michel Abreu led the B-Mets' offense with three hits, a run scored and an RBI. Since joining Binghamton, Abreu is batting .440.
St. Lucie Mets
Single-A Florida State League
Mike Carp homered and drove in three runs, while Jose Sanchez allowed two hits in seven shutout innings as St. Lucie defeated Palm Beach Thursday, 3-1.
Carp hit a two-run shot in the fourth inning and delivered a run-scoring single in the ninth. Sanchez (3-1) struck out five and walked none in the effort, retiring the last 13 batters he faced before Rafael Cova picked up his 10th save with a two-inning stint.
Notes: The only run Cova allowed came on an eighth-inning home run by Tyler Greene. … Mark Michael started for Palm Beach and allowed two runs on three hits over seven innings, striking out seven.
Hagerstown Suns
Single-A South Atlantic League
Jacobo Neguilis was charged with five runs (four earned) in just 1-1/3 innings Thursday as the Suns fell at Lake County, 6-4.
The Captains touched Neguilis (0-1) for a run-scoring sacrifice fly in the first and loaded the bases on three walks in the second inning before Neguilis was lifted with a leg injury. Grady Hinchman walked in a run and watched two runs score on a Hector Pellot throwing error.
Leivi Ventura hit a three-run homer in the seventh for Hagerstown.
Notes: Ryan Meyers turned in five innings of relief for Hagerstown, allowing five hits and an unearned run.
On Deck
Friday, May 4, 2006 – All Times E.T.
MLB: Atlanta at New York, 7:10 p.m.
AAA: Norfolk at Columbus, 7:25 p.m.
AA: New Hampshire vs. Binghamton, 7:00 p.m.
A: St. Lucie at Palm Beach, 7:05 p.m.
A: Hagerstown at Lake County, 7:05 p.m.
Inside Pitch Magazine covers the entire New York Mets organization monthly in print, and every day on the Internet. Contact Inside Pitch Magazine's Bryan Hoch at metsinsidepitch@aol.com.