Juan Tejeda homered and drove in five runs to lead the Norfolk Tides past the Syracuse SkyChiefs Wednesday, 13-3.

Jeff Keppinger had four hits and Michael Tucker also homered for Norfolk, who put together a 17-hit attack against Syracuse pitching.

That was more than enough support for left-hander Evan MacLane (3-0), who allowed three runs and six hits over five innings to remain undefeated since being promoted to Triple-A.

Notes: Closer Heath Bell, who recorded his eighth save on Tuesday night, boarded a plane to New York on Wednesday but did not arrive until after the Mets' 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Bell was recalled from Triple-A to take the roster spot of Jorge Julio, who was sent to the Arizona Diamondbacks in Wednesday's trade for Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez. … Tejeda hit a three-run homer in the second inning and added a two-run single in a six-run ninth inning.

Binghamton Mets
Double-A Eastern League

Tyler Minges' three-run homer off Chuck Smith highlighted a late rally as the Portland Sea Dogs came back to defeat the Binghamton Mets Wednesday, 6-2.

Binghamton held a 2-0 lead after the first inning, bringing home runs on a Jorge Padilla fielder's choice and an Andy Wilson sacrifice fly.

After Tim McNab held Portland to a run and four hits in 4 1/3 innings, the Sea Dogs pieced together a five-run seventh inning facing relievers Ryan Cullen (1-4) and Smith.

Notes: Michel Abreu went 3-for-5 with a double for Binghamton. … Binghamton has lost three straight to Portland.

St. Lucie Mets
Single-A Florida State League

The Tampa Yankees scored three runs in the second inning against St. Lucie Mets starter Michael Devaney, and it held up in a 3-1 decision Wednesday at Tradition Field.

St. Lucie took an early lead on Josh Petersen's first-inning sacrifice fly facing Brett Smith, but Tampa answered in the second inning facing Devaney (4-3), with Brett Gardner's two-run double and a wild pitch that scored Gardner.

Notes: Jacob Ruckle pitched five innings of shutout relief for St. Lucie, scattering three hits. … Matt Lindstrom also pitched a scoreless ninth inning. … St. Lucie managed just three hits against four Tampa pitchers.

Hagerstown Suns
Single-A South Atlantic League

Jonathon Niese took his second loss for the Hagerstown Suns Wednesday, allowing six runs in three-plus innings to the Delmarva Shorebirds in a 6-3 defeat.

Niese (6-2) faced six batters in a five-run fourth inning, but could not retire any of them. Charged with five earned runs, Niese allowed a two-run triple to Stuart Musslewhite and a run-scoring single to Kyle Dahlberg before being lifted in favor of Grady Hinchman.

Notes: Hinchman gave the Suns four innings of shutout, one-hit relief. … Nick Evans had a RBI double in the first inning to get Hagerstown on the board. The Suns were blanked until the ninth, when Joe Holden stroked a two-run single with two outs.

On Deck
Thursday, May 25, 2006 – All Times E.T.

MLB: Philadelphia at New York, 1:10 p.m.
AAA: Norfolk at Syracuse, 7:00 p.m.
AA: Binghamton at Portland, 10:35 a.m.
A: Tampa at St. Lucie, 7:00 p.m.
A: Delmarva at Hagerstown, 6:35 p.m.