The Result
Mets - 6 runs to 4

The Curve - Year-to-Date
9 wins and 11 losses

Brett's Position and the Batting Order
Playing - Leftfield
Batting - #3

Brett's at-bats
First plate appearance
Righthanded pitcher
Bases empty - two down
Called strike
Ball - change up - outside
Swing and a miss - "Roneberg swings over the top of a slider that was down and in"
"Roneberg swings at that 1ball-2strike pitch and it goes all the way back to the net ... the catcher collects it and throws on to first base to make the final out of the innings ... The Mets have cleared the field, but Brett is still standing in the batter's box and I don't blame him ... he clearly got a piece of that ball, and you could hear it clip the bat and then it came off the catcher's glove to the net ... the Curve Manager is talking to the umpires, but the call will stand ... scored as a K2-3 ... and it would have to be called a controversial strike out"
Strike out
Second plate appearance
Righthanded pitcher
Runner at second base - one down
Foul ball - back
Ball - fast ball - outside
Called strike - "That was a good breaking ball that dropped through the zone"
Foul ball - "That was a defensive swing by Brett on the pitch that was in on his hands"
"This pitch is popped up right at home plate and the catcher takes a one handed catch in foul territory"
Pop up to the catcher - F2
Third plate appearance
Righthanded pitcher
Bases empty - two down
Called strike
Ball - fast ball - outside
Foul ball - back
"There's a bouncer towards third base and it's picked up and thrown to first base for the final out of the innings"
Ground out to third base - 5 to 3
Fourth plate appearance
Righthanded pitcher------Carlos Muniz-
Runner at first base - none down
Ball - fast ball - low
Called strike - "The runner is off and the pitch is a strike ... the runner is safe at second base without a throw ... and that will be ruled as 'defensive indifference' ... the Mets are really not interested in the runner as they are leading by four runs here in the top of the ninth innings"
Ball - down and in
"Roneberg is waiting patiently for the 2ball-1strike pitch ... and here it comes"
"That ball is lifted pretty well into right-centrefield!!!"
"High and deep!!! ... and it is carrying!!! ... the fielder is back at the fence!!!"
"And that ball is out of here!!!"
"Brett picks up his second home run of the season with a two run blast that just cleared the fence in right-centrefield!!!"
"That brings the Curve back to just two runs shy of tying the game here in the top of the ninth innings ... and it is still none down"
HOME RUN - 2 X RBI's------(click here for more details)

Error
From the play-by-play report - the bottom of the fifth innings
----------Mark Kiger flies out to centerfielder Andrew McCutchen
----------Miguel Negron singles on a ground ball to leftfielder Brett Roneberg
--------------------Miguel Negron advances to third - on throwing error by leftfielder Brett Roneberg
----------Mike Carp out on a sacrifice fly to centerfielder Andrew McCutchen
--------------------Miguel Negron scores
----------Jose A Reyes walks
--------------------With Nic Jackson batting, wild pitch by Yoslan Herrera, Jose A Reyes to second
----------Nic Jackson grounds out - shortstop Jason Bowers to first baseman Randy Ruiz
The commentator mentioned - "Brett's throw wasn't too bad ... it just skipped under the glove of the second-baseman and ended up out in rightfield ... it is probably more of a mental error by the Curve infield for not backing up the throw ... and that is Brett's first error of the season"

At the end of the Game
1 hit from 4 at-bats - HOME RUN, 2 x runs batted in, 1 x run scored, 1 x strike out, 1 x error

Heard during the game

(01) During Brett's second plate appearance, the commentator said - "Last night I mentioned that Brett was wearing uniform #39 instead of his usual #17 ... this was because #17 had been put into the wrong locker and wasn't discovered until about the third innings ... Brett didn't change, and went on to have a great ballgame wearing the new number, which isn't assigned to any Curve player ... he is again wearing #39 tonight ... he doesn't want to interfer with the 'great karma' of that uniform!!!"

(02) During the Post Game Show, the commentator announced - "Brett Roneberg's two run blast in the top of the ninth innings has been judged the Hit of the Game"

Email from Brett

Game Reports

Miguel Negron's home run started a four-run Binghamton fourth inning and led the B-Mets to a 6-4 win over the Altoona Curve Sunday afternoon at NYSEG Stadium in Binghamton

The loss gives the Curve (9-11) a two games-to-one series defeat against a Binghamton team which entered the weekend with an Eastern League-low three wins on the season

Curve starter Yoslan Herrera endured his third straight rough outing and was handed his second loss of the season
Herrera (0-2), the Cuban defector who is in his first season pitching in the United States, was on the mound for the four-run Binghamton fourth and overall allowed six runs - five earned - on seven hits in five innings
Over his last three starts, Herrera has allowed 16 earned runs in 14 innings of work (10.29 ERA)

The B-Mets scored the game's first run in the bottom of the second inning on a Jose Reyes solo home run off Herrera

Altoona tied the game briefly in the fourth inning against Binghamton starter Kevin Mulvey when leadoff man Jason Bowers doubled and later scored on Randy Ruiz's team-leading 18th RBI of the season

However, that was the only tally allowed by Mulvey (2-3), who struck out seven Curve hitters in six innings to pick up the win

Offensively, the Curve managed only six hits against Mulvey and two relievers, but did get two home runs in a game for the first time in 20 games this season
Neil Walker went deep for the second straight day with a solo homer in the top of the seventh and Brett Roneberg hit his second longball of the season in the top of the ninth, picking up two runs-batted-in and cutting a four-run Binghamton lead in half

The Curve will spend an off day on the road in Norwich, CT on Monday before resuming their six-game road trip Tuesday night with the opener of a three-game series against the Connecticut Defenders (AA/Giants) at Dodd Stadium in Norwich
Altoona will send right-hander Kip Bouknight (1-0, 2.70) to the mound against Defenders righty Nick Pereira (0-1, 4.50) for the 6.35pm contest

Game Notes
For the third straight day, the Curve played with out manager Tim Leiper who returned to his home in Ottawa, Ontario to tend to family obligations - former Curve manager Tony Beasley, now the Pirates' roving infield instructor, managed the team on Saturday and Sunday
1B/DH Randy Ruiz went 1-for-4 and has now hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games - Ruiz has also been on base in 19 of 20 games this season

Miguel Negron homered to spark a four-run rally in the fourth inning as Binghamton topped Altoona, 6-4, on Sunday at NYSEG Stadium

Negron led off the inning with a homer to right, his second of the season, to put the Mets ahead, 2-1
Nic Jackson doubled home Mike Carp, and Enrique Cruz followed with a two-run double to cap the rally

The Mets (6-12), who took two of three from Altoona, tacked on another in the fifth on Carp's sacrifice fly

Brett Roneberg hit a two-run homer and Neil Walker went deep with a solo shot for the Curve (9-11)

Kevin Mulvey (2-3) limited Altoona to one run on three hits in six innings, striking out seven
It was the fourth straight start Mulvey has allowed less than two runs

Altoona starter Yoslan Herrera (0-2) allowed six runs - five earned - on seven hits and two walks in five innings, striking out four

Kevin Mulvey allowed a run over six innings and was backed up by homers from Jose Reyes and Miguel Negron, helping the Binghamton Mets to a 6-4 victory over the Altoona Curve at NYSEG Stadium Sunday

Binghamton took two of three in the series

Binghamton (5-12) jumped out to 1-0 lead when Reyes led off the second against Yoslan Herrera with his first homer of the year

After Altoona (9-11) tied the scored in the fourth on doubles by Jason Bowers and Randy Ruiz, Negron led off the fourth with his second longball of the year for a 2-1 advantage
Negron’s homer was the start of a four-run inning for the B-Mets
Mike Carp and Reyes followed with singles off Herrera (0-2) before Nic Jackson doubled home Carp
Two batters later, J.E. Cruz hammered a two-run double to left that brought in Reyes and Jackson for a 5-1 Binghamton advantage

The B-Mets made it 6-1 in the fifth when Negron singled, advanced to third on an error and scored on Carp’s sacrifice fly

Mulvey (2-3) yielded just three hits, walking none and striking out seven

Altoona scored the game’s final three runs on Neil Walker’s solo blast off Robert Paulk in the seventh and Brett Roneberg’s two-run shot off Carlos Muniz in the ninth

Notes
The B-Mets won their first series of the year and first since 8/1-3, 2006 @ NB, going 13 consecutive series without winning one before today
Reyes homered for the first time since 2005, when he was with the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx of the AA Southern League
Cruz, who came into the game with one hit and two RBI, had two doubles
Mulvey’s seven strikeouts are a B-Mets season high

The Pirates knew Yoslan Herrera would be a project this season after a two-year layoff, and the Cuban pitcher has yet to find his comfort zone with the Curve
Herrera gave up six runs - five earned - over five innings Sunday at Binghamton and saw his ERA rise to 8.05 through four starts

The B-Mets took control with four runs in the fourth inning and beat Altoona, 6-4, at NYSEG Stadium

Neil Walker hit his second solo homer in as many days for the Curve, who trailed 6-2 entering the ninth inning
Brett Roneberg then bashed a two-run homer to make things interesting, but Altoona drew no closer

Tony Beasley once again served as the Curve’s interim manager as Tim Leiper continued his leave of absence for personal reasons
Leiper is expected to rejoin the team Tuesday at Connecticut

Herrera (0-2) opened his season on a promising note, giving up a run on four hits over five innings at Akron
It’s been rough for the pitcher since then, however, starting with him giving up four earned runs on seven hits in four innings against Bowie on April 17
The past two outings have been disastrous for Herrera
He allowed seven earned runs over his first two innings last Monday against Bowie and couldn’t turn things around Sunday

Binghamton scored a run in the second inning, with Altoona tying it on Randy Ruiz’s RBI double in the fourth
The B-Mets answered with four runs on five hits in their half of the fourth, ignited by Miguel Negron’s leadoff homer

Herrera allowed two singles and a double to the next three hitters, and J.E. Cruz’s two-run double capped the scoring to make it 5-1

Binghamton starter Kevin Mulvey (2-3) gave up a run on three hits and struck out seven over six innings to earn the win

Altoona (Double-A, 9-11) lost, 6-4, at Binghamton (Mets)

Left fielder Brett Roneberg and third baseman Neil Walker each hit a home run in defeat

Center fielder Andrew McCutchen went 1 for 4 and scored a run

Right-hander Yoslan Herrera (0-2) was tagged for six runs - including two home runs - in five innings

There were glimpses of it last year, both here and in the Arizona Fall League
New York Mets officials could see it during major league spring training, especially when he struck out St. Louis standout Albert Pujols with a fastball

On Sunday afternoon, Kevin Mulvey displayed the talent that made him the Mets' top pick in last year's draft and has him ranked as one of the organization's top prospects
He pitched his best game as a pro, a six-inning, seven-strikeout effort in the Binghamton Mets' 6-4 victory over the Altoona Curve at NYSEG Stadium
Mulvey (2-3) scattered three hits and allowed just one run

"Oh, it's a great confidence booster to know that if you have your stuff, they can't hit you" Mulvey said
"It's a great feeling to know that your best stuff can get guys out"

Jose A. Reyes and Miguel Negron each hit home runs, and J.E. Cruz drove in two runs for the B-Mets (5-11), who have won two of their last three games

"Like I've been saying, it's a matter of seeing everyone play more often" B-Mets manager Mako Oliveras said
"Especially pitchers, as they get to their fourth, fifth and six starts, you'll start to see them be more consistent"

Mulvey, the Mets' No. 1 pick in the 2006 draft, used all four of his pitches well, working both sides of the plate with his fastball and changeup, and using both his curveball and his slider as a strikeout pitch

He retired the first nine Altoona hitters

Of his 78 pitches, 56 were strikes, including first-pitch strikes to the first six batters he faced

The Curve (9-11) put together two doubles in the fourth inning and a single in the fifth against Mulvey

"It speeds the game up, plus you know that once you get a few runs, that's all you're going to need to win" said Cruz, who had a two-run double as part of a four-run B-Mets third inning

Mulvey, who pitched at Villanova, signed with the Mets last August and made three late-season starts with the B-Mets, going 0-1 with a 1.35 ERA
He made five starts in the Arizona Fall League and spent time at big-league spring training
There, he learned from the Mets' veterans about the importance of a good pitching routine and relying on all his pitches

"Not all guys benefit from big-league spring training, but he benefited from being around a Tom Glavine and a Billy Wagner" said Mets' minor-league pitching coordinator Rick Waits, who was in town for the series
"He's got four pitches he can throw for strikes, and he's still learning which off-speed pitch is going to be effective that day and how to put it all together"

In the season opener on April 9 in Erie, Mulvey lasted just 1-1/3 innings, giving up seven earned runs
Since then, the Mets have kept him on a steady routine
He's the only B-Mets pitcher to start five games - no one else has more than three starts

"With each outing, I get more comfortable" Mulvey said

One thing Mulvey doesn't have to worry about is his place within the organization
Unlike last year, when former top picks Mike Pelfrey and Philip Humber were shuttled up the organization, Waits said that the Mets would like to keep Mulvey in Binghamton for much of this season, if not the entire season
"We tell young pitchers that they should not concern themselves with moving up and down" Waits said
"What is important is the process, doing the daily work to improve
If you do that, the results take care of themselves"

It's something Mulvey understands and welcomes
"I just worry about trying to bet better and not worry about getting sent up or down" he said
"Obviously, there are going to be peaks and valleys
There are with every player
But it's up to the Mets if and when they move me anywhere
I have no say in that, other than how I pitch"