FIRST PITCH: The Mets enjoy an off-day in Cleveland today before opening a weekend series against the Indians.
Zack Wheeler opposes Scott Kazmir in Friday’s series opener.
Thursday’s news reports:
• Dillon Gee limited Atlanta to one run in seven innings to earn his 11th win and the Mets avoided getting swept with a 5-2 victory at Atlanta on Wednesday at Turner Field. Andrew Brown and Lucas Duda homered. Read game recaps in the Post, Daily News, Newsday, Star-Ledger, Record and MLB.com.
• Duda continued his solid production while playing first base. Read more in the Times, Post, Daily News and Newsday.
• Robert Carson surrendered a walk-off homer and Salt Lake beat Las Vegas, 4-3, in Game 1 of their best-of-five Pacific Coast League series. Binghamton all-time saves leader Jeff Walters failed to hold a two-run lead with two outs in the bottom of the 10th and Binghamton lost at Trenton, 6-5, in Game 1 of their Eastern League series.
Stefan Sabol went 3-for-5 and drove in four runs and Gabriel Ynoa took a scoreless effort into the seventh as Savannah won its South Atlantic League playoff opener, 10-2 against Augusta.
Brooklyn avoided the first losing season in its 13-year history with a season-ending 4-2 win against Tri-City.
Frank Francisco tossed a scoreless inning for Binghamton, while Jeurys Familia allowed an unearned run in one inning for the Cyclones.
Read the full minor league recap here.
• Read a profile of Binghamton Game 2 starter Darin Gorski here.
• Ike Davis received a cortisone injection Tuesday. Terry Collins believes the first baseman’s season is over. Read more in the Record and Star-Ledger.
• From the bloggers … Faith and Fear in Flushing has noticed the Mets are running historically low on power.
BIRTHDAYS: Ex-catcher Rod Barajas turns 38.
TWEET OF THE DAY:
Solid 10-2 W tonight against Augusta! I'd say that's a good start to the playoffs! Hope we can keep it going! Great team win! #PackGrayson— Brandon Nimmo (@You_Found_Nimmo) September 5, 2013
YOU’RE UP: Do you think Lucas Duda is benefiting offensively from playing first base?