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The presence of the four - field coordinator Luis Aguayo, hitting coordinator Lamar Johnson, pitching coordinator Rick Waits, and pitching consultant Al Jackson – proved to be effective, as the Herd improved to 7-22 with a 5-3 walkoff win over the Norfolk Tides.

The Bisons earned a split of the four-game series as Jesus Feliciano drove a two-run homer to right field to snap a 3-3 tie.

“I’m really happy about it,” said Feliciano of his first homer of the year, which came on a slider against Norfolk reliever Andy Mitchell (2-1). “I was looking for my pitch and tried to drive the ball.”

“He was very patient,” said Bisons manager Ken Oberkfell. “Jesus has been one of our more consistent hitters. It was nice to see him come through. But I want to see this on a consistent basis.”

Both Feliciano and Oberkfell discussed the effects of having the roving instructors around.

“Lamar Johnson was talking about starting the season today,” Feliciano said. “Forget about what happened in the past. Everybody tried to do his best and we played a pretty good game.”

“It’s nice to have the extra people here to help,” said Oberkfell. “They talk to the players just like we do. They didn’t come in because (of our record). They have their schedules and it’s nice to see them.”

The roving instructors likely didn’t need to work much with starting pitcher Tim Redding, who threw 97 pitches in the second start of a rehab stint.

The 31-year old native of Rochester, who said he left between 30 and 40 tickets for the game, worked seven innings and scattered seven hits. He settled down well after allowing a two-run homer to Oscar Salazar in the first inning, but allowed the tying run in the seventh on a perfect safety squeeze by Carlos Rojas.

“I think I’ve shown I’m aggressive in the zone,” Redding said. “I’m throwing all my pitches and a lot of strikes.”

Signed by the Mets in January after starting 33 games for Washington Nationals in 2008, Redding is coming back from a strained rotator cuff, an injury sustained while getting into a throwing regimen following an off-season procedure to remove calcium deposits from a toe joint.

“Everything feels good,” Redding said. “I feel like I’m 100 percent.”

Barring anything unforeseen, Redding - a graduate of Churchville Chili High School and Monroe Community College - will likely be activated by the Mets later this week.

He will look to add to a resume which includes 149 major league games and a career record of 34-51.

“I just want to earn my money and go to where I was supposed to sign and pitch,” Redding explained. “I hope they see, with my two starts, that I’m ready. Wherever they see fit, I’m ready to contribute.”

Elmer Dessens, who recorded saves in his previous two outings, retired both batters he faced in the top of the ninth and got the win to improve his record to 2-1.

………

The Bisons batting order had a new look in the win. Argenis Reyes, sporting a .328 batting average, led off for the first time this season. He went 0-for-5, but the next three batters each had two hits and the 5-6-7 hitters had one apiece.

Michel Abreu, who came into the game with a .186 average, had a pair of doubles for his second multi-hit game of the season.

Feliciano had three RBI to raise his season total to seven.

………

One thing the Bisons offense has been able to do with some effectiveness: steal bases. Catcher Rafael Arroyo stole second base before scoring in the third inning, extending the Bisons current streak of successful swipes to 18.

For the season, the Herd is 21 of 23 (91.3%) in steals, though their total ranks around the middle of the International League. Toledo entered Monday’s action with 41.

………

Buffalo will host the International League’s newest member, the Gwinnett Braves, for a four-game set starting Tuesday night.

The G-Braves are in their first season representing the outskirts of Atlanta. The club had been based in Richmond, Virginia since 1966.