B-Mets 5, Reading 2

Binghamton Earns Split with Reading, 5-2



Emmanuel Garcia’s three-run home run in the sixth inning proved to be the difference as the B-Mets topped Reading 5-2 behind five strong innings from starter Mike Antonini, who struck out eight Phillies’ hitters to pick up the win.



Binghamton (3-2) jumped on the scoreboard first in the second inning using three consecutive hits from Lucas Duda, Matt Bouchard and Caleb Stewart to load the bases against Reading (3-2) starter Tyson Brummett. Then, Carl Loadenthal slapped a liner to right that was caught by Gus Milner allowing Duda to tag up and score from third making the score 1-0,



The second run came the next inning when Ruben Tejada walked and was followed by a Josh Thole double off the base of the wall in right-centerfield. With two runners in scoring position, Shawn Bowman grounded out to first to score Tejada giving the B-Mets the lead, 2-0.



The big hit came in the sixth inning as Garcia took reliever Alex Concepcion out of the yard for a three-run homer with two outs to score Stewart and Loadenthal and put Binghamton up 5-0. The home run gave Garcia a five-game hitting streak. He went 2-5 in the contest with 3 RBI.



Reading scored their runs in the eighth when Gus Milner hit a long home run off of Binghamton reliever Eric Brown to score Brian Stavisky and himself . However, Roy Merritt quieted the crowd of 1,606 with a 1-2-3 ninth inning to notch his third save and secure the 5-2 win.



Binghamton returns home from the road for the first time tomorrow when they open up a seven-game homestand with the Portland Sea Dogs at 6:35 p.m. RHP Dylan Owen (0-0, 3.60) gets the ball for the B-Mets and will be opposed by RHP Blake Maxwell (0-0, 2.45) of Portland. The radio broadcast on Newsradio 1290 WNBF begins at 6:20 with the Horizons Federal Credit Union Pre-Game Show.