Fisher Cats 2, B-Mets 1

Righty Fernando Nieve retired the final 15 men he faced and worked a season-long six innings, but the B-Mets fell 2-1 to the Fisher Cats. Emmanuel Garcia scored Binghamton’s only run after doubling in the sixth and Eric Brown was the loser giving up just a run in two innings of relief.



Nieve came out firing early working a 1-2-3 first inning, but he ran into trouble in the second, loading the bases thanks to a single, a walk and an error committed by Garcia in center. With the bases full, Al Quintana grounded into a fielder’s choice that allowed David Cooper, who had led off the inning with a single, to score, making it 1-0.



Casey Janssen, who made his first start for New Hampshire (18-14) since 2005 pitched scoreless up until the sixth inning. With one out, he gave up an infield single to Ruben Tejada. Following Tejada, Garcia doubled off the wall in right-center. Tejada tried to score from first, but was thrown out on a relay by second baseman Brad Emaus from rightfielder Nick Gorneault. Garcia advanced to third on the throw and came home to score the tying run on a bloop single to center with two outs from Jonathan Malo.



Nieve exited after six innings giving way to Eric Brown. The first batter Brown faced, David Cooper, roped a solo home run to right-center to give the Fisher Cats the lead for good at 2-1.



Janssen went six innings giving up just one run on four hits with five strikeouts. Brandon Magee, the starter that Janssen displaced, picked up the win with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.



Edgar Estanga came on with the tying run on base in the eighth and struck out Garcia to end the inning and secure the lead. In the ninth, he came out and saved things retiring Binghamton (14-16) in order. Nieve clocked a no-decision going six innings giving up an unearned run on one hit with a season-high six strikeouts.



Tomorrow, the two teams will settle the score with the rubber match of the three-game series. LHP Mike Antonini (4-1, 4.88) will make his seventh start and the Fisher Cats will counter with Major League rehabber LHP Ricky Romero (0-0, 0.00). The game is slated for a 6:35 first pitch and the radio broadcast on Newsradio 1290 WNBF begins at 6:20 with the Horizons Federal Credit Union Pre-Game Show.