A Little Stuff

B-Mets:


For Immediate Release
Date: June 5, 2009 Contact: Matt McCabe, mmccabe@bmets.com

Holt Dazzles in Debut, Bullpen Falters in 7-4 Loss

Brad Holt made his AA debut on the mound for Binghamton and tossed 6.1 strong innings but got a no decision in the B-Mets 7-4 loss to the Connecticut Defenders Friday night at NYSEG Stadium. Shawn Bowman had his fourth three-hit game of the year, going 3-5 with a double and an RBI.

A four-run eighth doomed Binghamton. Edgar Alfonzo, who took the loss, came out for the eighth after getting the final two outs of the seventh. Brock Bond led off the inning with a single. An error by Ruben Tejada allowed Mike McBryde to reach and from there the inning was sparked. Brandon Crawford laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to score McBryde after Bond scored on a wild pitch, and Eddy Martinez-Esteve followed with an RBI single off Edgar Ramirez, who came in to relieve Alfonzo. Bobby Felmy finished off the scoring with an RBI double to increase the Defenders lead to 7-4.

Binghamton (22-30) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly by Josh Thole that scored Emmanuel Garcia, who had walked to open the frame. Then with two outs, Bowman hit an RBI double just inside the bag at third Nick Evans, who had singled earlier, to make the score 2-0.

After Connecticut (30-24) tied the score with a run each in the fourth and fifth innings off Holt, the B-Mets responded with two of their own in the bottom of the fifth to regain the lead. Thole walked with one out and Lucas Duda followed with a run scoring double. After Bowman struck out, Carl Loadenthal drove in Duda on an opposite field hit to right to make it 4-2.

Holt went 6.1 innings giving up three runs, two earned, on two hits and three walks in his debut.

Dan Griffin pitched a scoreless seventh and was awarded the win for the Defenders, his third of the season. Joe Paterson nailed down his sixth save by pitching the final two frames, giving up one hit and striking out four.

Binghamton will play their second doubleheader of the season tomorrow. The B-Mets won both ends of a twinbill against Trenton May 17. RHP Jenrry Meija (0-0, 0.00) will make his AA debut in the opening game and will be opposed by the Defenders’ RHP Daryl Maday (2-2, 3.99). LHP Mike Antonini (4-1, 5.95) will throw the second game for Binghamton and his opposition has yet to be named. The first pitch of game one is slated for 5:05 and the radio broadcast on Newsradio 1290 WNBF begins at 4:50 with the Horizons Federal Credit Union Pre-Game Show.
-- Matt McCabeBroadcaster/Director of Media RelationsBinghamton Metse-mail: mmccabe@bmets.com



Saturday, June 6 Connecticut G1 5:05 pm RHP Jenrry Mejia (0-0, 0.00 vs. RHP Daryl Maday (2-2, 3.99)
Saturday, June 6 Connecticut G2 TBD LHP Mike Antonini (4-1, 5.95) vs. TBA
Sunday, June 7 Connecticut 1:05 pm RHP Tobi Stoner (1-2, 2.81) vs. RHP Jesse Foppert (0-3, 5.65)
Tuesday, June 9 Harrisburg 7:05 pm RHP Ryan Coultas (4-2, 2.59) vs. TBA

Gnats:

The Gnats (26-28) outhit Charleston on Friday night but still lost to the first-place ‘Dogs, 5-3, in front of 2,133 at Historic Grayson Stadium. Three separate Sand Gnats registered three hits as Savannah outhit the RiverDogs, 12-7.

The Gnats had an opportunity to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh when they loaded the bases with two outs off reliever Dan Kapala. Back-to-back walks to Sean Ratliff and Josh Satin followed a Jefry Marte single to load the bases and bring Raul Reyes to the plate. Last year’s RiverDogs closer Jonathan Ortiz was summoned from the ‘pen to face Reyes and he retired him on a fly out to end the threat.

Things started out well for the Georgia boys in the first when the first five men reached base safely but some baserunning mistakes only allowed for one run to score. In the second, Rafael Fernandez singled in Matt Gaski from third to open up a, 2-0, lead.

Starter Elvin Ramirez (3-4) battled with his control through the first two innings but lost the battle in the third when the RiverDogs plated four runs on three hits and two Savannah errors. Ramirez went on to start the fourth but was removed with two away in favor of Michael Powers. The San Cristobal, D.R. native allowed five runs (two earned) on four hits with a season-high seven walks.

The bullpen was once again picture perfect for the Savannah club as Powers, Jake Goldberg and Samuel Martinez combined for 5.1 innings of three-hit relief. Each reliever allowed just one hit and struck out three to keep the Gnats close.

Fernandez, Jefry Marte and recently added catcher Ralph Henriquez all notched three-hit games for the Gnats. Marte has now hit safely in four straight contests and was 8-for-17 in the series against the RiverDogs.