B-Mets 8, Erie 7

Lucas Duda hit the Binghamton Mets first grand slam since August 6, 2008, extending his hit streak to 15 games as the B-Mets hung on to defeat the Erie SeaWolves 8-7 Friday Night at NYSEG Stadium. Emmanuel Garcia extended his home on-base streak to 20 games when he singled to lead off the game.

Eric Niesen won his first career AA game, but was roughed up in the first inning. Alex Avila, Brennan Boesch and Ron Bourquin all collected RBI singles in the frame to give the SeaWolves a 3-0 lead.

Binghamton responded immediately in the bottom of the first off Erie starter Pat Stanley. Garcia singled, Jose Coronado reached on a fielder’s choice and Ike Davis walked to load the bases. Duda then smashed his fifth home run of the season to put the B-Mets up 4-3 with one swing.

Erie tied the game at four in the third when Casper Wells hit an opposite-field, leadoff home run against Niesen.

In the bottom of the fourth, Binghamton (34-57) put up another four spot to go ahead 8-4. Jonathan Malo was walked by Stanley to start the inning. After Ruben Tejada made an out, six straight B-Mets reached safely. Mike Nickeas singled, and Garcia drove in Malo for the first run with another single. Coronado then drove in Nickeas with a line drive to right that popped out of Boesch’s glove on a diving attempt. Davis followed by doubling down the right-field line, scoring both Garcia and Coronado to cap the inning. Stanley was eventually chased after allowing another walk and a hit. He went 3.1 innings in the loss, giving up eight runs on seven hits.