B-Mets 9, Connecticut 3

Ruben Tejada smashed his third homer of the season, but Connecticut lefty Madison Bumgarner was the story in Binghamton’s 9-3 loss to the Defenders Wednesday night at NYSEG Stadium. Jose Coronado extended his hitting streak to eight games in the losing effort with a double in the ninth, but Lucas Duda’s 19-game streak came to an end with an 0-3 performance.

Tejada smacked his home run in the fourth to put the B-Mets in front 1-0. All three of Tejada’s homers have come against Connecticut.

Eric Niesen took a perfect game into the fourth and pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the inning. He walked Brock Bond to lead off the frame and Mike McBryde singled on a hard-hit ball that Jonathan Malo could not handle at third. Eddy Martinez-Esteve later walked to load the bases, but Niesen got Ramon Castro to ground into an inning ending double play.

Niesen was not as fortunate in the fifth when he again loaded the bases. Bumgarner then hit his first career home run, a grand slam to put the Defenders out front. The inning continued with a McBryde single and a Pill walk. Ramon Castro then doubled, scoring both, bringing the score to 6-1.

Connecticut (55-42) struck for two more runs in the sixth off reliever Emary Frederick on run-scoring doubles by Bond and McBryde. Binghamton (37-59) gave up another run in the eighth when pinch-hitter Adam Witter went deep off reliever Jim Ed Warden, making it 9-1.

The B-Mets plated two runs in the ninth off reliever Dan Griffin. Josh Thole ripped a two-run double over the head of leftfielder Mike Mooney, yielding the final of 9-3.

Bumgarner moved to 7-1 on the season as he went seven innings, allowing one run on three hits.

Niesen went five innings, giving up six runs on five hits and five walks for the loss.

Binghamton looks to win their first series since May 14-17 when they take on Connecticut in the finale of a four-game set Thursday night. The B-Mets will toss reigning Eastern League Pitcher of the Week RHP Brad Holt (2-3, 5.02) and the Defenders will send RHP Tim Alderson (6-1, 3.29) to the mound. The first pitch is slated for 7:05 and the radio broadcast on Newsradio 1290 WNBF begins at 6:50 with the Horizons Federal Credit Union Pre-Game Show.