7/31/09

B-Mets Split Doubleheader




The B-Mets overcame an early 1-0 deficit in Game 2 of their doubleheader at Blair Country Ballpark to win 5-1 despite rainy conditions in Altoona. The win came after Binghamton had fallen 2-1 in the first game of the series. Thanks to single hits in both games, including a homer in the second contest, Ike Davis extended his hitting streak to 14 games.

Binghamton (40-63) struck first in Game 1 against lefty Daniel Moskos. With the bases loaded and two out in the second inning, Moskos walked Davis with the bases full to bring home pitcher Eric Niesen, making it 1-0.

Altoona (42-64) came back to tie in the third frame when Miguel Perez scored on a Gorky’s Hernandez fielder’s choice to first. Perez had doubled to open the frame off Niesen.

In the fifth, the Curve took the lead for good after Niesen walked the leadoff hitter Jason Delaney. The next hitter Ray Chang hit a sacrifice bunt to first that was botched by Davis and Niesen allowing Chang to reach and Delaney to move up to third. With runners at the corners, Perez scored Delaney with a sac fly to center, putting Altoona ahead 2-1.

Despite walking five men, Moskos picked up the win with five innings of one-run work. Jean Machi was credited with his sixth save for tossing a scoreless seventh inning.

In contrast to the first game, Altoona got on the board first against starter Mike Antonini, who was making his first start since July 3. Miles Durham got things going with one out with a clean single. Jonel Pacheco followed with a sharp groundball that appeared to be a double-play ball. However, it went through the legs of second baseman Jose Coronado, allowing Pacheco to reach and Durham to chug around to third. Pedro Lopez capitalized on the situation with an RBI single through the left side of the infield to put the Curve in front 1-0.

Binghamton took the lead for good with two runs in the fifth off starter Kyle Bloom. After D.J. Wabick was hit by a pitch, Jonathan Malo delivered an RBI double to the right-centerfield gap scoring Wabick. A fielding error on the play moved Malo to third and Ruben Tejada would later drive him in with a single, making it 2-1.

Davis supplied insurance in the sixth with a two-run homer to right off reliever Sean Smith, his eighth with the B-Mets. Lucas Duda would make it a 5-1 lead with a solo shot of his own later on in the frame. It was Duda’s ninth long ball of the year.

Antonini fired four innings allowing only an unearned run on four hits. Eric Brown followed him with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief to end his eight-game losing streak. Connor Robertson sealed up the victory by getting Brian Friday, the tying run, to ground out to short with the bases full. Robertson is now seven for seven in save chances.

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