New Britian 14, Binghamton 2

Nick Evans managed three hits, including a homer, in four trips to the plate, but he proved to be the lone bright spot in a 14-2 shellacking handed to Binghamton at New Britain Friday night. The B-Mets have now lost nine straight. Brad Holt was harassed for seven runs over 2 2/3 innings to remain winless on the season.

Binghamton (19-21) got in the run column first against Rock Cats starter David Bromberg. Luis Hernandez singled through the right side with one out. Evans joined him on base with a bloop single to center. Bromberg, who walked four in the game, issued a walk to Marshall Hubbard to load the bases. The right-hander’s command issues persisted as he allowed a bases-loaded walk to Mike Nickeas, forcing in Hernandez to give the B-Mets their only lead of the game, 1-0.

New Britain (10-29) got to Holt in the second inning. Alan de San Miguel tied the score with an RBI double to left after Yangervis Solarte and Steve Singleton reached on singles with one out. Chris Cates followed with a groundout to second, plating Singleton, and Brandon Roberts capped the scoring with a seeing-eye single through the left side that brought de San Miguel across, making it 3-1 Rock Cats.

Holt would not last through the next inning. With two outs and a man on base, the righty allowed five straight men to reach resulting in four more runs, upping New Britain’s lead to six, 7-1.

The rout was on from there. Roy Merritt, who had gotten Holt out of the third, confronted his own demons in the fourth. The southpaw gave up six runs on five hits and a walk in the fourth, giving the Rock Cats a commanding 13-1 lead.

The B-Mets final run came courtesy of Evans, who led off the sixth with a solo homer, his seventh, to left off Bromberg. It was the first homer that the starter had allowed in 42 2/3 innings in 2010.

Bromberg notched the win with a terrific start of 6 2/3 innings. The Los Angeles native permitted two runs on six hits, while walking four and striking out a season-best nine men.

Chris Province worked the final 2 1/3 innings in shutout fashion for the Rock Cats, sealing up the team’s third straight win.

Edgar Ramirez proved to be the most effective pitcher for Binghamton with two, perfect innings of relief in the fifth and sixth. Hubbard, who started the game as the designated hitter, pitched the final two innings, allowing a run on two hits. It was Hubbard’s first career pitching appearance.

The nine-game losing streak is the longest since a similar length streak plagued the team at the end of the 2004 season from August 29-September 6.