Binghamton 9, Portland 3

frompress release

Kirk Nieuwenhuis smashed four extra-base hits and the B-Mets won again behind Josh Stinson, knocking off Portland 9-3 at NYSEG Stadium Saturday night to even the five-game series at two wins each. Binghamton is a perfect 7-0 in games started by the Shreveport, La. native.


Nieuwenhuis hit the ground running with a ground-rule double just inside the line in left off Sea Dogs’ starter Jeremy Kehrt. Sean Ratliff advanced him to third with a fielder’s choice to short and Nick Evans brought him home with a double-play groundout, pitting Binghamton (43-39) a 1-0 lead.



The centerfielder extended the lead to two with a long solo homer to right leading off the third inning. It was Nieuwenhuis’ 12th home run of the season and second in as many days.



Stinson worked the first four innings in scoreless fashion, facing two over the minimum. However, Portland (41-40) got to the right-hander in the fifth. Ryan Khoury led off with a ground-rule double to left. Chih-Hsien Chiang chased him home with a clean single to right. Stinson buckled down to get the next two hitters before walking Nate Spears. Yamaico Navarro made the starter pay with a bases-clearing triple to center, vaulting the Sea Dogs into a 3-2 lead.



The B-Mets responded quickly in the next half inning, though. Nieuwenhuis once again led the charge with a leadoff double to right-center. Ratliff grounded out to second, moving the runner up to third. With the infield drawn in, Evans ripped a grounder to short that was knocked down by Navarro, but the slick-fielding shortstop’s throw was late. Now with runners at the corners, Marshall Hubbard yanked a ball off the glove of first baseman Anthony Rizzo to reach, scoring Nieuwenhuis to tie the game. The play was ruled an error.



Josh Satin continued the onslaught with a ringing single to left, bringing home Evans to give Binghamton the lead. The B-Mets were not content with the slim lead though, as Raul Reyes cleared the bases with a triple to left, upping the advantage to 6-3, knocking Kehrt out of the game. Eammon Portice was summoned to finish the inning and promptly gave up a two-run homer to Mike Nickeas, making it 8-3. It was Nickeas’ second homer of the season.