B-Mets Can’t Overcome Rocky Second, 7-4

BINGHAMTON,NY – The Harrisburg Senators scored five runs in the second inning and held offa late comeback to defeat the Binghamton Mets 7-4 Friday night at NYSEG Stadium.The loss drops the B-Mets back under .500.

Gonzalez Germen made the start for Binghamton in place of Zack Wheeler, who was placed onthe disabled list with a right middle fingernail avulsion. After making fourstarts with the St. Lucie Mets (High-A) prior to his promotion, the rightystarted his Double-A debut with a scoreless first inning.

Thingscame unglued in the second. The Senators pounded out six hits, including threedoubles, and took advantage of three wild pitches to jump out to a five-runlead. All three wild pitches uncorked by Germen brought home a run.

Therighty shook off the rough frame and finished with four scoreless innings. He struckout the final two in the second and capped his night by retiring 14 of the last15 Senators he faced. He matched a B-Mets starting pitcher high with ninestrikeouts.

Binghamtonscratched back in the third against Harrisburg starter Jeff Mandell. Juan Centeno led off with a single and moved to second on a sac bunt. With Matt den Dekker at the plate, Mandell bounced a wild pitch in the dirt. While Centenoscampered for third, catcher Devin Ivany gunned an errant throw to the bag,allowing Centeno to score Binghamton’s first run.

Mandellallowed two more runs in the sixth, his final frame. With two men aboard, Raul Reyes lined an RBI single to right, plating Josh Rodriguez. Juan Lagares followed by bouncing into a run-scoring fielder’s choice, cutting Harrisburg’slead to two.

TheSenators answered right back with two runs in the top of the seventh on arun-scoring groundout and a wild pitch by reliever Edgar Ramirez.

Trailing7-3, Binghamton loaded the bases in the eighth on three consecutive walks byRyan Tatusko, who was quickly replaced by Hector Nelo. Nelo allowed one run ona groundout by Lagares, but escapes with no further damage.

AfterNelo got two quick outs in the ninth, the righty allowed a single and walkedtwo to load the bases. Erik Davis replaced Nelo and faced Jefry Marte with thetying run on first. Davis needed just four pitches to strikeout Marte to endthe game.

Mandell(3-1) collected his third win, while Germen (0-1) dropped his Double-A debut.Davis recorded just one out to collect his first save.

TheB-Mets (13-14) continue their series against the Senators tomorrow afternoon at1:05 PM. LHP Darin Gorski takes the ball for Binghamton against LHP DannyRosenbaum. The Horizons Federal Credit Union pre-game show begins at 6:50 PM onNewsradio 1290 WNBF.

reprint from team press release