B-Mets Battle Back in Comeback Win, 4-3

BINGHAMTON,NY – Trailing by three in the fifth inning, the Binghamton Mets scored fourunanswered runs to defeat the Altoona Curve 4-3 Friday night at NYSEG Stadium. RylanSandoval led the offense with three hits, including a go-ahead RBI single in Binghamton’sdecisive three-run sixth inning.

TheCurve, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Double-A affiliate, put the B-Mets in an earlydeficit. After Binghamton starter Gonzalez Germen hit Quincy Latimore to startthe second inning, Stefan Welch sent a bouncer to first that had double playpotential. The B-Mets failed to record an out on the play as Eric Campbell’sthrow to second sailed into left field. Drew Maggi cashed in immediately,delivering an RBI double to left to get the Curve on the board.

Altoonastarter Brandon Cumpton made the lead stand through four innings. The rightyfaced just one over the minimum through his first four frames, allowing a harmlesssingle to Juan Centeno in the third.

Meanwhile,the Curve added to their lead. Jarek Cunningham led off the third with a singleand scored two batters later when Ramon Cabrera shot a double down the rightfield line. In the fifth, Altoona converted three singles and a throwing errorby third baseman Jefry Marte into their third run of the game.

Binghamtonstarted their comeback in the fifth against Cumpton. Dustin Martin led off theinning by scorching a double off the base of the center field fence. Sandovalbrought him home with an RBI single to left.

Withthe deficit cut to two, Germen returned to the mound and capped his night witha perfect sixth inning. The righty allowed three runs (one earned) on eighthits and struck out six over six innings of work.

TheB-Mets took him off the hook with a hit parade in the sixth. Reese Havens’ oneout single off Cumpton started a streak of six straight B-Mets reaching basesafely. Marte and Campbell both followed with singles to load the bases. DustinMartin tied the game with a two-run single that ricocheted off Cumpton’s gloveand rolled into right field. The hit ended the righty’s night.

Withrunners at the corners, Kris Harvey was called upon to put out the flames.Sandoval greeted the righty by ripping an RBI single through the hole on theleft side to give Binghamton the lead for good.

TheB-Met bullpen took the lead to the finish line. Ryan Fraser struck out allthree he faced in a perfect seventh. Armando Rodriguez took over in the eighthand used two strikeouts to navigate around a pair of walk in a scoreless frame.The righty returned for the ninth and nailed down his first career save,fanning Cunningham to end the game.

Germen(3-4) earned his second consecutive win while Cumpton (7-5) suffered the loss,snapping his two-game winning streak. Binghamton improves to 7-14 in seriesopeners.

TheB-Mets (31-32) look to even their overall record Saturday night at 7:05 PM. LHPDarin Gorski will take the mound for Binghamton. The Horizons Federal CreditUnion pre-game show begins at 6:50 PM on Newsradio 1290 WNBF.

team press release