Thunder 6, Lightning 5

The Binghamton Mets blew a one-run lead in the eighth inning and watchedtheir four-game winning streak come to an end in a 6-5 loss to the TrentonThunder Monday night at NYSEG Stadium. The Thunder pounded out 13 hits,including three home runs, to extend their lead in the Eastern Division.

Owninga 5-4 lead entering the eighth, the B-Mets looked to Ryan Fraser to hold offthe relentless Thunder attack. Zoilo Almonte lined a single off the righty’sleg to start the inning and Melky Mesa dumped a double to right. After a walkloaded the bases, J.R. Murphy tied the game with a sac fly to center and RobSegedin gave Trenton the lead for good with an RBI single to the right side.

Itwas the first lead Trenton held since scoring the first run of the game justthree pitches into the game. Jose Pirela led off the game by crushing a tripleto center against starter Darin Gorski. He scored on the very next pitch whencatcher Francisco Pena’s pickoff attempt sailed into left.

Binghamtonresponded with a three-spot in the third inning against Mikey O’Brien. Aftersingling with one out, Wildredo Tovar stole second and scored on a single byJuan Lagares. Reese Havens launched a two-run homer to right center, his eighthof the season.

Trentonquickly countered in the fourth. Addison Maruszak and Almonte started theinning with back-to-back home runs to tie the game at three. It was the thirdtime this season Gorski has allowed consecutive home runs.

Binghamtongrabbed the lead back without the aid of a hit in the fourth, O’Brien’s finalinning. Allan Dykstra walked, moved to second on an error and scored on twostraight groundouts. Wilmer Flores added another run in the fifth againstreliever Graham Stoneburner with an RBI double to right center.

Gorskinearly lost the lead in the sixth, his last frame. With two outs, Melky Mesa basheda solo homer off the left field message center. Luke Murton doubled and triedto score on a single by Murphy, but was gunned down at home by left fielderEric Campbell. Gorski exited with a chance to win after allowing four runs(three earned) on nine hits. He struck out five and allowed three home runs,matching a career-high.

Trentonalmost broke through again in the seventh when reliever Adrian Rosario walkedthe first two batters. The righty settled in and retired three straight topreserve the lead.

Aftertaking the lead against Fraser in the eighth, the Thunder turned to DannyFarquhar. The former Fisher Cat allowed one hit over two scoreless innings toearn his fourth straight save.

Stoneburner(1-0) allowed one run on three hits over three innings of relief to collect hisfirst win of the year. Fraser (2-2) took the loss and his first blown save.