Reading 5, B-Mets 2

The Reading Phillies blasted two homers and scored five unanswered runs todefeat the Binghamton Mets 5-2 on Sunday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. TheR-Phils hit seven home runs and handed Binghamton three critical losses duringthe four-game series.

Afterwaiting through an 85-minute rain delay, the B-Mets took advantage of Readingstarter Brody Colvin’s wildness in the first two innings. Through the first tenbatters, Colvin issued three walks, hit a batter and uncorked one wild pitch.Allan Dykstra gave Binghamton the lead with an RBI single in the first andFrancisco Pena scampered home on Colvin’s wild pitch in the second.

Itwas the only offense Binghamton compiled against the righty. Colvin (1-0) settleddown and retired 12 of the final 13 B-Mets he faced, taking the game to thesixth inning. He surrendered just one hit and struck out five to earn his firstDouble-A victory.

Trailing2-0 in the fourth, the R-Phils turned the tide with one swing against starterMark Cohoon. With one out, Darin Ruf launched a solo homer into the left fieldseats. It was his fourth home run of the series and 22nd second ofthe year, tying the league lead.

Anotherlong ball burned the B-Mets for good in the fifth. A throwing error by Jefry Marteand a single by Miguel Abreu set the stage for Cody Asche. The third basemansqueezed a high-arching, three-run homer over the left fence, giving Reading a4-2 lead. 

Cohoon’snight came to an end in the sixth. After D’Arby Myers singled and Brandon Trippwalked, Troy Hanzawa flied out to center. Myers raced to third on the play andscampered home when Lagares failed to throw back to the infield quickly. Cohoon(6-8) allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits while striking out seven, aseason-high.

Downby three, Binghamton’s offensive woes continued against the Reading bullpen.Juan Morillo and Jay Johnson combined for two scoreless innings of relief.Justin Friend worked around a single and a walk in a shutout ninth to earn his17th save.

C.J.Nitkowski, Jeff Kaplan and Brad Holt combined to close the pitching tab forBinghamton with 2.1 scoreless frames.