B-Mets 8, Sea Dogs 6

Early Offense Just Enough in Finale, 8-6

PORTLAND, ME – The Binghamton Mets packed all their offense into the first two innings and held on to defeat the Portland Sea Dogs, 8-6, on Wednesday night at Hadlock Field. The victory helped the B-Mets avoid a three-game sweep and secured a winning record on their week-long roadtrip.

For the second straight night, the B-Mets put up a three-spot in the first inning, with Allan Dykstra posting all the offense with one swing of the bat. The B-Mets designated hitter blasted an 0-1 offering from Kyle Kaminska over the right field wall for his first round-tripper of the year.

Binghamton’s offense continued to roll in the second as the first five batters reached safely to start the frame. With the bases loaded on two singles and an outfielder error, Darrell Ceciliani stroked a three-run double to the left field alley. Josh Rodriguez and Cory Vaughn both added to Binghamton’s lead with RBI doubles later in the frame.

Portland cut into the B-Mets’ eight-run advantage with a three-run third. The first five batters reached against starter Erik Goeddel. JC Linares drove in one with a double to left center, Michael Almanzar added another with a single up the middle and Alberto Rosario beat out a potential double play with the bases loaded to trim the lead to five.

Goeddel labored through four innings in the no-decision. He exited after allowing three runs on six hits, while walking two and fanning three. He threw 97 pitches, including 35 in the first and 29 in the third.

Portland continued to chip away against the B-Mets bullpen. Southpaw Shawn Teufel took the reins from Goeddel and allowed three runs on three hits over 1-2/3 innings of work. Almanzar supplied an RBI groundout in the fifth and Xander Bogaerts punched a two-run triple to right in the sixth.

John Church entered with two outs in the sixth and retired Tony Thomas to end Portland’s threat. Making his league-leading tenth appearance of the season, Church worked around a leadoff double in the seventh, but struck out two to post a scoreless frame.

Jeff Walters worked around a single and a walk in a shutout eighth and collected his league-leading sixth save of the season with a perfect ninth. Church (1-3) was awarded his first Double-A win, while Kaminska (0-3) dropped his third straight decision.

Binghamton’s middle infield defense shined down the stretch. Tovar made a sliding play up the middle to rob Alberto Rosario of a hit and an RBI in the seventh. Tovar and second baseman Danny Muno teamed up for a double play to ease the pressure for Walters in the eighth.

The B-Mets (11-9) enjoy a day off on Thursday before welcoming in the Akron Aeros on Friday night at 7:05 PM. RHP Rafael Montero (3-0, 1.59) takes on RHP Danny Salazar (0-3, 4.58). The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show begins at 6:50 PM on Newsradio 1290 WNBF.

POSTGAME NOTES: John Church appeared in all three games in the series and stranded a runner at third in back-to-back innings…Binghamton swiped four bases for the third time this season…Walters’ six-out save was his second of the season