Altoona 8 - Binghamton 4

Offense Stalls as Curve Even Series, 8-4

BINGHAMTON, NY – The Binghamton Mets scored four runs in the first inning, but watched as the Altoona Curve scored the final six runs of the game as they topped the B-Mets 8-4 Wednesday night at NYSEG Stadium.

Binghamton mustered up two hits over the final eight innings as their four-game winning streak came to a close.

The B-Mets fell behind for the third consecutive game, as Altoona plated two runs in the top of the first against Mark Cohoon. After he retired the first two batters of the game, he hit Charlie Cutler to start a rally. Andrew Lambo singled and moved up to second base on the throw, and Alex Dickerson drove in two runs with a single up the middle to put Altoona up 2-0.

In the bottom of the first, Binghamton had their first five batters reach base against Jameson Taillon. After a lead-off single by Darrell Ceciliani and a walk to Josh Rodriguez, Cesar Puello smoked an RBI single into the left-centerfield gap for the first B-Met run. Allan Dykstra followed by blasting a three-run home run off the scoreboard in right field. It was his sixth home run of the season, and his third in the last four games.

After allowing two runs in the top of the first, Cohoon retired seven straight hitters until he hung a curve to Andrew Lambo in the top of the fourth. Lambo lifted the ball over the right field wall to cut the B-Met lead to 4-3. They tied the game in the fifth on an infield single by Mel Rojas Jr.

Cohoon left the game after 5.0 innings; he allowed four runs on five hits and left in a 4-4 tie game. Taillon also left after 5.0 innings; he did not allow a hit in his final four frames.

Altoona took the lead for good in the top of the seventh against Chase Huchingson. With a runner on first base, Drew Maggi’s bunt was thrown away by Richard Lucas. As it rolled up the right field line, Andy Vasquez came around from first to score.

The Curve added two more runs in the top of the eighth against Shawn Teufel. The lefty walked three for the second straight night, as he struggled to find the strike zone. He was lifted after a bases-loaded walk, and John Church allowed a sacrifice fly to give Altoona a 7-4 lead.

Altoona scored their final run against Church in the top of the ninth. Gift Ngoepe hit a lead-off double before coming around to score on a double by Rojas Jr.

Zach Thornton threw the final two innings for Altoona to notch his second save of the season. Kenn Kasparek earned the win; the righty threw two scoreless innings to pick up his second victory of the season. Huchingson was tagged with his first loss of the year after allowing the unearned run in the seventh.

The rubber match between the B-Mets (30-23) and Curve (21-31) isThursday morning at NYSEG Stadium. First pitch is at 10:35 AM with RHP Cory Mazzoni throwing against RHP Stolmy Pimentel. The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show begins at 10:20 AM on ESPN 1360 WYOS.

POSTGAME NOTES: Allan Dykstra has hit three home runs in the last four games…The bottom four spots in the batting order went a combined 0-for-16…Josh Rodriguez extended his hitting streak to 15 games