Early Lead Burns Away in 8-7 Loss
MANCHESTER, NH – The Binghamton Mets failed to hold an early five-run lead and fell to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, 8-7, in the series opener on a hot Friday night at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. B-Mets starter Logan Verrett was tagged for eight runs on eleven hits, including a go-ahead grand slam by Adam Loewen, in his second loss of the year.
With the temperature sitting in the low 90’s, the Binghamton offense unleashed a vicious attack against New Hampshire starter Deck McGuire in the second. Cory Vaughn started the rally with a single up the middle and Darrell Ceciliani continued to set the table by lacing a double down the right field line.
Blake Forsythe started the run-producing hit parade and put the B-Mets on the board with an infield single to first. Richard Lucas tacked on by ripping a two-run double down the left field line and Wilfredo Tovar joined the party with a run-scoring two-bagger to left. Josh Rodriguez capped the rally, and extended his hitting streak to 17 games, with an RBI double to left-center.
Verrett deftly handled the Fisher Cats through three scoreless innings, but faltered in the fourth. The home team plated a pair of runs on four hits and a hit batsman. Clint Robinson got New Hampshire on the board with an RBI single and Sean Ochinko delivered a two-out RBI double.
The Fisher Cats tagged Verrett with more two-out offense in the fifth. After retiring the first two batters on four pitches, the righty surrendered a double to Brian Van Kirk and was taken deep to right by Ryan Schimpf, cutting Binghamton’s lead to one. Both hits came on 0-2 counts.
New Hampshire delivered the knockout blow in the sixth. The Fisher Cats loaded the bases with two singles and a walk. After working the count full, Adam Loewen lifted a grand slam over the left field wall, giving the Fisher Cats an 8-5 lead.
The blast ended Verrett’s (6-2) night. The righty allowed a career-high eight runs on ten hits, including two homers in his first loss in his last five starts. He walked one and struck out three.
The home run also made a winner of McGuire (3-5). The right-hander settled down after his rough second and posted four hitless innings, retiring 12 of the last 15 B-Mets batters he faced.
Tyson Brummett took over in the seventh and sailed through his first two innings of relief. Binghamton’s offense finally awoke in the ninth after six hitless innings. After a leadoff single, Forsythe blasted an RBI double to left and scored on a pair of groundouts to cut New Hampshire’s lead to one. Brummett battled back to retire Danny Muno to end the game and earn his second save.
Ryan Fraser made his season debut with the B-Mets and posted two scoreless innings of relief. Jack Leathersich struck out the side in a perfect eighth.
The B-Mets (31-24) continue their three-game set against the Fisher Cats (28-28) Saturday night at 7:05 PM. RHP Rafael Montero gets the nod for Binghamton against RHP Ryan Tepera. The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show begins at 6:50 PM on Newsradio 1290 WNBF.
POSTGAME NOTES: Binghamton scored the first run for the first time in five games…Loewen’s homer was the third grand slam allowed by the B-Mets this season (Michael Almanzar, Portland Sea Dogs, May 24 & Matt Spring, Portland, May 18)…the last nine outs recorded by Leathersich spanning three appearances have been strikeouts
No comments:
Post a Comment