Binghamton Mets (78-47) vs. New Britain Rock Cats (58-67) (Double-A Affiliate of the Minnesota Twins) - 7:05pm

 

Binghamton Mets (78-47) vs. New Britain Rock Cats (58-67) (Double-A Affiliate of the Minnesota Twins)

LHP Mark Cohoon (8-3, 4.07) vs. RHP Matt Summers (1-2, 6.88)

Saturday, August 17, 2013 • Game #126 • Home Game #65

NYSEG Stadium • Binghamton, NY • 7:05 PM

LAST GAME: The B-Mets beat the New Britain Rock Cats, 1-0 in the series opener on Friday night at NYSEG Stadium. Blake Forsythe hit a solo home run in the third inning against Cole De Vries for the lone run of the game. On the mound Noah Syndergaard threw 5.0 innings and was dominant. He matched a career-high with 10 strikeouts, and scattered three hits in his sixth win of the season. Ryan Fraser allowed two baserunners in the sixth, which ended up being the biggest offensive threat for the Rock Cats. Fraser threw 2.0 shutout innings, and Chasen Bradford threw a perfect eighth. In the ninth Jeff Walters earned his league-leading 35th save.

BINGHAMTON STARTER: LHP Mark Cohoon makes his 18th start of the season and his third against New Britain. He threw a complete game on May 23 but lost, 1-0. He allowed three runs in 7.1 innings in a no-decision on July 18. Cohoon was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for August 5-11. The southpaw has won each of his last four starts, and is Binghamton’s franchise leader in wins (22). He also holds the franchise record for most innings pitched (371.1), and tonight’s start will tie him for the most games started (63) in franchise history. Cohoon was drafted by the Mets in the 12th round of the 2008 draft out of North Central Texas College.

NEW BRITAIN STARTER: RHP Matt Summers makes his fifth start of the season for the Rock Cats and first against Binghamton. He gave up five runs in four innings in his last start, and was tagged with the loss against Reading. Summers began the season with the Fort Myers Miracle (High-A). The Arizona native went 4-5 with a 2.49 ERA in 19 starts in the Florida State League. The Twins drafted Summers in the fourth round of the 2011 draft out of the University of California, Irvine.

MARK IN THE MEDIA GUIDE: Mark Cohoon holds the Binghamton franchise record for wins (22), innings pitched (371.1), strikeouts (260), and tied for the most balks (8). Cohoon’s five complete games is tied for third in history.

HOW THEY CAN CLINCH: Binghamton’s magic number to clinch a playoff spot sits at 1. If Binghamton wins tonight, or Trenton beats New Hampshire, they will earn a playoff spot for the first time since 2004. Their magic number to secure the Eastern Division is currently at 6. The B-Mets have not won a division title since 2000.

SHUTOUT WIN: Last night’s 1-0 victory was Binghamton’s 12 shutout win in 2013. They have four shutouts in August, and have the second most shutouts in the league (Richmond: 13). Ryan Fraser has pitched in each of the last five shutout wins for the B-Mets.

NABBING RUNNERS: Blake Forsythe threw out Danny Santana trying to steal second base in last night’s win. Forsythe has thrown out three of the last four runners trying to steal. This season he has thrown out 34% (27-for-79) of baserunners.  

WALTERS’ SAVE RECORD: Jeff Walters recorded his league-leading 35th save of the season in last night’s win. He has 11 more than any other player in the league, and holds the franchise record for most saves in a single season. Walters is one save shy of the Binghamton franchise record (36), held by Tim Lavigne.

HIGH WATER MARK: Binghamton is currently at their franchise high water mark at 31 games over .500. Before 2013, Binghamton’s previous best record was 27-games over .500 in 2000 (82-55). 

LOCK DOWN BULLPEN: Over the last three games, Binghamton’s bullpen has not allowed a run in 10.0 innings. The bullpen ERA is 3.16.

NEXT GAME PREVIEW: The B-Mets conclude their three-game series against New Britain on Sunday night. First pitch is set for 6:35 PM as RHP Erik Goeddel takes the mound for the B-Mets against New Britain’s DJ Baxendale.