Binghamton 12 - Reading 8

The Binghamton Mets launched four home runs in a ten-hit attack to defeat the Reading Fightin Phils, 12-8, on Monday night at NYSEG Stadium. The B-Mets scored in each of the first six innings, including a six-run first, to collect their sixth win in seven games. Brian Burgamy compiled his third multiple-home run game of the season with two homers.

New York Mets outfielder Juan Lagares played all nine innings with Binghamton on Major League rehab. He went 2-for-5 with an RBI and scored twice. Lagares is recovering from a right intercostal strain suffered on June 1 against Philadelphia.

Reading scratched out an early lead against Binghamton starter Rainy Lara. Peter Lavin hit a 1-1 pitch over right-field wall to make the score 1-0. The next batter, Aaron Altherr doubled and scored on a single by Jake Fox to put the Fightin Phils on top 2-0.

Binghamton cashed in on Jesse Biddle’s wildness in the first inning. After the lefty walked three of the first four batters of the frame, Jayce Boyd blooped an RBI single to right and Darrell Ceciliani threaded a run-producing to the right side. Following a sac fly from Dustin Lawley, Travis Taijeron hammered a pitch to left field to make it a 6-2 ballgame. Binghamton sent nine batters to the plate in the inning.

The B-Mets offense picked up where they left off in the second inning. Lagares singled to start things off and moved to third on a throwing error by Biddle. Herrera doubled to right-center field to plate Lagares and make the score 7-2. The next batter, Burgamy, hit a two-run shot to extend the lead to 9-2.

The teams traded runs in the third. Reading got a leadoff double by Lavin in the top of the frame. He came around to score on a two-out single by Brock Stassi to cut the deficit to six. Binghamton responded with a one-out single by Taijeron in the bottom of the inning. He moved to second on a Lara sacrifice bunt and scored on a Lagares single to push the game back to a seven-run advantage.

In the fourth, Lara got the first two batters out, but walked pinch-hitter Adam Loewen. Hamilton Bennett came in for Lara and gave up a single to Albert Cartwright. The next batter, Lavin, tripled to bring both runners home and cut the Binghamton advantage to 10-5. Lavin finished a single shy of the cycle.

The B-Mets got one run back in the bottom of the inning against Ryan O’Sullivan. Burgamy hit his second home run of the game to make the score 11-5. It’s the third time this season the infielder has had a multi home run game.

The teams traded solo shots in the fifth. Fox hit a long ball for Reading over the right-field wall cut the deficit down to five. Lawley got the run back in the bottom of the frame with a leadoff home run, his ninth of the season, to make it 12-6.

The Fightin Phils made one last rally in the seventh against Jack Leathersich. Altherr and Fox each singled to start the frame. Two batters later, Carlos Alonso smacked a double to score both runners and make it a four-run ball game.

However, Reading wouldn’t get any closer. Jon Velasquez (4-2) pitched two scoreless innings to pick up the win. Lara went 3-2/3 innings and allowed four runs on six hits in his first game back from the disabled list. Biddle (3-9) gave up ten runs in three innings and walked three in the loss.

POSTGAME NOTES: All eight position players scored for Binghamton…The game featured six home runs, five doubles and one triple…Burgamy leads the team with 13 home runs. - team press release