B-Mets Overpower Squirrels, Take 2-0 Series Lead, 5-1

RICHMOND, VA – The Binghamton Mets used two home runs and a dozen strikeouts by their pitching staff to power past the Richmond Flying Squirrels, 5-1, in Game 2 of the Eastern League Championship Series on Wednesday night at The Diamond. The victory, their fourth straight, gives the B-Mets a 2-0 series advantage. The series will conclude in Binghamton, where the club seeks to clinch their first league title since 1994.

For the third straight postseason game, Binghamton cracked the scoreboard first. After a leadoff walk by Dustin Lawley in the second, Xorge Carrillo ripped Adalberto Mejia’s 0-1 offering over the left-field wall. Carillo’s blast, his first since June 20, gave Binghamton a 2-0 lead.

Richmond scratched into the B-Mets advantage with a tally in the second off Greg Peavey. Mario Lisson pulled a double down the third-base line to start the rally and Devin Harris put Richmond on the board by threading an RBI double off the right-field wall. Peavey surrendered another hit before retiring three straight, capping the damage to one run.

Mejia settled in comfortably after Carrillo’s blast. The lefty deftly controlled the B-Mets lineup, retiring 15 of the next 16 batters he faced.

While the southpaw kept the Squirrels close, his offense sputtered in their attempts to provide support. Kelby Tomlinson singled in the third, but was doubled off first when Blake Miller flied out to right on a botched hit-and-run. Tyler LaTorre laced a single to left in the fifth, but was gunned down by Kyle Johnson trying to stretch the hit into a double.

Peavey saved his most dominating work for the end. The righty retired 12 of the final 13 Squirrels he faced, striking out eight during that stretch. He capped his night by fanning the side in a perfect seventh inning.

Binghamton stretched out their lead in the eighth off the Richmond bullpen. After Kyle Johnson took second on a groundout, Edwin Quirarte opted to intentionally walk Brian Burgamy with two outs. The plan backfired as Travis Taijeron followed by threading a three-run homer inside the left-field foul pole, giving Binghamton a 5-1 lead.

Randy Fontantez stranded one in a scoreless eighth and Cody Satterwhite, pitching in his third straight game, worked a perfect ninth to secure Binghamton’s fourth straight postseason victory.

Peavey (1-0) struck out nine and walked no one over seven innings to pick up his first postseason win as a B-Met. Mejia (0-1) surrendered two runs on three hits over six innings of work in the loss.

POSTGAME NOTES: The B-Mets have won four straight games in a single postseason for the first time in franchise history…Binghamton had homered just twice in their last 17 games heading into the contest…the B-Mets bullpen has posted a 1.05 ERA in the postseason - team pressrelease