Akron 14 - Binghamton 5

B-Mets Title Defense Starts Off Flat in 14-5 Loss

AKRON, OH – The Akron RubberDucks overwhelmed the defending champion Binghamton Mets with 17 hits en route to a 14-5 victory on Opening Night on Thursday at Canal Park. Every member of the Akron lineup collected at least one hit as the RubberDucks torched the B-Mets bullpen with eleven runs on ten hits.

Trailing 4-1, Akron promptly responded in the fifth. B-Mets starter Matt Koch registered the first two outs, but was pulled after surrendering back-to-back two-out doubles. The RubberDucks greeted reliever Domingo Tapia with two more consecutive doubles, tying the game on Anthony Gallas’ two-bagger.

Akron continued their assault on the B-Mets bullpen in the sixth. With the bases loaded, Hankins dumped a go-ahead single in front of right fielder Jared King. Chase Huchingson took over from Tapia and uncorked a wild pitch, bringing home Tony Wolters from third. Following a walk to re-load the bases, Erik Gonzalez yanked a double down the left-field line, clearing the bases and giving Akron a 10-4 lead.

The RubberDucks hung four more runs on reliever Adam Kolarek in the eighth.

Binghamton had owned a three-run lead thanks to a four-run fifth inning against Akron starter Will Roberts. Dustin Lawley led off the inning by depositing a 1-0 pitch beyond the left-field wall for his first home run of the season. Binghamton followed Lawley’s long ball by loading the bases on two singles and a walk. Brandon Nimmo pushed the B-Mets into the lead with a sac fly to center and TJ Rivera capped the four-run frame by lining a two-run double into the right-field alley.

Binghamton’s lone tally after the fifth came via a sacrifice fly from Josh Rodriguez in the eighth inning.

The RubberDucks capped their offensive outburst with four runs in the eighth against Adam Kolarek.

Tapia (0-1) was saddled with the loss in his Double-A debut. The righty allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits while hitting a batter. Huchingson surrendered two runs while allowing three inherited runners to score.

Josh Martin (1-0) fired two scoreless innings of relief to earn his first win of the season. Clayton Cook and Jeff Johnson closed Akron’s pitching tab with an inning each.

Koch allowed three runs on seven hits in 4-2/3 innings of work in the no-decision. Roberts gave up four runs on six hits in five innings on the mound.

The B-Mets (0-1) continue their four-game series against the RubberDucks on Friday night at 6:35 PM. RHP Rainy Lara takes the mound for the first time against RHP Cody Anderson. The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show can be heard starting at 6:20 PM on Newsradio 1290 WNBF and the Binghamton Mets channel on TuneIn.

POSTGAME NOTES: The 14 runs allowed were a B-Mets franchise record on Opening Day…Akron went 10-for-18 with runners in scoring position…the game start was delayed by 36 minutes due to rain - team press release