4/15/15

B-Mets, Sea Wolves Split Doubleheader



The Binghamton Mets defeated the Erie SeaWolves, 7-6, in the first game of a doubleheader, but fell in the nightcap, 2-1, on Tuesday night at Jerry Uht Park. Gavin Cecchini collected three RBI and launched a tie-breaking home run in the opener. The SeaWolves scored two runs with two outs in the seventh to stun the B-Mets in the finale.

Game One – B-Mets 7, SeaWolves 6

Gavin Cecchini launched a tie-breaking home run in the sixth and the Binghamton Mets rebounded after blowing a five-run lead in a 7-6 victory in game one.

The B-Mets set the tone in the first inning against Erie starter Warwick Saupold. After Binghamton loaded the bases on a walk, a single and a hit batter, Aderlin Rodriguez deposited Saupold’s 1-2 pitch over the left-center field wall. His third career grand slam gave the B-Mets a 4-0 lead.
After Corey Jones put Erie on the board with an RBI double in the bottom of the first, Binghamton stretched their lead with two more in the third. Cecchini pulled a two-out, two-run double down the left-field line.

Trailing 6-1, Erie chipped away against B-Met starter John Gant in the third. Brendan Harris’ one-out single started a stretch of five straight batters reaching safely. Two batters later Dean Green lined an RBI single into the right-field alley and Jeff McVaney followed with a run-producing single to left.

In the fourth, Jones chased Gant from the game by pulling a two-out, RBI single into the right-field corner. Green greeted reliever Chase Huchingson by depositing an RBI double into the right-field alley, cutting Binghamton’s lead to one.

The SeaWolves erased the deficit with a two-out rally from the bottom of their order in the fifth. After Austin Green sent a double into right, Harold Castro lined a single to center tying the game at six.

The game did not stay tied for long. Cecchini led off the sixth by sending Joe Mantiply’s fourth pitch of the inning over the left field wall for his first career Double-A home run.

Huchingson preserved Binghamton’s lead with a perfect sixth and Jon Velasquez worked around a one-out double in a blank seventh to earn his second save.

Huchingson (1-0) surrendered one run on three hits to earn the win in relief. Mantiply (0-1) was hung with the loss. Gant allowed five runs on seven hits over 3-2/3 innings in the no-decision.

Game Two – SeaWolves 2, B-Mets 1

The SeaWolves plated two runs on three straight two-out hits in the bottom of the seventh inning and handed the B-Mets a 2-1 loss in the nightcap.

With the SeaWolves trailing 1-0 and down to their final strike in the seventh, Dean Green blasted a 3-2 pitch from Dario Alvarez over the right-field wall to tie the game. Jeff McVaney reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error by third baseman Dustin Lawley.
Two pitches later, Alvarez uncorked a wild pitch, pushing McVaney to third. James Robbins ended the game by shooting a grounder up the middle that ricocheted off second base and into right-field, bringing home McVaney with the winning run.

Erie’s rally erased the memory of B-Mets starter Seth Lugo’s stellar Double-A debut. The righty struck out six over six scoreless innings while facing one over the minimum. His biggest challenge came in the sixth inning when he struck out the final two batters he faced to strand the potential tying run at second base.

Binghamton’s long offensive highlight in the nightcap was provided by Brandon Nimmo. The B-Met centerfielder broke a scoreless game by blasting a solo home run in the fifth inning off Erie starter Jeff Ferrell. Nimmo’s second home run in three games gave the B-Mets a 1-0 lead.
Omar Duran (1-0) threw a blank seventh inning and collected the win thanks to Erie’s two-out rally in the bottom of the inning. Alvarez (0-1) took the loss in the first blown save for the B-Mets bullpen.

The B-Mets (4-2) conclude their season-opening road trip on Wednesday afternoon at 12:05 PM. RHP Matt Koch makes his second start of the season against RHP Derek Hankins. 

POSTGAME NOTES: Rodriguez’s home run in the opener was Binghamton’s first grand slam since Brian Burgamy launched one against Richmond on June 17, 2014…Binghamton split six of their eleven doubleheaders in 2014…it was Binghamton’s first walk-off loss since they fell to Richmond on August 30, 2014

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