7/22/15

B-Mets Beat Rock Cats 9-5




Today I had the chance to travel with some friends up to New Britain, CT to see the Binghamton Mets (AA) take on the New Britain Rock Cats (Colorado Rockies). Mack Ade was nice enough to use his pull to get me a Press Pass, although I sat in the stands with my friends, as it was a beautiful day out and I couldn’t get a good seat in the Press Box.

There was a crowd of close to 7,000 in New Britain Stadium, as it was a Camp Day game. Throughout the stadium, many could be seen wearing the gear of the New York & Binghamton Mets, as well as the Brooklyn Cyclones.

The B-Mets got 1st & 3rd in the Top of the 1st, but failed to score. They would score in the top of the 2nd, as Josh Rodriguez reached on an error and Xorge Carrillo blasted one out of New Britain Stadium for his 6th homer of the season.

The B-Mets would get another in the Top of the 3rd, as Brandon Nimmo drew a 2-out walk and Josh Rodriguez hit his 15th homer of the season off Rock Cats starter Ryan Carpenter.

Gus Schlosser came in during the Top of the 5th, but ran into trouble in the Top of the 6th. Josh Rodriguez & Joe Benson led off with back-to-back singles and Carrillo was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Jared King was called in to pinch hit for Michael Fulmer, who started the game for Binghamton. Fulmer threw 5 shutout innings, giving up 6 hits while striking out 9.

King took a crack at a pitch and as soon as the ball left King’s bat, the ball soared right over the right field wall making it an 8-0 game. The 100 Mets fans seated behind the dugout joined me in chanting my 3 favorite words (LETS GO METS!). 

The offense did not stop there, as Gavin Cecchini tripled to right. LJ Mazzilli grounded out, which also ended the day for Schlosser, who was pulled for Tyler Ybarra. Michael Conforto singled to right, scoring Cecchini to make it 9-0. Ybarra got out of the jam by striking out Brock Peterson & Brandon Nimmo.

The B-Mets bullpen looked to be like their Major League counterparts, but they at least had a lead to work with. Beck Wheeler came in for the Bottom of the 6th and gave up a lead off walk to Jayson Langfels and a single to Zach Osborne to make it 1st & 2nd. Wheeler got Philip Pohl to whiff at air, but P Tyler Ybarra laid down a perfect bunt to make it 2nd & 3rd. David Dahl singled to right, driving in 2 runs. Juan Ciriaco tripled to center, scoring Dahl. Wheeler got Noel Cuevas to fly out to end the inning.

Akeel Morris, who appeared in one Major League Game, came in to pitch the Bottom of the 7th. He gave up a leadoff homer to Jordan Patterson to start the inning, but got through the inning.

Binghamton did threaten in the Top of the 8th, but failed to score. Shane Broyles to pitch came in during a double switch. It is worth noting that despite having attended over 800 games in my life, this is the 1st MiLB game I have attended that didn’t have a DH which allowed me to see a Double Switch. And because there was no DH, Akeel Morris batted and he led off the inning with a walk. Gavin Cecchini singled to right, moving Morris to 2nd. Mazzilli went down swinging, but Conforto drew a walk to load the bases. However, Peterson & Nimmo both flew out to end the inning.

Despite leading off the previous inning, Adam Kolarek came in to replace Morris. Kolarek gave up a leadoff homer to Will Swanner, who came in during the double switch. With the Mets up 9-5, David Dahl doubled to right and went to 3rd on a ground out by Juan Ciriaco. Noel Cuevas walked, but Kolarek got Jordan Patterson to hit into a 4-3 double play, as Mazzilli tagged Cuevas.

Josh Smoker pitched a scoreless bottom of the 9th, giving me a chance to quote Howie Rose by yelling “Put it in the books! The B-METS win!” exactly 3 hours after 1st pitch. The win also completed a 3-game sweep of the Rock Cats.


BOX SCORE & PLAY BY PLAY

I plan on making the trip to Trenton tomorrow, so I will post a recap on Friday morning. 

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