Zack Wheeler Just Three Over The Minimum

Zack Wheeler faced just three over the minimum in his first careercomplete game shutout, defeating the Erie SeaWolves 1-0 Saturday night at NYSEGStadium. Wheeler scattered six hits and struck out seven while Reese Havenslaunched his seventh home run of the season to lead the B-Mets to their thirdstraight victory.

Makinghis third start against Erie, Wheeler got off to a bumpy start by walking JamieJohnson in the first. The free pass was quickly erased when Niuman Romerobounced into a double play, the first of three twin killings Erie rolled into.

Therighty settled in nicely and faced the minimum over his first five frames. Erie’sonly threat came in the sixth when Tony Plagman led off with a double and movedto third on a sac bunt. Wheeler shut the door and kept the shutout alive bystriking out James McCann and inducing Jamie Johnson to ground out to second ona strong barehanded play by Havens.

MeanwhileErie starter James Avery kept the B-Mets offense in check, allowing one hit throughfive scoreless innings. The run came to an end in the sixth. After deliveringin the field in the top of the inning, Havens came through at the plate in thebottom of the frame. With one out, he sent a solo home run over the left fieldwall to give Binghamton a 1-0 lead.

Givena one-run lead, Wheeler took the game to the finish line. He tossed a perfectseventh inning and worked around a hit batsman and a single in a scorelesseighth.

Wheelerreturned for the ninth and induced McCann to ground out to start the frame. Johnsonfollowed by dumping a single into left, but was thrown out at second trying tostretch it into a double. Romero kept Erie alive with a single, but NickCastellanos struck out to end the game.

Wheeler(9-4) collected his third win in his last four starts. Avery (9-7) suffered hissecond loss against the B-Mets.