Binghamton Walks to Rubber Game Win, 4-3
RICHMOND, VA – The Binghamton Mets scored the go-ahead run on a bases-loaded walk in the seventh inning to beat the Richmond Flying Squirrels, 4-3, Thursday night at The Diamond. Phil McCormick’s free pass to Allan Dykstra plated Alonzo Harris and pushed the B-Mets to their eighth straight series victory.
For the second time in the series, the Flying Squirrels struck first. Mark Minicozzi walked against B-Mets starter Cory Mazzoni to start the frame and moved to second on a bloop single from Ricky Oropesa. Ryan Lollis brought him home by poking a single down the third-base line.
The B-Mets fought back against Richmond starter Chris Gloor in the third. Mazzoni led off the stanza by punching his fifth hit of the season into left. Josh Rodriguez followed with a double and Dykstra walked to load the bases. With two outs, Richard Lucas threaded the needle between short and third to drive in two runs and give the visitors a 2-1 lead.
Binghamton added to the advantage in unorthodox fashion in the fourth. Blake Forsythe reached when Duvall failed to field a chopper at third. The catcher went from first to third on a single and came home on Gloor’s first balk of the season.
Richmond took advantage of a B-Mets misplay to tie the game in the fourth. With two outs and Minicozzi on second, Lollis rolled a grounder to Danny Muno. The shortstop fielded on the backhand and forced a throw across his body to first. The toss bounced past Dykstra, allowing Minicozzi to score. Richmond further cashed in on the error and tied the game when Mark Wagner ripped an RBI single to left.
Gloor settled in after balking home a run in the fourth and retired eight straight B-Mets. Harris snapped the streak with a bunt single to start the seventh. Representing the go-ahead run, the speedy outfielder stole second. A parade of walks followed.
Gloor was pulled after issuing a free pass to Muno. Scott Shuman entered and fanned Rodriguez before walking Travis Taijeron to load the bases. McCormick got the call from the pen to face Dykstra and missed the outside corner on a 3-1 pitch, forcing in the go-ahead run.
The run put Mazzoni in position for the victory. The righty struck out eight while allowing three runs (one earned) on five singles in six innings of work.
Jim Fuller made his Double-A debut and worked around a one-out walk in a scoreless seventh. The southpaw struck out Jarrett Parker to start the eighth before John Church retired both batters he faced to cap the inning.
Given a one-run lead, Jeff Walters walked Oropesa to start the ninth. The righty bounced back and struck out Brett Krill before inducing Lollis to roll to second, jump-starting a game-ending double play.
Mazzoni (3-2) collected his first win since May 19, while Gloor (5-2) allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits over 6-1/3 innings in the losing effort. Walters earned his league-leading 17th save.
The B-Mets (44-27) return to the Southern Tier for a three-game series against the Erie SeaWolves starting Friday night at 7:05 PM. RHP Logan Verrett gets the nod against LHP Kyle Lobstein. The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show begins at 6:50 PM on Newsradio 1290 WNBF.
POSTGAME NOTES: Richmond pitchers issued 20 walks in the three-game series…Mazzoni has struck out 34 batters in his last four starts (24-2/3 innings)…the B-Mets are 16-6 in series finales...Allan Dykstra has at least one RBI in each of his last nine games
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