Binghamton 3 - Portland 1

The Binghamton Mets allowed two hits in the final seven innings en route to a 3-1 win over the Portland Sea Dogs Tuesday night at NYSEG Stadium. The B-Mets drove in all three runs via two-out singles to snap out of a two-game losing funk. Seth Lugo combined with Adam Kolarek and Paul Sewald to hold Portland to five hits, only two of which came after the third inning.

With the game tied at one in the fifth, a throwing error by pitcher Mike McCarthy allowed Jared King to reach base. King advanced to second on an errant snap-throw to first base from catcher Luis Martinez. With two outs, TJ Rivera snuck a base hit past the diving Mike Miller behind second base for an RBI single that put the B-Mets up for good. After a walk pushed Rivera into scoring position, Josh Rodriguez continued the timely hitting with a base hit to right field to plate Rivera.

Binghamton led 3-1 after five innings, and the B-Mets bullpen made it stick. Kolarek retired all four batters he faced, extending his scoreless streak to 5-1/3 innings. Sewald then tossed a 1-2-3 ninth for his fifth save in six opportunities. The righty stretched his scoreless streak to eight innings, spanning six appearances.

Portland struck first for the second consecutive game, scoring in the top of the second. With two outs, Lugo hit Martinez on a 1-2 pitch to put runners at first and second. Blake Tekotte followed with an RBI single to right field. Lugo escaped further trouble in the inning, stranding two Sea Dogs.

Binghamton responded immediately, when a Miller error put two on for the B-Mets in the home half of the second. After a strikeout, Gavin Cecchini stroked an RBI single to center field to get Binghamton on the board.

Lugo (2-0) allowed one run on five hits over 6-2/3 innings and retired nine straight Sea Dogs at one point. The righty has allowed three earned runs combined in his first four starts of the year. McCarthy (2-3) was saddled with the loss, allowing three runs and five hits in 4-2/3 innings. All three runs were unearned, as the Sea Dogs committed three errors behind their starter.

The B-Mets (15-10) continue their series with the Portland Sea Dogs Wednesday night at NYSEG Stadium, with a 6:35 PM first pitch. Binghamton RHP Rainy Lara (2-0, 2.91) gets the ball against RHP William Cuevas (3-1, 3.44). 

POSTGAME NOTES: 43% of Binghamton’s runs this season have come with two outs in an inning (51 of 118)…Josh Rodriguez, hitting .342, is on a three game hitting streak, his longest of the season…Binghamton’s bullpen has allowed an earned run to score in three of their last 33 innings pitched. Team press release