Binghamton 8, New Britain 3

The Binghamton Mets scored four runs in the fourth inning to defeat the New Britain Rock Cats, 8-3, Wednesday night at New Britain Stadium. Josh Rodriguez drove in two runs and led Binghamton’s 11-hit attack with two RBI singles and a double.

For the first time during the roadtrip, the B-Mets were beaten to the scoreboard. The Rock Cats sent seven men to the plate in the second inning against starter Erik Goeddel and plated two runs. The righty surrendered three hits, including an RBI single by Danny Santana, and issued a bases-loaded walk.

New Britain starter Alex Meyer held the B-Mets offense at bay through three, but faltered in the fourth. After Allan Dykstra started the inning with a walk, Binghamton loaded the bases on singles by Cory Vaughn and Darrell Ceciliani. Blake Forsythe put the B-Mets on the board with a sac fly to center.

Richard Lucas followed by rolling a potential inning-ending double play to short. Danny Santana fielded cleanly, but double-clutched and added fuel to the fire by firing an errant throw to second. Cory Vaughn scored on the misplay, tying the game at two. Binghamton further cashed in on the error as Wilfredo Tovar and Rodriguez each provided RBI singles.

Goeddel settled in comfortably after his bumpy second inning. The righty posted three scoreless innings and retired ten of eleven Rock Cats before walking Josmil Pinto with one out in the sixth. Danny Ortiz turned up the heat and reached on a single to left.

With the tying run aboard, Goeddel capped his night by inducing Jordan Parraz to fly out to right. John Church inherited two runners and defused the situation by inducing Reynaldo Rodriguez to fly out to right to end the inning.

Binghamton put the game our reach with four insurance runs over the final three innings. Dykstra provided an RBI single against reliever Jose Gonzalez in the seventh and Danny Muno chased the lefty from the game with a run-scoring single in the eighth. Bobby Lanigan took over and surrendered an RBI single to Rodriguez and gave up another run on a bases-loaded walk in the ninth.

Church returned for the seventh inning and gave up one run, just the second he has allowed in eight appearances during the month of May. Jack Leathersich closed the door and struck out three over the final two scoreless innings.

Goeddel (4-2) allowed two runs on five hits over 5-2/3 innings to collect his third win in May. Meyer (2-2) gave up five runs (three earned) six hits and three walks, but struck out seven in the losing effort.

The B-Mets (26-20) conclude their roadtrip and end their series with the Rock Cats (21-25) Thursday morning at 10:35 AM. LHP Mark Cohoon gets the nod for Binghamton against LHP Logan Darnell.

Key Stats

Josh Rodriguez: 3-for-4, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 RBI, 1 R

Allan Dykstra: 2-for-4, 1 BB, 1 RBI, 2 R

Cory Vaughn: 2-for-5, 1 R

Darrell Ceciliani: 2-for-4, 1 SB, 2 R

Erik Goeddel: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 2 ER, 3 K

John Church: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, 1 K

Jack Leathersich: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 3 K

(Team Report)