Reading 5, Binghamton 4

The Binghamton Mets were trailing the Reading Fightin Phils 5-4 in the top of the seventh inning before Mother Nature stopped play, giving Reading a rain-shortened victory on Monday night at NYSEG Stadium. Binghamton tied the game with four runs in the fifth, but Sebastian Valle hit a solo home run in the sixth which proved to be the eventual game-winning run.

The Fightin Phils took an early lead against Logan Verrett. After Albert Cartwright began the game with a bunt single, Jim Murphy dropped an RBI single into centerfield for the first run of the game.

Reading then began to play longball against Verrett as they extended their early lead. Valle led off the second with a long home run to left field, and Zach Collier matched the effort with a round-tripper to right field leading off the third. Later in the third, Valle hit a sacrifice fly as Reading took an early 4-0 advantage.

The momentum shifted for the B-Mets in the bottom of the fifth. After the first two batters were retired by Reading starter Seth Rosin, Danny Muno blooped a base hit into left-centerfield. After Josh Rodriguez walked, Cesar Puello put the B-Mets on the board with an RBI single into left field. The highlight of the inning came next for Binghamton, as Allan Dykstra tied the game with a three-run home run over the right field wall.

Unfortunately the tie score did not last, as Valle led off the top of the sixth by hooking his second home run of the day around the left field foul pole. That proved to be the deciding run in the game; the B-Mets were held scoreless in the bottom of the sixth before the rain halted the game in the seventh.

Verrett (9-5) was tagged with the loss, and allowed a season-high three home runs in the game. Rosin (8-4) earned the win despite allowing four runs in the fifth inning. After throwing a scoreless sixth inning, Colby Shreve earned his first save of the season since the game ended in the seventh.

The B-Mets (62-38) and Fightin Phils (43-57) take the field again on Tuesday night. First pitch is set for 6:35 PM as RHP Noah Syndergaard takes the mound for Binghamton against LHP Jesse Biddle for Reading.

Key Stats

Darrell Ceciliani: 3-for-3, 1 2B, 2 SB

Allan Dykstra: 2-for-3, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R

Cesar Puello: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 R

Daniel Muno: 2-for-4, 1 R

Logan Verrett: 6.0 IP, 9 H, 3 HR, 1 BB, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 K

Ryan Fraser: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 ER

(Team Report)