Akron 7, Binghamton 3
The Binghamton Mets committed four errors and allowed a season-high five unearned runs in a 7-3 loss to the Akron Aeros on Thursday night at Canal Park. The Aeros lashed out 14 hits, including five in a four-run first inning, to take the opener of the four-game series.
Binghamton’s woes started early. Jose Ramirez led off the first with a single against Mark Cohoon and took off for second as Tyler Naquin bounced a grounder to second base. Screened by Ramirez, Josh Rodriguez booted the grounder, putting runners at the corners. Cedric Hunter put the Aeros on the board with an RBI single to right.
Cohoon bounced back and coaxed a double play out of Jesus Aguilar, but could not silence the Aeros. Carlos Moncrief laced a single to right to double Akron’s lead and Tyler Holt followed with a single to left. Binghamton trapped Holt in a rundown on the play, but Rodriguez fumbled a toss from Allan Dykstra allowing Moncrief to come home. Travis Taijeron capped the forgettable inning by misreading a fly ball in right, handing an RBI double to Ronny Rodriguez.
The B-Mets tribulations continued in the second. Alex Monsalve reached to start the inning when Dykstra booted a chopper to first. The Aeros catcher took second on a single, advanced to third on a fielder’s choice and scored when Cedric Hunter smashed a single to center.
Akron starter Toru Murata cruised through five shutout innings, facing two over the minimum to preserve the five-run lead. Binghamton finally cracked the scoreboard in the sixth. After Wilfredo Tovar‘s leadoff single, Alonzo Harris threaded an RBI triple down the third-base line, his first three-bagger as a B-Met. Cory Vaughn followed Josh Rodriguez’s walk with an RBI fielder’s choice, cutting Akron’s lead to three.
With one out, Kyle Crockett took the reins from Murata and walked the first batter he faced, allowing the B-Mets to bring the tying run to the plate. The southpaw ended the threat by fanning Taijeron and inducing Blake Forsythe to ground out to second.
Akron stretched the lead back out to five with two runs on four hits and one error in the sixth off reliever Ryan Fraser. Binghamton plated their final run in the seventh when Richard Lucas walked and scored on a passed ball and two groundouts.
Cohoon (9-4) was tagged for five runs (one earned) on nine hits over five innings in his first loss since June 5. Murata (6-5) allowed two runs on four hits and struck out four over 5-1/3 innings in the victory. Four Akron relievers combined to no-hit the B-Mets over the final 3-2/3 innings.
The B-Mets (81-50) continue their four-game series against the Aeros Friday night at 7:05 PM. RHP Erik Goeddel takes the hill against RHP Brett Brach.
Key Stats
Alonzo Harris: 2-for-4, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 1 R
Wilfredo Tovar: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 R
Mark Cohoon: 5.0 IP, 9 H, 0 BB, 5 R, 1 ER, 3 K
Ryan Fraser: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 ER
Adam Kolarek: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 2 K
(Team Report)