After losing Matt Bowman and Greg Peavey to Las Vegas, Pedro Lopez got some much needed pitching help as Cory Mazzoni returned from injury to join the Binghamton Met starting rotation. Mazzoni worked five innings, allowing three runs and picking up his first win of the season, as the B-Mets blasted first place Portland, 11-4 at NYSEG Stadium.
Binghamton feasted on Portland pitching amassing 15 hits that included three home runs including a pair of decisive three run blasts, one by Travis Taijeron and the other by Brandon Nimmo. Taijeron also hit a solo shot for the victors.
Binghamton had their bats blazing early in the contest. Dilson Herrera launched a three run first inning, lacing a one out single to right centerfield. Brian Burgamy walked moving Herrera to second and after Dustin Lawley fanned, T.J. Rivera lined a bullet to left centerfield scoring Herrera and moving Burgamy to third. Jayce Boyd’s two RBI single to center scored both B-Met runners.
Both teams scored a run in the second inning. With the score 3-1, Taijeron led off the second Binghamton at bat with a single. Xorge Carrillo followed with a single, and after an infield pop out, both runners advanced when Herrera worked the first of his three base-on-balls. Taijeron would later score on Burgamy’s infield force out.
Taijeron’s three-run dinger came in the B-Mets third. Rivera opened the frame with a double to centerfield, Jayce Boyd single to center, moved Rivera to third, but the B-Mets shortstop was gunned out trying to score on Nimmo’s infield grounder. Taijeron’s first home run of the night cleared the bases giving Binghamton a 7-1 lead.
Portland got to Mazzoni for a pair of runs in the fourth, the big blow a two run double by Michael Brenly. But, Taijeron’s second home run, this one a solo blast over the right field wall, upped the B-Mets lead to 8-3.
Rivera’s one out double got things stirring again in the Binghamton sixth. After Boyd worked a walk, Brandon Nimmo hammered the home team’s second three run shot over the left field wall.
Rivera’s three hit night lifts his batting average to a team high .382. The Taijeron double home run night gives the B-Met outfielder 10 for the season. Three walks and a base hit by Herrera raises his on-base percentage to .410.
Randy Fontanez threw three scoreless innings out of the bullpen for the B-Mets.
The second game of the four game series is on tap for 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday.
