Binghamton 7, New Hampshire 6

Danny Muno drove in a career-high seven runs with two homers and Cesar Puello ended the Binghamton Mets 7-6 victory over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats by throwing out the potential game-tying run at the plate on Thursday night at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.

Muno belted a game-tying grand slam in the fifth inning and gave the B-Mets the lead for good with a three-run shot in the sixth. The second baseman’s first career multiple-home run game highlighted Binghamton’s 12-hit attack.

Logan Verrett cruised through his first two innings before stumbling in the third. The righty walked the first two Fisher Cats he faced and immediately suffered the consequences when Amadeo Zazueta laced an RBI single up the middle. After Richard Lucas botched a ground ball to load the bases, Andy Burns poked a two-run single to center. Clint Robinson capped the scoring and ended Verrett’s night by shooting a run-scoring single to left. Jim Fuller took over and collected the final out to end the threat.

The B-Mets erased the four-run deficit in a flash in the fifth against New Hampshire starter Marcus Walden. After being held in check for four innings, Binghamton kicked off the frame with three consecutive singles, setting the table for Muno. The second baseman blasted a 1-0 offering deep over the right field wall to tie the game. The round-tripper was his first career grand slam.

Muno struck again in the sixth to give the B-Mets the lead. Walden quickly collected the first two outs of the inning before a single and error set the stage. Muno stepped to the plate and belted the first pitch he saw off the video board in right-center field to give Binghamton a 7-4 advantage.

Fuller made Verrett’s rocky third inning a distant memory with a stellar relief outing. The southpaw retired all eleven Fisher Cats he faced, including a stretch of six consecutive strikeouts. Fuller put down Ryan Schimpf to start the seventh before handing off to John Church to close out the shutout frame.

The Fisher Cats took advantage to two misplays to scratch out a run in the eighth. Burns reached to start the frame on a dropped third strike by Forsythe and moved to second on a single. After Pedro Feliciano took the hill with one out, Clint Robinson bounced a potential double play to second. Muno flipped to Tovar for one, but the relay throw to first skipped away, allowing Burns to score. Feliciano ended the inning with fielder’s choice.

Feliciano returned for the ninth and struck out left-hander Ryan Schimpf. Jeff Walters took over with one out and fell into trouble immediately. Brian Van Kirk singled to left and Jon Talley bounced a pinch-hit double to right. Walters bounced back to strikeout Adam Loewen for the second out.

With the tying run on second, Burns lined a single into right field. Van Kirk scored easily from third, but pinch-runner Kevin Ahrens was gunned down by Puello to end the game. The B-Mets right fielder fired a one-hopper to Forsythe and the B-Mets backstop hung on after a collision to secure Binghamton’s 16th one-run victory of the season.

Fuller (2-0) collected his second consecutive victory while Walters earned his league-leading 22nd save. Walden (5-9) allowed seven runs on ten hits in the losing effort.

The B-Mets (52-30) continue their five-game series in the Granite State Friday night at 7:05 PM. LHP Mark Cohoon gets the nod for Binghamton against RHP Deck McGuire.

Key Stats

Daniel Muno: 2-for-4, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 2 R

Cesar Puello: 1-for-5, 1 SB

Wilfredo Tovar: 2-for-4, 1 2B, 2 R

Logan Verrett: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 K

Jim Fuller: 3.2 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 6 K

John Church: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 K

Pedro Feliciano: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K

Jeff Walters: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 ER, 1 K

(Team Report)