Binghamton 6, Trenton 5
The Binghamton Mets collected a dozen hits and held off a late rally to defeat the Trenton Thunder, 6-5, Tuesday night at Arm & Hammer Park. Danny Muno’s three-run homer in the second inning highlighted Binghamton’s fifth-straight win.
The B-Mets stranded the bases loaded in the first, but did not let Thunder starter Mikey O’Brien off the hook in the second. With two runners aboard, Muno went the other way with a 1-1 pitch, clearing the left-field wall for his third home run of the season. Cesar Puello followed with a single, moved to second on a botched pick-off and scored when Allan Dykstra ripped a single off the glove of shortstop Carmen Angelini.
Trenton answered back with two runs in the second against Erik Goeddel. Kyle Roller began the frame with a solo homer to right. Angelini kept the offense up with a single, stole second and came home on a single from Neil Medchill.
O’Brien finished his night with two scoreless innings and exited after tossing 91 pitches over four frames. Jeremy Bleich took over in the fifth and struck out three in two scoreless innings.
Goeddel bounced back after the second and pounded the strike zone over three scoreless innings. The right-hander retired nine of twelve Thunder batters and threw 26 of his 32 pitches for strikes, while fanning four during the stretch.
The California native’s cruise hit a speed bump in the sixth. With two outs, he issued a free pass to Reegie Corona and surrendered a single to Neil Medchiil. Goeddel stranded the tying run on base and capped his night by striking out Kevin Mahoney. He gave way to Chase Huchingson in the seventh after fanning a season-high eight over six innings. The southpaw worked around a one-out double to put up a scoreless seventh.
Binghamton tacked on a pair of much-needed insurance runs in the eighth against reliever Danny Burawa. Left fielder Ramon Flores dropped a fly ball from Richard Lucas and Blake Forsythe walked to set the table for Wilfredo Tovar. The B-Mets shortstop laced a two-run single up the middle, kicking Binghamton’s lead to four.
The B-Mets would need every late run to fight off Trenton’s late offensive push. Huchingson retired the first two batters he faced in the eighth, but ran into trouble after allowing three straight to reach. Jose Pirela cut Binghamton’s lead to three and ended Huchingson’s night with an RBI single.
Jack Leathersich took over with two runners on and surrendered a single on the first pitch he threw to Ramon Flores. Neil Medchill attempted to score from second on the play, but was thrown at the plate by left fielder Joe Bonfe. Medchill barreled Forsythe at the plate, but the B-Mets backstop held on to the ball to end the inning.
Jeff Walters pitched the ninth and surrendered a two-run homer to Kyle Roller, trimming the lead to one. Walters rebounded to strike out Carmen Angelini to end the game and secure his league-leading 16th save of the year.
Goeddel (6-2) allowed two runs on eight hits to pick up the win in his fifth straight decision. O’Brien (4-1) was tagged for four runs (three earned) on six hits in his first loss of the year.
The B-Mets (39-25) continue their final series at Arm & Hammer Park in 2013 on Wednesday night at 7:05 PM. LHP Mark Cohoon takes the mound for Binghamton against LHP Matt Tracy for Trenton.
Key Stats
Daniel Muno: 2-for-5, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R
Allan Dykstra: 2-for-3, 2 BB, 1 RBI
Cesar Puello: 2-for-4, 1 R
Erik Goeddel: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 1 HR, 2 BB, 2 ER, 8 K
Chase Huchingson: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, 1 K
Jack Leathersich: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0-2 inherited runners scored
Jeff Walters: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 ER, 2 K
(Team Report)