Binghamton 4, Reading 3
The Binghamton Mets broke a tie game in the eighth inning and hung on to defeat the Reading Fightin Phils, 4-3, on Wednesday at FirstEnergy Stadium. One night removed from blowing a one-read lead in the ninth, B-Mets closer Jeff Walters stranded two in the final frame to secure Binghamton’s 23rd one-run win of the season.
For the second straight night, Reading cracked the scoreboard in the first. Zach Collier walked following a nine-pitch battle, moved from first to third on a single by Maikel Franco and came home when Jim Murphy skied a sac fly to deep right field.
Blake Forsythe returned serve for the B-Mets in the second, launching a 3-1 offering from Brody Colvin over the right-field wall for his ninth homer of the season. The B-Mets grabbed the lead in the third on a sac fly by Darrell Ceciliani and a fielding error by Reading third baseman Maikel Franco.
The Phils fought back to knot the game with two runs off Darin Gorski in the third. With runners at the corners, Zach Collier ripped an RBI double down the right field line and Franco followed with a game-tying sac fly to left field.
Binghamton threatened without collecting a hit in the fourth, but failed to break through against Colvin in his final inning. The right-hander loaded the bases on three walks, but struck out Allan Dykstra to end the threat, preserving the 3-3 tie.
Gorski settled in and capped his night with three scoreless innings of work. The lefty side-stepped a two-out single in the fourth, posted a perfect fifth and stranded two runners in the sixth before handing off to the bullpen. Chasen Bradford took over in the seventh and put up a perfect frame.
After Hector Nerris blanked Binghamton for three perfect innings, the B-Mets scratched back against Kyle Simon in the eighth. Ceciliani hit a sharp infield single to first to start the inning. The B-Mets outfielder moved into scoring position with his 29th stolen base of the season and moved to third on a wild pitch. Following a one-out walk to Wilfredo Tovar, Alonzo Harris stroked a grounder to short. Harris beat out the potential inning-ending double play ball, allowing Ceciliani to score the go-ahead run.
Adam Kolarek worked around a one-out walk in a scoreless eighth before handing off to Walters for the ninth. Anthony Hewitt greeted Walters with an infield single and Troy Hanzawa lined a single to left, putting runners on the corners with one out. The right-hander fanned pinch-hitter Kelly Dugan and induced Albert Cartwright to pop out to catcher Forsythe to end the game.
Bradford (2-1) collected the victory, while Walters earned his 34th of the season. Gorski allowed three runs on seven hits in over six innings in the no-decision. Simon (1-5) allowed two hits in the eighth in the losing effort.
The B-Mets (76-47) conclude their only visit to Reading on Thursday night at 7:05 PM. RHP Greg Peavey takes the mound against Major League rehabber RHP Jonathan Pettibone.
Key Stats
Blake Forsythe: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R
Darrell Ceciliani: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 SB, 1 R
Darin Gorski: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 BB, 3 ER, 5 K
Chasen Bradford: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K
Adam Kolarek: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Jeff Walters: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K
(Team Report)