Binghamton 6, Altoona 4
Teeming busloads of kids from area schools on Education Day provided an off-field buzz and energy sometimes unfamiliar at Binghamton’s NYSEG Stadium. On the diamond, the B-Mets supplied some baseball vigor that Binghamton fans are beginning to expect this season, scratching and clawing from behind to topple Altoona, 6-4. The win improved Pedro Lopez’s B-Mets record to 31-24. Binghamton is in first place in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League.
Right- handed prospect Cory Mazzoni did nothing to dim his glowing pitching reports throwing 6 strong innings for Binghamton. At times Mazzoni was dominating and he, at one point retired 11 consecutive batters, while striking out nine and walking only one. Even so, Mazzoni and his B-Met teammates had to dig themselves out of a 3-run second inning hole. Altoona scored three times in the second innings aided by three Binghamton errors.
The Curves second baseman, Jarek Cunningham, blasted a 3-2 Mazzoni fastball over the fence just to the right of centerfield for a solo homerun to lead off the inning. Gift Ngoepe sizzled a ground ball between third baseman Richard Lucas’s legs for a two base error. An Allan Dykstra unassisted putout at first base moved Ngoepe to third then, with the B-Met infield in, the Curve shortstop scored when his Binghamton counterpart Daniel Muno couldn’t handle Drew Maggi’s ground ball to his backhand side.
A sacrifice bunt moved Maggi into scoring position. Altoona’s leadoff hitter Andy Vazquez lined an 0-2 fastball up the middle for a hit. The ball slipped out of the hand of a charging B-Met centerfielder Darrell Ceciliani erasing the usually sure handed outfielder’s chance to throw out Maggi at the plate.
Mazzoni was unfazed getting a 5-3 ground out to end the innings, the first of 11 consecutive batters he would retire. At one point in the streak, Mazzoni fanned 6 of 9 batters. Curve first baseman Andrew Lambo saw nothing but curveballs from Mazzoni running the count to 3-2 with one out in the sixth. Mazzoni tried to slip a fastball past the Altoona slugger and paid the price as Lambo blasted his 11th homerun of the season.
Mazzoni’s day was finished after throwing 100 pitches over six innings. Here’s his pitching line: 6.0 IP, 4 R, 2 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 9 K.
Total Pitches: 100 Strikes: 71 (71%) Balls: 29 (29%)
Full Wind-up: Total Pitches: 68 Strikes: 48 (71%) Balls: 20 (29%)
Stretch: Total Pitches: 32 Strikes: 21 (67%) Balls: 11 (33%)
Strike Breakdown: Called: 23 (32%) Fouled: 19 (27%)
Missed: 14 (20%) In Play: 15 (21%)
Binghamton scored two runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth to get Mazzoni off the hook. Mazzoni led off the fifth with a single to right, his second hit of the game. The B-Met pitcher doubled to lead off the home third but was stranded at third base. Danny Muno sacrificed Mazzoni to second, and Josh Rodriguez tripled him home. Cesar Puello’s single plated Rodriguez with the second B-Met run.
Darrell Ceciliani singled to lead off the sixth, his third base hit of the game. Richard Lucas followed with an RBI double, moved to third when Xorge Carrillo grounded a single to left field and tagged up and scored when pinch hitter Joe Bonfe flied out to deep center field.
Carrillo was hit by a pitch to start the Binghamton eighth. Alonzo Harris pinch ran for Carrillo and was bunted into scoring position. After Danny Muno was also hit by a pitch, Josh Rodriquez singled to drove in Harris with the game winner. A Puello single plating Muno added an insurance run for the B-Mets.
The B-Mets continue to get brilliant support from the bullpen. Lefthander Adam Kolarek retired all six batters he faced over two innings, striking out 4. Jeff Walters earned his 13th save pitching a scoreless ninth and fanning two. B-Met pitchers struck out 15 Altoona batters in the contest.
Key Stats
Josh Rodriguez: 3-for-5, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 1 R
Cesar Puello: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
Darrell Ceciliani: 3-for-5, 1 R
Cory Mazzoni: 2-for-2, 1 2B, 1 R… 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 HR, 1 BB, 4 R, 2 ER, 9 K
Adam Kolarek: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 4 K
Jeff Walters: 1.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 K