He did it again. Binghamton’s Tyler Pill continued a brilliant run of pitching success. limiting Altoona to five hits and two runs over 6.2 innings, helping the B-Mets to an 8-2 victory over the Curve.
After starting the season with five consecutive losses, the victory pushed Pill’s record to the positive side for the first time in 2014 at 6-5. Smooth mechanics and impeccable control have been Pill’s signatures throughout the streak. Pull struck out six without walking a batter, and lowered his earned run average to 3.99.
The B-Mets spotted Pill a run in their first at bat. Kyle Johnson led off the game with a single. Dilson Herrera singled to send Johnson to third, but was thrown out at second trying to stretch it into a double. Johnson scored when Brian Burgamy grounded out to second in the next at bat.
Johnson had a big night at the plate for Binghamton. The B-Met right fielder doubled and was stranded at third base in the B-Met third, then came through against the following inning. With two outs and nobody on base, Darrell Ceciliani doubled. Xorge Carrillo worked a walk and pill beat out an infield grounder to load the bases. Johnson’t triple cleared the bases to give Pill a 4-0 lead.
An Andy Vasquez one-out triple in Altoona’s fifth set up the Curve’s first run. Vasquez scored on an infield ground out.
Pill opened the Binghamton seventh, lining a single to left for his second hot of the night, setting up a decisive B-Met inning. After Johnson flied out, Herrera laced a double to left scoring Pill. Brian Burgamy doubled to center to score Herrera, putting Binghamton in front, 6-1. After Altoona changed pitchers, Dustin Lawley greeted Quinton Miller, by blasting his 10th home run of the season.
Back-to-back doubles by Altoona’s Matt Curry and Willy Garcia plated the Curve’s final run of the game, which also led to Pill’s exit with two outs. Jon Velasquez came on to pitch going 1.2 innings with two strikeouts. Velasquez got some defensive assistance with a Brandon Nimmo to Dilson Herrera to Dustin Lawley relay through nailing Alen Hanson at third after trying to stretch a double to a triple.
Hamilton Bennett struck out two pitching a scoreless ninth inning.
Binghamton moved 13 games over .500 at 46-33, but couldn’t gain ground on first place Portland. The B-Mets, who trail Portland by six games, did add a game separation between third place New Britain. The B-Mets lead New Britain by four games.