8/20/09

B-Mets Split 2 w/New Britain





For Immediate Release
Date: August 19, 2009 Contact: Matt McCabe, mmccabe@bmets.com

B-Mets Split Two with New Britain Wednesday

In the continuation of a game suspended from Tuesday night, the B-Mets harnessed New Britain 7-5 before falling in the nightcap, a seven-inning contest, 6-1 at NYSEG Stadium Wednesday night. Derrick Ellison went a season-best 3.2 innings out of the pen in the opening game to notch the win. He has yet to allow a run in a B-Mets uniform.

Heavy rains forced yesterday’s game to be suspended after two full innings leading to the resumption in the top of the third inning Wednesday evening. Binghamton (47-74) possessed a 1-0 lead entering the day thanks to a second-inning solo homer from Shawn Bowman off Rock Cats’ starter Mike McCardell. Whit Robbins had doubled off starter Jenrry Mejia when the rains began to fall Tuesday causing the stoppage.

Edgar Alfonzo took to the hill when the game got started again and proceeded to allow Robbins to score on a Yancarlos Ortiz single. Later in the frame, Rene Tosoni tripled down the line in right to drive in two more, handing New Britain (61-61) a 3-1 lead.

However, the B-Mets came back with four runs in the last of the third thanks to a Frank Mata wild pitch, a two-run double from Caleb Stewart and an RBI double from D.J. Wabick. The four-run frame put Binghamton in the driver’s seat 5-3.

The B-Mets added single runs in the sixth and the eighth innings and took a 7-4 lead into the ninth inning, where the situation became dicey. Connor Robertson came out of the pen searching for his 11th save, but instead he allowed the first two men to reach on singles. Manager Mako Oliveras did not hesitate to pass the buck on to Roy Merritt.

With a 1-2 count on pinch-hitter Toby Gardenhire, Binghamton catcher Josh Thole was called for catcher’s interference, which allowed Gardenhire to reach, loading the base. Ortiz came to the plate next and brought in a run with a single inching the Rock Cats within two runs of the lead, 7-5. Merritt buckled down and got the next three hitters, capped off by strikeouts of Tosoni and Brian Dinkelman to nail down his 13th save of the year.

Ellison was credited for the win thanks to his 3.2 innings of scoreless work, including a strikeout and a walk.

The second game was controlled by Rock Cats lefty Ryan Mullins, who at one point retired 12 in a row as part of a stellar six-inning outing. He allowed only a run on six hits with three strikeouts to notch his team-leading ninth win.

New Britain cracked the scoreboard first with a two-run double from Dinkelman in the first inning off starter Dylan Owen and the Rock Cats didn’t look back en route to a 6-1 win.

Binghamton’s only run came in the bottom of the first on a fielder’s choice from Josh Thole, who was making his first start of the year at first base. The B-Mets loaded the bases with nobody out in the seventh, but failed to score against reliever Alex Burnett, who retired the next three to end the game.

Owen dropped his ninth game by allowing five runs in five innings. However, he did strike out six men for the second straight start

The rubber match of the three-game series is set for Thursday night. Binghamton will toss RHP Brad Holt (3-6, 6.21) and New Britain will counter with RHP Deolis Guerra (5-2, 5.49). The first pitch is slated for 6:30 and the radio broadcast on Newsradio 1290 WNBF begins at 6:15 with the Horizons Federal Credit Union Pre-Game Show.

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