7/25/12

Pile It On - Wheeler, Francisco Have A Bad Day

The New Britain Rock Cats pounded out a season-high 18 hits anddefeated the Binghamton Mets by an 11-2 score Wednesday afternoon at New BritainStadium. B-Mets starter Zack Wheeler matched a career-high with ten hitsallowed in his second straight loss.

Forthe second straight start, Wheeler got into trouble in the first inning, after aleadoff double to Aaron Hicks. Wheeler hit Oswaldo Arcia and Chris Colabello onconsecutive pitches to load the bases. Deibinson Romero made the righty pay bydumping a two-run double just inside the right field line.

TheRock Cats struck again with a two-bagger in the second. With runners at thecorners, Arcia lined a two-run, two-out double down the right field line,giving New Britain a 4-0 lead.

Binghamtonpacked all their offense against starter B.J. Hermsen in the fourth inning. Aftertwo singles and a walk loaded the bases, Jefry Marte cracked the scoreboardwith an RBI single to right. Dustin Martin followed with another RBI singlethrough the hole on the right side.

Afterthe B-Mets cut the deficit to two in the fourth, the Rock Cats took fullcontrol of the game. New Britain finished by scoring seven unanswered runs oneleven hits over the final six innings. Binghamton managed just two runners andwent hitless over their last five turns at-bat.

Wheeler(9-6) allowed two more runs on three hits in the fourth, his final inning. Therighty surrendered six runs (five earned) and watched his ERA rise aboive 3.00for the first time since early April. Edgar Ramirez surrendered three runs overtwo innings of relief in the fifth and sixth.

FrankFrancisco, making his first rehab appearance with the B-Mets, took over in theseventh inning and allowed two runs on three hits, including two doubles. Therighty recorded two outs and gave way to Brad Holt who allowed an inheritedrunner to score before ending the inning. Holt closed the B-Mets pitching tabwith a scoreless eighth.

Hermsen(7-5) settled down and retired eleven of the final twelve batters he faced, cappingthe win with three shutout innings. He allowed two runs on four singles andstruck out a season-high eight over seven innings. Daniel Turpen posted aperfect eighth and David Bromberg put up a shutout ninth.

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