For the second straight day, a slow start cost the B-Mets and they got themselves into a hole they couldn't dig out of. Despite a furious rally that saw the Mets score seven runs in the last four innings, they came up on the short end of an 11-7 reading Sunday in the series finale against the defending Eastern League champion Akron Aeros.
Binghamton starter Mike Antonini unfortunately was bitten by the big inning bug, the same bug that has plagued the Binghamton hurlers in this series. In the season opener, it was a five run fifth, Saturday it was a five run third inning and on Sunday, it was a six run fourth.
With the game scoreless, Akron started the fourth with left fielder John Drennen being hit by a pitch. Carlos Rivero and Cord Phelps followed with singles to load the bases and Josh Rodriguez drove in the first run of the game with a single of his own.
After catcher Wyatt Toreagas popped out to his Binghamton counterpart, leadoff man Tim Fedroff got an RBI single to make it 2-0. Lonnie Chisenhall followed and hit one to first base. Nick Evans fired home to get the lead runner. Montz return throw to first hit the runner, but he was called safe.
Binghamton Manager Tim Teufel went out to dispute the call, but to no avail.
"I said the ball hit the runner and we both acknowledged that," said Teufel of his conversation with home plate umpire Jon Byrne. "He said he was in the line. Usually when the runner gets that close to the bag, is usually in the throwers path, so I disagreed with the call and we moved on from there"
That would turn out to be a huge play because instead of being out of the inning, Teufel was forced to make a pitching change and the first pitch that Josh Stinson threw to Nick Weglarz got out of the park in a hurry for a grand slam. That made it 6-0.
"That changed the complexion of the game," said Teufel. "That was a big turning point for us and we had to battle back."
Binghamton did indeed battle back, getting one run in the bottom of the fourth on a majestic long ball by Lucas Duda, his second of the season.
"That was a blast," said Teufel of the Duda homer. "We got some guys that got some thunder and we are a dangerous lineup, we just gotta put it all together."
As has been the case in this series, Akron answered back with three runs in the sixth. Fedroff had an RBI single and Matt McBride knocked in two with his single, to widen the lead to 9-1. Much like they did on Saturday, the B-Mets rallied in a big way.
The Mets got three right back in the bottom of the inning. Luke Montz singled with one out. Carlos Guzman and Zach Lutz drew consecutive walks. Akron reliever Bryan Price then gives up a two-run single to Luis Hernandez, who was sent down from Buffalo before the game.
Jonathan Malo then hit into a fielder's choice that scored Zach Lutz and the comeback was on, as that made it 9-4.
In the top of the seventh, Binghamton reliever John Lujan walked Cord Phelps, but then made a highlight reel play on a comebacker by Josh Rodriguez. Lujan twirled toward second ad as he was falling, got enough on the throw to force Phelps.
The bottom of the seventh started with a strikeout by Nick Evans, but DH Marshall Hubbard got a hold of one and hit it over the right field wall to draw the Mets within four, at 9-5. Duda followed that with a double and was brought home one out later on a single by Guzman.
A passed ball got Guzman to third and Lutz to second, but the rally ended there, as Hernandez flied to left to end the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth, Jose Coronado pinch hit for Malo and promptly singled. He moved to second on a wild pitch by Akron's C.C. Lee and after two were out, he got to third on a passed ball. Hubbard made the Indians pay for their mistakes as he singled Coronado home to make it 9-7.
Unfortunately, that was as close as the B-Mets would get as Akron got two in the top of the ninth to make it 11-7.
Binghamton did manage to load the bases, but could only get one run on a single by Kirk Nieuwenhuis that scored Lutz. There were two runners on for the very dangerous Nick Evans, but Akron closer Vinnie Pestano got him to pop out to first to end the game.
"We had some good things happen and we battled back again," said Teufel. "I don't wanna keep that as our motto for the year, we really need to change that."
Teufel addressed the team after the game and said he delivered a message of lets keep playing the game the way it's supposed to be played and things will turn around for us.
"It's early in the year and there's absolutely no panic involved, it is a matter of tuning it up."
Game Notes: Clint Everts was designated for assignment Sunday and Catcher Shawn Riggans was placed on the DL.
For more info: Akron @ Binghamton boxscore 4/11/10
The B-Mets (1-3) will tune it up again tomorrow as they begin a three game series against Erie at NYSEG Stadium. The SeaWolves come into this series winless, dropping four straight against Trenton.
All three games start at 6:35 and you can purchase tickets online. Eddie Kunz (0-0) will start for Binghamton against lefthander Andy Oliver (0-0) Monday night.
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