The Binghamton Mets offense had been held at bay for the most part during their three game losing streak. Tuesday night, the bats were not to be denied, as they punished Portland 15-3 at Hadlock Field in Portland Maine.
Kirk Nieuwenhuis (5-for-6) was the star of the show, with a five hit night. He scored four runs and registered four RBI's.
The fireworks started early as Nieuwenhuis singled to start the game and Nick Evans sent one sailing over the fence soon after to give the B-Mets a 2-0 lead.
After getting Evans to ground out to start the third, Portland hurler Ryne Miller (0-1) proceeded to walk the bases loaded. Binghamton shortstop Jose Coronado was up next and jacked a grand slam out to right field to extend the lead to 6-0.
Binghamton added a run in the fourth on a 2-out RBI double by Lucas Duda that scored Nieuwenhuis.
B-Mets starter Scott Shaw (2-0) ran into trouble in the fourth when he hit the leadoff man and walked the next two hitters. With the sacks packed, third baseman Ray Chang hit an RBI single, to get the Sea Dogs on the board, 7-1.
Shaw battled back and minimized the damage by getting Jose Iglesias to fly out to left field and followed that up by inducing a ground ball double play off the bat of Chih-Hsien Chiang.
Portland wasn't finished though, as they came up with two runs in the fifth on a 2-run double by catcher Luis Exposito. That cut the Binghamton lead to 7-3, but the long night was just starting for Portland pitching.
Nieuwenhuis started the Binghamton sixth with a double and Evans followed with a walk. After Zach Lutz struck out, Duda doubled to drive in Nieuwenhuis. Duda followed Evans home soon after, when right fielder D.J. Wabick belted a double of his own to left to make it 10-3. The inning ended with Wabick getting thrown out at home.
A Nieuwenhuis double in the seventh and an RBI ground out by Evans saw the Binghamton lead to swell to 12-3.
Binghamton put the icing on the cake in the top of the ninth with a three-spot when Portland Manager Arnie Beyeler threw in the towel. He summoned Nate Spears, who started the game at second base. He started by walking Mike Nickeas. Newcomer Brahiam Maldonado singled and Nieuwenhuis finished off a career night with a three run bomb to left field.
The Binghamton bullpen deserves a nod of approval as Jose De La Torre and Derrick Ellison pitched two scoreless frames.
Binghamton @ Portland Boxscore 4/20/10
Game Notes: Left fielder Brahiam Maldonado's debut was a successful one. He was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. He was called up from St. Lucie (High-A) earlier in the day. Pitcher Edgar Ramirez was sent from Binghamton (AA) to Brooklyn (SS-A).
Amazin' Stat: The five-hit night by Nieuwenhuis was the first for Binghamton since Josh Thole accomplished the feat against the Trenton Thunder May 14, 2009 at NYSEG Stadium.
Binghamton will look to start a new winning streak Wednesday in the final game of the series at Portland. Game time is set for 12:00 PM. Wednesday. Mike Antonini (1-1, 7.27) will get the ball for Binghamton and Portland will counter with Kyle Weiland (0-1, 5.40).
Please Note: The radio broadcast of tomorrow's game will be on 1360 WYOS, not WNBF1290 and will begin at 11:45 AM.
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