The Binghamton Mets 2010 opener started under sunny skies but ended with a torrential downpour. The game was suspended after Akron batted in the top of the fifth, with the Aeros leading 7-2.
Akron came up with two runs in the top of the second, the second of those runs crossing the plate just as the third out was recorded at third base.
The B-Mets battled back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth. Nick Evans doubled off the wall in left-center field and after D.J. Wabick struck out, Lucas Duda hit a mighty blast to tie the score at 2-2.
Unfortunately for Binghamton, the top of the fifth was not pretty. Starter Eric Niesen was pulled with a couple guys on and relieved by Derrick Ellison who watched five runs cross the plate, four of them charged to him.
"I think Niesen was in and out of the strike zone, like to see him get ahead of hitters a little bit better," said B-Mets Manager Tim Teufel. "He battled out there, first time out I am sure he was pumped up but he pitched pretty well."
A two-run triple by Akron's Tim Fedroff and a homerun by Matt McBride did the damage for the defending Eastern League champion Aeros.
"Ellie (Derrick Ellison) came in and he was up in the zone. I think his adrenaline was pretty high," Teufel said. "He just didn't gather himself in time to make the adjustment.
Teufel did not rule out the fact that his guys could have been just a little more pumped up, with opening night being at home.
"You wanna get out of the gate quick when you're at home," he said. "Our pitchers were pumped up and pitched up in the zone.
With the grounds crew at the ready, the game was halted as the rain poured down and as the tarp was being pulled onto the field, the wind got a hold of it and tore it away from the crew and took a couple guys with it before they let go and watched it go into the outfield.
"It has happened a couple times," said head groundskeeper Steve Wiseman. "It is a scary thing, but I don't think anybody's hurt."
"That was an amazing site," said Teufel of the tarp incident. "Glad they let go of the tarp, would've taken them for a ride."
The suspended game will be picked up at 5:05 PM EDT with the two teams starting the bottom of the fifth inning. Teufel was not sure which reliever they would use to start the suspended game. That game will be played to its conclusion.
The second game will follow and will be a seven inning affair. Brad Holt would have started that game but he was put on the disabled list with a wrist injury.
"Brad is just precautionary reasons," said Teufel. "Just giving him a little bit of rest and we will see how he feels in the next two or three days."
Dylan Owen will take the ball in Holt's spot. "It's a luxury to have a guy that can step in and give you some innings," said Teufel of Owen. "Dylan' been here before and it gives him an opportunity to do something."
All fans with tickets to Thursday’s opener may redeem their ticket stub at the B-Mets box office for a ticket of equal or lesser value to any future B-Mets home game, except July fourth. The ticket can be used for today's games.
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