The Binghamton Mets and Akron Aeros have given fans a heck of a series so far to open the season and Saturday's game was the crown jewel. The B-Mets battled back after going down seven runs, only to see Akron score in the top of the ninth to win 11-10.
Binghamton got things started in a big way when Kirk Nieuwenhuis led the bottom of the first inning off with a homerun. Nick Evans and Marshall Hubbard followed with singles and Lucas Duda grounded out, but Evans was able to score to give the B-Mets an early 2-0 lead.
Akron came back in the top of the second with three runs of their own against Binghamton starter Scott Shaw, who was making his Double-A debut.
Beau Mills led off with a double that Nieuwenhuis made a diving attempt for in right center and just missed. He went to third on a single by Carlos Rivero. Second basemen Cord Phelps then launched a 3-run bomb over the right field wall. That was only the beginning for Akron.
B-Mets starting catcher Shawn Riggans suffered an arm injury before the beginning of the third inning and Luke Montz day off was cut short as he tool over behind the plate.
"It's his arm, " said Teufel of Riggans. "It seemed like it happened during the game at some point. We just have to hope for the best and hope we can get him back."
Lonnie Chisenhall singled to start the third and Nick Weglarz doubled. They were brought home on a Matt McBride single to put Akron up 5-2. Cord Phelps hit an RBI single later in the inning and John Drennen hit a fly ball to center which was caught but the throw home went off Montz glove and Akron took a commanding 7-2 lead. Catcher Wyatt Toreagas put the finishing touches on a six-run inning, with an RBI double.
Akron's lead was extended in the fourth when Weglarz homered off of reliever Edgar Ramirez to make it 9-2.
The B-Mets comeback march started in the fifth inning. Akron starter Connor Graham gave up back-to- back walks to Evans and Marshall Hubbard before Lucas Duda drilled a fastball to center to score Evans. Luke Montz, in his first at bat after taking over for Riggans, promptly deposited one in left field.
"What a display of character there, " said Teufel of Montz. "To be on the bench and not playing and then come in and get one of our biggest hits of the day, that really pumped us up and gave us a chance. We chewed away at their lead and we have plenty of game left."
"It felt good," said Montz of his homerun. "I just wanted to put a good AB together and got a pitch to hit and hit it out."
He is confident that this team will get it together quickly. "This is a good group of guys and our offense is there, we are swinging the bats and once our pitching comes around we will be winning these games."
All of a sudden, the Mets were back in it, 9-6 and they were far from done.
"The offense is exciting," said Teufel. "Never giving up and never dying, no lead is safe in this ballpark."
In the sixth inning Nieuwenhuis started with a single and Evans followed with one of his own. Hubbard delivered with an RBI double and Duda followed with a run scoring single, to make it 9-9. Evans scored on a wild pitch to tie the game. After Montz and Carlos Guzman were retired, Zach Lutz hit an RBI double into the left field corner and the rally was complete, as the B-Sens scored eight unanswered runs and led 10-9.
"What a comeback," said Teufel. To score eight runs in two innings after falling behind as much as we were, this team is developing a never give up attitude and I love that."
Roy Merritt, who returns to the closers role this season, was called on to hold that lead in the ninth but after retiring the first batter, he gave up three straight singles, the last to Carlos Rivero which tied the game. After he retired Cord Phelps, John Drennen struck the final blow with an RBI single.
"We had a lot of positives out there,, the only thing we had negative was right there at the end," said Teufel. "Couple key situations, lefty on lefty that didn't work out for us today."
For more info: Akron @ B-Mets boxscore 4/10/10
Comments