The Binghamton Mets went into Friday night's game against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats looking for their fifth straight win. This is news all on its own, as Binghamton did not win more than two straight games last season.
The B-Mets scored nine runs in the first two innings of Friday's game and the pitching staff made it hold up, as Binghamton held on for a 9-5 victory.
In the first inning, the first five B-Mets reached. Kirk Nieuwenhuis singled to center field. Nick Evans, who has been the big bat for Binghamton thus far this season followed with a single. Marshall Hubbard walked to load the bases.
Lucas Duda cleared the bases with his fourth double of the year, to make it 3-0. That was the start to a huge night for Duda. Zach Lutz was next and he grounded out, finally giving the Fisher Cats their first out of the night. Duda went to third and Carlos Guzman followed and was plunked by Fisher Cats starter Marty McLeary.
Luis Hernandez, who is off to a slow start this season for Binghamton, drew a walk to load the bases for the second time in the inning. Mike Nickeas would come through with a single to left to make it 5-0 Binghamton. The B-Mets were unable to push across anything more, but the damage was done.
That was the end of the night for McLeary, who managed only 1/3 of an inning. He was relieved by Bubbie Buzachero, who induced two ground balls to allow rthe Fisher Cats to get out of the inning.
Evans led off the Mets second inning with a single and Hubbard followed with one of his own. Duda, as he did in the first inning, cleared the bases, this time with a deep home run to left. In two at-bats, Duda had six RBI's.
Lutz made it back-to-back jacks as he belted one out to left. For both men, it was their third big fly on the young season.
That was all the offense the Mets would get and despite New Hampshire getting two runs in the bottom of the inning off of Binghamton starter Mike Antonini (1-1).
The Fisher Cats got a break right off the hop in the second when Duda dropped a foul pop. Adam Loewen came up with a one out, 2-run blast to get New Hampshire on the board.
Antonini would settle down and go five innings, not allowing another run and bringing his ERA down a full five runs, to 7.27.
Edwin Ramirez would relieve Antonini in the sixth and promptly give up two runs to get the Fisher Cats into the game at 9-4. They would then add another run in the seventh on an Eric Thames RBI double.
That would be it for the home squad though as Ramirez would pitch a 1,2,3, eighth and John Lujan came in to close the door with a scoreless ninth inning.
For more info: Binghamton @ New Hampshire Boxscore
Amazin' Stat: Hubbard extended his hitting streak to a team-best eight games with a two-hit day.
Binghamton (6-3) is a half game behind Trenton in the Eastern League East standings. The Thunder's game against Portland was postponed Friday.
These two teams will go at it again Saturday in a 1:35 PM EDT afternoon tilt. Eddie Kunz (1-0, 5.40) will make his second start of the season for Binghamton, while Bobby Bell (0-1, 7.20) toes the rubber for the Fisher Cats.
You can follow all the action on WNBF1290 with the voice of the Binghamton Mets, Matt McCabe.
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