"We've just got put it together. Ham and eggs come together, so to speak. I think better days are ahead of us."
Those were the words of B-Mets Manager Tim Teufel following Sunday's series finale loss to Akron.
On Monday, he got his wish as the ham and eggs finally came together, as in the B-Mets pitching finally caught up with the hitting and it paid dividends as Binghamton won the series opener over the Erie SeaWolves, 7-4.
The Binghamton Mets were hitting .321 as a team but the pitching staff was struggling to stay away from the big inning and had an ERA of 7.68 to show for it.
On Monday, the staff got a huge lift from starter Eddie Kunz. Kunz was in the bullpen for Binghamton last season, was moved into the starting rotation this season and gave up only two hits, both long balls and was charged with all four SeaWolves runs.
The offense although potent, battled from behind in three out of the four games against Akron. Monday night, Nick Evans made sure that wouldn't be the case.
After Kirk Nieuwenhuis drew a walk to start the bottom of the first, Jonathan Malo struck out and Evans stepped up and drove a fastball over the right field wall.
Binghamton added another run on a double by Marshall Hubbard to push the lead to 3-0.
The B-Mets would add single runs in the next three innings. In the bottom of the second, Carlos Guzman walked and Luis Hernandez singled. Two batters later, Jonathan Malo drove a single by the outstretched glove of Erie shortstop Cale Iorg. Iorg and attempted to force Hernandez at second, but threw the ball into right field allowing Guzman to score, making it 4-0.
Kunz meanwhile was impressive, as he was hitting his spots and had the Erie hitters off balance to this point.
"Kunz did a nice job, from spring training to now, he's made some big improvements," said Binghamton Manager Tim Teufel. "He had four walks, but all-in-all he had a lot of groundball outs and that's what a good sinker ball will do for you."
The B-Mets would extend their lead to 5-0 in the third when Zach Lutz hammered a homerun to left. Following the Lutz homer, Hubbard sent a smash toward second where Erie's Justin Henry dove and made a great stab, got to his feet ad threw Hubbard out on a SportsCenter Top-10 worthy play.
Kunz (1-0) finally cracked in the top of the fourth. He walked first basemen Michael Bertram with one out. A ground ball by DH Cesar Nicholas that Lutz fielded, but Malo was unable to get a handle on and was charged with an error.
That would prove to be a huge play because the next batter was Right Fielder Deik Scram, who after looking at an apparent third strike which wasn't called, took advantage of his second life and launched a three-run jack over the right field fence, to put the SeaWolves in business, 5-3.
To their credit, Binghamton had a partial answer in the bottom of the inning thanks to an RBI single by Malo. That hit would chase SeaWolves starter Andy Oliver (0-1), who was on the losing side of his pro debut.
Erie answered with a Santo De Leon leadoff long ball to left field to make it 6-4. Kunz would finish the inning by getting Andy Dirks and Henry on groundouts and Wilkin Ramirez to strikeout swinging.
Jose De La Torre was called on in the sixth to make his second appearance of the year for the B-Mets. He was spectacular. He pitched three innings of no-hit ball and had six strikeouts, including mowing down the side in the seventh.
"He definitely had a great night," Teufel said of his reliever. "His tempo was great and he didn't throw many balls. He was around the dish and was sharp. It was the best stuff I've seen this year."
Binghamton would tally is final run of the night in the bottom of the seventh frame, when Evans belted his second homer of the night to finish the scoring and give Binghamton (2-3) a 7-4 win.
"Nick is definitely swinging the bat well," said Teufel. "He's having fun again, he's enjoying the game and he wants to put last year behind him. It's a good start for Nick Evans."
Evans echoed his managers sentiments concerning last year.
"I've been asked a lot of questions about last year and I am really trying to put it behind me," he said. "We got a great team here and I am looking forward to helping them win some games."
Roy Merritt, who lost the lead and the game to Akron on Saturday, gave up only one hit to Erie in the ninth and nailed down his first save and the B-Mets second win of the season.
"Merritt needed a good one (outing)," said Teufel. He had kind of a sloppy one last time but he had a little more velocity and looked like his stuff was back tonight."
Teufel was glad to see his team finally put a complete game together.
"The other nights we hit well, but didn't pitch well, tonight we pitched well," he said. "Whenever you got great pitching and you score a few runs you got a good chance of winning an that was the combination tonight."
For more info: Erie @ Binghamton 4/12/10 Boxscore
Binghamton will take on Erie again tonight at NYSEG Stadium in game two of the series. Eric Niesen (0-1), 6.75 is scheduled to make his second start of the season for the Mets. He went just four innings in the rain shortened opening day game. He will be opposed by Jon Kibler, (0-1), 1.80.
The game will start at 6:35 pm. Good seats are still available
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