EL1 Binghamton Rumble Ponies

B-Mets Game Notes: at Richmond Flying Squirrels

Published on July 5, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Binghamton Rumble Ponies News Release


Binghamton Mets (37-46) at

Richmond Flying Squirrels (41-44)

Double-A Affiliate of the San Francisco Giants

RHP Zack Wheeler (7-4, 2.74) vs. RHP Chris Heston (6-3, 1.89)

Game #84 - Thursday, July 5, 2012

The Diamond - Richmond, VA - 7:05 PM

LAST GAME: The Richmond Flying Squirrels collected eleven hits, including ten for extra-bases, and defeated the B-Mets 9-4 last night in front of a sold-out crowd of 9,560 at The Diamond. Greg Peavey suffered his fifth-straight loss, allowing six runs on eight hits over 4.2 innings. The defeat extended his winless streak to seven games. Craig Westcott earned the win, surrendering three runs over 6.1 innings. Eric Campbell led the offense for Binghamton with three RBI, including a two-run homer in the seventh inning. Adrian Rosario and Erik Turgeon allowed three runs over the final 3.1 innings of relief. Ari Ronick closed out the game, allowing one run over 2.2 innings.

STARTING PITCHING MATCHUP: RHP Zack Wheeler (7-4, 2.74) makes his 15th start of the season and the first against his former organization. He suffered the loss in his last start against the Altoona Curve on June 30. He allowed a career-high seven runs on nine hits over 6.2 innings. He walked three and struck out five. Wheeler was traded from the San Francisco Giants to the Mets in exchange for Carlos Beltran in July 2011. The righty has allowed eleven earned runs over his last two starts, 42% of his total in 2012.

RHP Chris Heston (6-3, 1.89) takes the hill for his 17th start of the season. Heston is on a four-game winless streak, taking the no-decision in his last start against the Akron Aeros on June 30. He allowed four runs (three earned) on a season-high eight hits over 4.1 innings. It was his shortest outing of the season, outside of a two-inning performance on June 1 that was cut short due to a lengthy rain delay. Heston has surrendered eleven earned runs in his last three starts, 55% of his 2012 total. Selected in the 12th round of the 2009 draft out of East Carolina University and is in his fourth year in the Giants system.

A FAMILIAR FACE: B-Mets starter Zack Wheeler was selected by the Giants as the sixth overall pick in the 2009 draft out of East Paulding HS in Dallas, Georgia. Wheeler pitched for the Augusta GreenJackets (Low-A) in 2010 and threw for the San Jose Giants (High-A) in 2011 before being traded to the Mets in July 2011 for Carlos Beltran.

OFFENSES ROLL AGAINST BINGHAMTON: The last three teams the B-Mets have battled all ranked in the bottom third in the Eastern League in team batting average when they first met up with Binghamton: Bowie (10th), Altoona (10th) and Richmond (12th). In the last nine games, the teams have combined for 98 basehits, averaging eleven per game.

WASTING THE OFFENSE: The B-Mets pounded out ten hits last night, reaching double digits for the 33rd time this season. The defeat was their eighth when collecting ten hits or more. They have lost each of their last three games that they have reached double digits in hits.

CAMPBELL CONTINUES TO ROLL: Eric Campbell went 2-for-4 at the plate and drove in three runs, including a two-run homer. Campbell remains the active leader in the Eastern League with a .332 batting average. He will join fellow B-Mets Jefry Marte and Armando Rodriguez at the Eastern League All-Star Game.

STILL WHEELING & DEALING: Despite allowing eleven earned runs in his last two starts, Zack Wheeler maintains his position on the Eastern League leader board. He owns the fourth-lowest ERA and leads the league with the lowest batting average allowed (.203).

HITTING THE SKIDS: Over their last 19 games, the B-Mets have gone just 6-13. The period includes a four-game streak and a seven-game skid.

THE HOLIDAY CROWDS: After playing in front of their largest home crowd of the season on Tuesday (6,481), the B-Mets played in front of their largest road crowd of the year last night (9,560).

NEXT GAME PREVIEW: The B-Mets wrap up their only visit to Richmond tomorrow night at 7:05 PM. RHP Cory Mazzoni takes the mound for the B-Mets against LHP Mike Kickham.

Check out the Binghamton Rumble Ponies Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Eastern League Stories from July 5, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central