EL1 Binghamton Rumble Ponies

B-Mets Sweep Akron 8-5 in Sunday Finale

Published on June 27, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Binghamton Rumble Ponies News Release


Chris Schwinden loomed large with five innings of stellar relief after starter Jenrry Mejia exited due to injury in the second inning, helping Binghamton to an 8-5 win Sunday afternoon at Canal Park. It was the B-Mets second sweep of the Aeros in their home park in 2010. Schwinden allowed two runs - one earned - on four hits for his third win.

Binghamton (39-36) came out of the gates swinging with a two-out rally in the first inning. After Akron starter Kelvin De La Cruz struck out the first two hitters, Nick Evans singled to left and was joined on base when De La Cruz walked Josh Satin. D.J. Wabick made the left-hander pay with a bases-clearing triple into the right-field corner, making it 2-0 B-Mets.

Luis Hernandez upped the lead to three with a two-out RBI single in the second, chasing home Raul Reyes, who had been hit by a pitch and advanced to third on an errant pickoff attempt.

With a 3-0 lead, Mejia put the first two hitters of the second on base thanks to a single and a walk. However, before facing Miguel Perez, catcher Salomon Manriquez signaled for trainer Joe Golia to come out and look at Mejia. The 20- year-old was subsequently pulled from the game in favor of Schwinden after throwing 43 pitches.

The B-Mets tallied for the third straight inning in the third. Sean Ratliff tattooed a hanging breaking ball from De La Cruz on a 1-2 offering, sending it out to right for his fourth homer leading off the frame.

Brahiam Maldonado followed Ratliff's lead in the fourth and led off the stanza with a homer of his own, a no-doubt blast to left-center, upping the lead to 5-0. It was Maldonado's fifth with Binghamton. He would later exit the game due to a left ankle injury after flying out in the sixth.

De La Cruz was chased from the game in the fourth after issuing his third walk of the game. The starter was hung with the loss after allowing five runs over 3 2/3 innings.

The B-Mets pushed across their sixth run in the sixth against reliever Bryan Price. Raul Reyes singled with two outs to up his hitting streak to four games. Manriquez followed and doubled down the line in left. The ball was mishandled in the corner by John Drennen, allowing Reyes to tally.

The Aeros finally cracked the scoreboard in the sixth when Drennen made amends with a two-out RBI single to left off Schwinden. Drennen advanced to second on an error by Hernandez on a Josh Rodriguez's sinking line drive. Then, Jerad Head hit a weak ground ball to second that forced a wild throw from Satin, allowing Drennen to motor home for Akron's second run, cutting the lead to 6-2.

Binghamton responded with two runs in the eighth off Omar Aguilar. Manriquez roped a single to deep right with the bases loaded, which pushed one run across. The second would score on a wild relay-throw from second baseman Jason Kipnis that ended up in the Aeros' third-base dugout.

The insurance runs would prove valuable as Akron got to Roy Merritt in the eighth. With two outs, Drennen dropped a single into left. Rodriguez followed with an RBI double to the gap in right. Then Head cut the lead to three with a towering tworun home run to left. Eddie Kunz was summoned to spell Merritt and retired the side two batters later, maintaining the 8-5 margin.

Manuel Alvarez came out of the bullpen for the ninth and promptly got into trouble against the top of the lineup. Jordan Henry and Kipnis looped singles in front of Ratliff in center to start the frame. However, Alvarez buckled down and retired the next three to nail down his fourth save in as many chances.

The B-Mets return to NYSEG Stadium with a head of steam for Monday's 6:35 PM opener with the Altoona Curve, who hold the Eastern League's best record. RHP Josh Stinson (4-1, 2.59) will take the ball for Binghamton and the Curve will counter with RHP Bryan Morris (4-2, 3.72). The radio broadcast on Newsradio 1290 WNBF begins at 6:20 PM with the Horizons Federal Credit Union Pre-Game Show.

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Eastern League Stories from June 27, 2010


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