Defenders Walkoff Again 7-6
August 23, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release
NORWICH, CT- Better late than never! For the second straight game, the Defenders (73-53)showed up casually late but still managed to pull off another walk-off victory 7-6 Sunday afternoon over Binghamton (48-77).
SS-Sharlon Schoop was on center stage in the bottom of ninth with the game tied at six with Martinez-Esteve on second and Tyler LaTorre on first. Schoop took full advantage and delivered the game winning hit to score Eddy as Connecticut grabbed a 2-1 advantage in the four game series.
Binghamton got on the score board first when 3B-Shawn Bowman doubled in the fourth inning to lead things off. 1B-Salvodor Paniagua drove in his teammate with an RBI single putting the B-Mets out in front 1-0.
The B-Mets SS-Reuben Tejeda got things started with a one out single in the fifth. 2B-Jose Coronado hit a ground rule double to right field putting both runners in scoring position. RF-Caleb Stewart drew a walk against Snyder and that loaded the bases. Bowman's RBI single would push every runner up a station and pumped the B-Mets in front 2-0 as Tejeda scored. Paniagua added to his RBI total with a double to bring home two more as he bumped his total to three on the day. LF-Mark Kiger capped off the five run fifth with a single to bring in Bowman and Paniagua and the B-Mets were in control 6-0.
The Defenders were able to respond and cut the lead in half in the home half of the fifth. RHP-Craig Whitaker in relief of Snyder doubled in his first Defenders at bat, to get things started. 2B-Brock Bond singled to set up Connecticut with runners on the corners, allowing CF-Mike McBryde to drive in Whitaker with an RBI single. RF-Eddy Martinez-Esteve sent his 29th double of season to the wall in left center bringing Bond and McBryde around to score and the Defenders were down 6-3.
In the seventh Mike McBryde would be at it again as he led things off with a double. Martinez-Esteve hit into a ground out but it was enough to bring in McBryde for his third RBI of the game as Connecticut trailed, 6-4.
Defenders' reliever RHP-Dan Griffin (7-6) earned the win tossing one scoreless inning while B-Mets' reliever RHP-Jose De La Torre (2-2) blew the his third save and the loss allowing three earned runs off four hits, walked one and fanned two in just .2 innings of work.
Connecticut and Binghamton will close out their regular season in Monday night's final meeting of these two clubs at 6:35pm at Dodd Stadium. On the hill for the Defenders will be LHP Jesse English (7-7) looking to even the four game series up. The B-Mets continuing to play the role of spoiler will throw RHP-Dylan Owen (4-9).
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