EL1 Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Maldonado Slams B-Mets to 5-1 Win

Published on June 24, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Binghamton Rumble Ponies News Release


Brahiam Maldonado delivered a grand slam in the seventh inning to break a 1-1 deadlock, sending Binghamton to a 5-1 victory over New Britain Thursday night at NYSEG Stadium. The big fly made a winner out of Eric Niesen, who dazzled with a season-long, seven innings of one-run work.

The game shaped up to be a pitcher's duel from the outset as Niesen and Rock Cats' right-hander Mike McCardell threw up zeroes in the first two innings, respectively.

New Britain (19-53) broke through for its only run in the third inning. With two outs, Joe Benson connected on an elevated fastball from Niesen, sending it out of the yard to right-center, putting the Rock Cats ahead 1-0. It was Benson's teamleading ninth homer of the year.

Niesen settled in after serving up the gopher ball, but remained on the hook through six innings as McCardell dominated. The righty, who entered with an ERA north of five, faced three over the minimum through six innings.

However, Binghamton (36-36) broke through against the New Britain starter in the seventh. Marshall Hubbard led off the frame with a single to center. Josh Satin followed and worked the count full before doubling into the right-field corner, advancing Hubbard to third. Mike Nickeas got the B-Mets on the board with an RBI infield single to third, plating Hubbard. McCardell walked the next hitter, Jose Coronado, to load the bases and force his departure.

Cole DeVries was summoned to put out the fire, but proved to be gasoline. DeVries grooved a first pitch fastball to Maldonado, which Brahiam deposited over the wall in left-center for a grand slam. It was the B-Mets second slam of the season. Jose Coronado provided the other one, April 20 at Portland.

McCardell was charged with four runs on six hits over six-plus innings to drop to 0- 8 on the season.

Manuel Alvarez relieved Niesen in the eighth and took it the rest of the way, striking out five men. Alvarez's only blemish was a two-out double in the ninth by Steve Singleton, which ended a streak of 23 consecutive hitters retired by the right-hander dating back to June 13.

Niesen allowed just four hits and struck out four over seven innings for his third win of the season.

The win gave the B-Mets their third consecutive series win. Binghamton opens a brief three-game road series Friday night at 7:05 PM with the Akron Aeros. LHP Mike Antonini (4-5, 4.11) will go for Binghamton and RHP Alex White (2-3, 2.08) gets the call for the Aeros. The radio broadcast on Newsradio 1290 WNBF begins at 6:50 PM with the Horizons Federal Credit Union Pre-Game Show.

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Eastern League Stories from June 24, 2010


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