EL1 Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Nickeas' First Homer Powers B-Mets Past Akron, 5-3

Published on June 25, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Binghamton Rumble Ponies News Release


Nickeas ripped three hits, including a go-ahead, two-run home run in the sixth, to propel Binghamton past Akron 5-3 at Canal Park Friday night. The three-hit showing extended Nickeas' season-long hit streak to nine games and pushed his average up to .308. The win took the B-Mets over the .500 mark for the first time since May 16.

Binghamton (37-36) starter Mike Antonini came out of the gates a little bit slow, walking a man and hitting a batter in throwing a scoreless first. Akron struck first in the next inning after a one-out triple from Tim Fedroff. Antonini walked the nine-spot in the order with two outs, leading to the top of the order and Jordan Henry, who beat the southpaw with an RBI single to center, making it 1-0 Aeros.

Akron (36-37) added to its lead in the third courtesy of another triple. This time it was John Drennen who stung a triple into the right-field corner with two outs. Jerad Head followed and reached on an infield single, scoring Drennen to up the lead to two.

Alex White, the Indians 2009 first-round pick, scattered five hits over the first five innings, holding the B-Mets in check. However, Binghamton capitalized on an Aeros error to get on the board in the sixth. Sean Ratliff led off the frame with a clean single to left. Nick Evans then hit a high chopper to third that Lonnie Chisenhall booted, allowing Evans to reach. White threw the first pitch to Marshall Hubbard to the backstop, permitting Ratliff and Evans to advance into scoring position. Hubbard got the B-Mets on the board with a groundout to short, plating Ratliff.

Akron brought the infield in with Evans at third and one out. White induced a groundout to short from Josh Satin to temporarily preserve the 2-1 cushion. With two hits in tow, Nickeas strode to the plate and drove a White fastball out of the yard to left, vaulting Binghamton into the lead 3-2. It was Nickeas' first homer since June 22, 2008, when he hit a solo shot at Trenton.

Brahiam Maldonado added to the lead with his second homer in as many days leading off the seventh. Maldonado jumped on the first pitch thrown by reliever Chen-Chang Lee, sending it out to left for his fourth homer. Binghamton was not done. The next hitter, Raul Reyes, just missed a homer, hitting a double high off the wall in right-center. Luis Hernandez advanced him to third with a single and Ratliff plated Reyes with double-play groundout to short, making it 5-2 B-Mets.

The Aeros managed a run off reliever Eddie Kunz in the bottom of the inning and threatened for more with the bases loaded and two outs, but Emary Frederick extinguished the fire started by Kunz, inducing a flyout from Damaso Espino to strand the bags full.

Frederick returned to the mound in the eighth and gave up a leadoff double to Cristo Arnal, resulting in his departure. Derrick Ellison spelled him and retired the next three hitters to send the game to the ninth. Manuel Alvarez took care of the rest, hurling a 1-2-3 ninth for his third save.

Antonini was credited with the win, despite tying a season-high with three walks. The lefty hurled 5 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on five hits. White took the hard-luck loss. The right-hander permitted three runs - unearned - on seven hits over six innings for a quality start.

Binghamton is now a perfect 4-0 at Canal Park this season. The B-Mets will search for their fourth consecutive series win Saturday night at 7:05 PM in the middle game of the series. LHP Mark Cohoon (0-0, 0.00) will make his Double-A debut for Binghamton and Akron will counter with LHP Scott Barnes (3-6, 5.82). 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 25, 2010


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