EL1 Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Schwinden's Strong Start Helps B-Mets Stop Skid, 3-1

Published on May 22, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Binghamton Rumble Ponies News Release


Chris Schwinden made his Double-A debut and shined with a strong, six-inning effort to help Binghamton to a 3-1 victory over New Britain in front of a sellout crowd at New Britain Stadium Saturday night. The recently-promoted righty permitted a run on six hits and struck out five without issuing a walk. The win marked the end of the worst losing streak that the B-Mets had endured since the conclusion of the 2004 season, nine games.

Binghamton (20-21) took the lead in the second with a blast from Marshall Hubbard. The designated hitter connected on a high fastball from starter Santos Arias and sent it over the wall in right-center to give the B-Mets a 1-0 advantage. It was the slugger's fifth bomb of the year.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis added to the lead when Arias served up a second gopher ball with two outs in the third. Nieuwenhuis' drive teetered along the line in right and curled around the foul pole for his fifth shot of the season, upping the lead to two.

New Britain (10-30) used the long ball to plate their only run off Schwinden. With one out in the fourth, Erik Lis golfed a Schwinden offering over the wall in right to cut the Binghamton lead in half.

Arias departed the game in the fifth after Brahiam Maldonado doubled to the gap in right. The spot starter pitched well, tossing 4 2/3 innings of two-run work in his first start of the year, but was hung with the loss.

The game became a battle of the bullpens after Arias' departure. Joe Testa replaced Arias and retired all seven men he faced over 2 1/3 innings.

Manuel Alvarez spelled Schwinden in the seventh and got into trouble. The first hitter he faced, Yangervis Solarte, doubled off the first base bag to open the inning. A Steve Singleton flyout to right moved Solarte up to third with one out. Alvarez made things more interesting with a walk to Alan de San Miguel. However, the reliever buckled down and struck out pinch-hitter Yancarlos Ortiz and induced a Ben Revere flyout to left, stranding the tying run at third.

Josh Stinson replaced Alvarez in the eighth and allowed the first two men to reach on a single and a walk. The hard-throwing, 22-year-old stepped up with men on base though, and struck out the next two men before getting Solarte to fly out to left to end another threat.

The B-Mets added a run of insurance in the ninth when Matt Williams threw a wild pitch to Mike Nickeas with the bases loaded, allowing Nick Evans to score Binghamton's third run.

Stinson shut the door in the ninth, stranding two men on base when he got Brandon Roberts to groundout to second, ending the game. Stinson was credited with his first save of the season in three chances.

Binghamton will look for the series win in the rubber match of the three-game set tomorrow at 1:35 PM. RHP Scott Shaw (4-2, 8.76) will go for the B-Mets and will be opposed by RHP Carlos Gutierrez (0-3, 3.98). The radio broadcast on Newsradio 1290 WNBF begins at 1:20 PM with the Horizons Federal Credit Union Pre-Game Show.

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Eastern League Stories from May 22, 2010


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