The Binghamton Mets looked like they were on their way to a win on Friday night at NYSEG Stadium, and then watched that win fade away and turn into a blowout as the Richmond Flying Squirrels scored eight runs in the final two innings to take game one of the series by a score of 10-3.
Mark Cohoon, making his first start since a nine inning complete game gem against the Harrisburg Senators on August 10th, lasted seven and a third innings in the game. Cohoon cruised through the first four innings of the game, allowing only one hit by Richmond batters in that span. In the fifth inning, Ryan Cavan tripled to score two base runners and give the Flying Squirrels the 2-to-0 lead; however Binghamton would score three times in the next two innings to give Cohoon the lead.
Then came the eighth inning and it all fell apart for Cohoon and the B-Mets. After giving up a single, a wild pitch, and walking a batter Ryan Fraser came on in relief of Cohoon. Cohoon’s final line on the night read seven and a third innings pitched, four earned runs on six hits, four strikeouts and a walk. Cohoon threw a total of 100 pitches in the game, 68 of them for strikes. Charged with the two batters that were on base when he left the game, who Fraser eventually let score, Cohoon suffered the loss in the game and his record now stands at seven and nine on the season.
Fraser was ineffective in his relief appearance, lasting only two thirds of an inning and suffering his second blown save of the season. Fraser allowed both runners he inherited from Cohoon to score and gave up an additional two earned runs of his own and by the time he finally got himself out of the eighth inning the B-Mets were looking at a 6-to-3 deficit. Fraser’s numbers in his shortest appearance in the last ten games he pitched in read two thirds of an inning pitched two runs on two hits, no strikeouts and one walk.
In the ninth Brandon Moore was brought on to relieve Fraser and the Flying Squirrels batters lit him up just as they had Cohoon and Fraser in the previous inning. Moore, making only his second appearance since a 45 day stint on the DL, threw the entire ninth inning giving up four runs on five hits, walking none and striking out one Richmond batter. Over the last two games Moore has allowed a total of six runs on eight hits and struck out two in only two and a third innings.
Dustin Martin had a big night at the plate for the home team as he went 4-for-4 with a run scored. Sean Kazmar and Juan Centeno each went 2-for-4 in the game, with Centeno now hitting safely in his last five games and equaling his previous season high. Wilmer Flores and Raul Reyes’ lines on the night were identical as each went 1-for-4 with a run scored. At game’s end, the box score showed that no Binghamton Mets batter had a multi-base hit in the game.
B-Mets Buzz: The two teams go at it again on Saturday night at NYSEG Stadium. Cory Mazzoni (5-3, 3.45) will throw for the home team and Chris Heston (8-5, 2.20) will be on the mound for the Flying Squirrels. With the loss on Friday night, the B-Mets now sit seven and a half games behind the New Britain Rock Cats for the final playoff spot with seventeen games remaining in the 2012 season.
