New Hampshire Fisher Cats 3, Binghamton Mets 1
BINGHAMTON, NY (by Tim Heiman) – With the aid of two late home runs, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats beat the Binghamton Mets 3-1 in the home opener at NYSEG Stadium.
Josh Rodriguez doubled down the left field line in the fourth inning, which got the offense started. After he moved over to third base on a wild pitch, he scored the first run of the game on an RBI fielder’s choice from Cesar Puello. Unfortunately, that was the only crooked number Binghamton would put up all night. New Hampshire starting pitcher Deck McGuire held the B-Mets to just one run on two hits in 7.0 innings on the hill, and earned his first win in 2013.
Binghamton starter Logan Verrett worked his way out of trouble nearly the whole night, but lost the lead after he gave up a solo home run to Adam Loewen in the 7th. Verrett ended the night scattering seven hits and one run over seven innings. In the next frame, Kevin Pillar hit the eventual game-winning two-run home run over the left field wall off of reliever John Church to give New Hampshire a 3-1 lead.
Darrell Ceciliani and Josh Rodriguez both reached base to start the bottom of the ninth, but Fisher Cat closer Chad Beck retired the next three hitters to earn his third save of the season. On the night, the B-Mets tallied just three hits; Rodriguez was responsible for two of them.
The B-Mets (4-3) look to even the series tomorrow night in game two of the four-game series at NYSEG Stadium. RHP Tyler Pill (0-1, 7.20) will start for the B-Mets against RHP Tyson Brummett (0-0, 0.00).
Key Stats:
- Josh Rodriguez – 2-for-4, R, 2B
- Cesar Puello – 0-for-4, RBI
- Logan Verrett – 7.0 IP, 7 H, BB, ER, 3 K
