AKRON, OH – The Binghamton Mets split a
doubleheader against the Akron
Aeros at Canal Park on Wednesday night, losing the opener by a 2-0 score
before winning the nightcap in a 5-1. Cory Mazzoni led the B-Mets in the
victory, tossing his first career complete game in his Double-A
debut.
After dropping the first
two games of the roadtrip, the B-Mets looked to Zack Wheeler in game one. The
righty posted a scoreless first inning before Binghamton’s shaky defense cost
him in the second. With runners at first and second and one out, Ben Copeland
sent a potential double play ball to short. Josh Rodriguez flipped to Rylan
Sandoval for one, but his relay to first skipped past Eric Campbell, allowing
Thomas Neal to score from second.
The defensive missteps
continued in the third. With one out and runners at the corners, Chun Chen sent
a ground ball to third that could have ended the inning. Jefry Marte initially
juggled and got just one out. Davis Stoneburner scored to give the Aeros a 2-0
lead.
It was all the offense
starter T.J. House needed. The left-hander went the distance, tossing his second
career complete game shutout. After stranding two in the first inning, House
faced just two over the minimum, limiting the B-Mets to two hits. The lefty
retired the final nine he faced to hand the B-Mets their eighth shutout loss of
the year.
Wheeler (6-3) suffered the
hard-luck loss, snapping his six-game winning streak. It was the first time
Binghamton had lost behind Wheeler since April 24. The righty allowed two runs
(one earned) on four hits over six innings. House (5-2) collected his first win
in three tries against Binghamton.
The Binghamton offense
finally woke up in the nightcap. Marte started a two-out rally in the first
against Akron starter Francisco Jimenez with a single up the middle. Marte stole
second and came home when Eric Campbell ripped a double down the third base
line. It was the first time in seven games the B-Mets have scored
first.
The Aeros scratched back
with a run of their own against Mazzoni in the first. Juan Duaz doubled to left,
took third on a wild pitch and scored on a single from Nick Weglarz. Akron
loaded the bases later in the inning, but Mazzoni wiggled out of damage by
inducing Matt Lawson to fly out to center.
With the game knotted at
one, the B-Mets unleashed an offensive attack in the fourth against Jimenez.
Binghamton loaded the bases with two singles and a walk. Kai Gronauer broke the
tie by drilling a two-run single that bounced off Jimenez’s back and rolled into
centerfield. Pedro Zapata brought home another run by beating out a double play
ball and Reese Havens capped the scoring with an RBI single to left.
Mazzoni (1-0) took the lead
to the finish line to earn his first win. The righty faced just two over the
minimum over his final six shutout innings, surrendering just three hits along
the way. In total, he allowed one run on five hits over seven innings while
collecting four strikeouts.
He becomes the third
Binghamton starting pitcher to win his Double-A debut, joining Darin Gorski and
Greg Peavey who performed the feat in April. Jimenez (0-1) allowed five runs on
seven hits in the loss.
The B-Mets (32-37) look for the series split
Thursday night at 7:05 PM. RHP Gonzalez Germen takes the hill against LHP
Gionvanni Soto. The Horizons Federal Credit Union pre-game show begins at 6:50
PM on Newsradio 1290 WNBF.
Press release provided by the Binghamton Mets
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