Comeback Falls Short In 4-3 Loss

PORTLAND, ME – Wilmer Flores’ two-run homer in the ninth inning was not enough as the Binghamton Mets’ comeback bid fell a run short in a 4-3 loss to the Portland Sea Dogs Friday night at Hadlock Field. Sea Dogs starter Brandon Workman baffled the B-Mets, allowing just one run over seven innings en route to his third win in three starts.

Portland broke a scoreless game in the third inning against starter Gonzalez Germen. With a runner on first, Jeremy Hazelbaker smacked an RBI triple over Juan Lagares’ head in dead center field. Bryce Brentz followed by lining a run-scoring single to left, giving Portland a two-run lead.

Workman cruised through the first five innings, facing one over the minimum. After surrendering a single to Eric Campbell in the second, the Texan put down thirteen straight B-Mets.

Binghamton finally scratched out a run in the sixth, a rally jumpstarted by a one-out triple by Pedro Zapata. Juan Lagares wasted little time bringing him home by pushing an RBI bunt single down the third base line. Lagares, representing the tying run, advanced to third on a stolen base and ground out, but was left stranded.

After allowing six hits over his first three innings, Germen settled down and no-hit the Sea Dogs over his next four frames. The righty got two quick outs in the eighth before allowing back-to-back home runs to Travis Shaw and Xander Bogaerts. Brad Holt entered and recorded the final out of the inning. The insurance runs factored in heavily for the Sea Dogs.

Workman capped his night with a scoreless seventh inning before handing a one-run lead to the Sea Dogs bullpen. Caleb Clay tossed a perfect eighth, but nearly blew a three-run lead in the ninth. After Lagares led off with a single, Flores blasted a two-run homer to left center field, cutting the deficit to one. Raul Reyes reached on a two-out single, but Jefry Marte struck out looking to end the game.

Germen (7-11) suffered his fifth loss in his last six B-Mets starts. The righty allowed four runs on nine hits while collecting seven strikeouts. Workman (3-0) earned his third straight win, matching a season-high at any level with seven innings of work. The righty struck out seven and issued no walks.

The B-Mets (63-69) continue their four-game set against the Sea Dogs Saturday night at 6:00 PM. LHP Darin Gorski takes the mound against LHP Drake Britton. The Horizons Federal Credit Union pre-game show begins at 5:45 PM on Newsradio 1290 WNBF.