B-Mets Roll Thunder in 6-3 Win

BINGHAMTON, NY - The Binghamton Mets used a three run third inning to beat the first-place Trenton Thunder, 6-3, Friday night at NYSEG Stadium. John Gant won his second consecutive start, striking out a Double-A career-high seven batters over six innings. The B-Mets bullpen tossed three more scoreless innings, while Josh Rodriguez added his league-leading 14th home run to push Binghamton within 2.5 games of first place.

Trenton scored first for the second straight night, plating two runs in the second inning. With Gary Sanchez at second base and one out, the Trenton catcher broke for third, stealing the bag and coming in to score on a Xorge Carrillo throwing error. After a walk and a hit batter, Cito Culver singled to left to drive in the second run.

After managing one hit through the first two innings against Jaron Long, Binghamton got four hits from their first five batters in the third. LJ Mazzilli got the B-Mets on the board with a single to center. With the bases full, Peterson worked a walk to tie the game. The next batter, Brandon Nimmo, grounded the first pitch he saw to first base, allowing Mazzilli to score the go-ahead run. It was Binghamton's first lead in 15 innings against Trenton.

The B-Mets would add a run in the fourth against Long when Joe Benson led off with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Gavin Cecchini singled to right field, doubling Binghamton's lead.

John Gant settled in after a rocky second inning, facing one over the minimum for innings three to five. Ali Castillo led off the sixth inning with a drive beyond the left field wall for his first home run of the season, cutting the deficit to 4-3.

The B-Mets quickly got the run back, as Benson led off the home half of the frame with a ground-rule double to right field. With men on the corners and one out, Cecchini grounded out to second base to drive in his second run of the night.

Gant went six innings before giving way to the bullpen. Adam Kolarek pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning before Josh Smoker stranded a man at third base in a scoreless eighth.

Josh Rodriguez added a run in the eighth for good measure, hitting his league-leading 14th of the season on a towering shot to left.

Jon Velasquez worked around a two out single, striking out the side in the ninth inning for his 12th save of the year.

Gant (4-4) won his second consecutive start, allowing three runs in six innings. Long (0-2) allowed four runs in five innings pitched, dropping each of his first two starts with Trenton. Jon Velasquez earned his 12th B-Met save in 13 opportunities.   

The B-Mets (48-43) continue their series with the Trenton Thunder Saturday at 7:05 PM. RHP Robert Gsellman gets the ball against RHP Joel De La Cruz. The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show can be heard starting at 6:50 PM on Newsradio 1290 WNBF and the Binghamton Mets channel on TuneIn.

POSTGAME NOTES: John Gant has gone six innings or more in five straight starts for the first time this season… Friday was Binghamton's first win against Trenton this season, dropping the first four of the year… The B-Mets are 31-14 when homering this season. They have hit 10 home runs in their last 12 games… Binghamton's bullpen has not allowed an earned run in 10 games (27 innings).

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