Brault Breezes Past B-Mets in Opener, 8-0

BINGHAMTON, NY - Altoona starter Steven Brault fired eight scoreless innings and collected three hits at the plate to lead the Curve to an 8-0 win over the Binghamton Mets on Friday night at NYSEG Stadium. With the Eastern Division Wild Card already clinched, the Binghamton Mets rested five everyday players in the series opener. The B-Mets open the Eastern Division Championship Series against the Reading Fightin Phils on Wednesday at NYSEG Stadium.

Altoona wasted little time grabbing the lead. Three straight reached safely against Robert Gsellman with one out in the first before Jacob Stallings pulled a two-run single into left, plating Max Moroff and Jose Osuna.

The Curve threw three more runs on the board in the second on a run-producing groundout by Adam Frazier and a two-run single by Jose Osuna. Max Moroff capped Altoona's offensive outburst against Gsellman with an RBI double in the second.

Binghamton had no solution for Brault (9-3) who carved up their depleted lineup over eight scoreless innings. The southpaw surrendered three hits, struck out five and issued no walks to earn his ninth win of the season with Altoona. Clario Perez closed the door with a scoreless.

Adam Kolarek allowed a solo homer to Stetson Allie in his two innings of work. Beck Wheeler collected one strikeout over two scoreless frames. Jeff Walters closed Binghamton's pitching tab by allowing a run in the ninth.

Gsellman (7-7) allowed six runs on a season-high ten hits over four innings in the loss. It was the righty's shortest outing since he lasted four frames in his Double-A debut against Altoona on May 30.

The B-Mets (75-62) continue their final series of the regular season on Saturday night at 7:05 PM. RHP Rainy Lara takes the hill against LHP Zack Dodson. 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: Gsellman has gone 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA in three starts against the Curve; he is 7-4 with a 2.61 ERA against the rest of the league…it was Binghamton's ninth shutout loss of the season…Victor Cruzado singled in the fifth for his first career Double-A hit

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