Three-Run Third Dooms B-Mets in 4-2 Loss

BINGHAMTON, NY- The Hartford Yard Goats used a three-run third inning to defeat the Binghamton Mets, 4-2, Saturday night at NYSEG Stadium. The B-Mets brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth but fell short in their first loss of the second half.

In the top of the first, Pat Valaika took Josh Zeid deep to right, an opposite field home run that put Hartford up, 1-0. Binghamton answered in the bottom half as Dominic Smith doubled in Phillip Evans to tie it. The B-Mets would load the bases but stranded three and through one, the game was tied.

Hartford busted it open in the third as it sent nine men to the plate. Rosell Herrera tallied an RBI single and Correlle Prime plated two with a double, putting the Yard Goats on top, 4-1. Zeid threw 44 pitches in the inning and allowed three hits in addition to three walks.

From that point Sam Howard shut down the Binghamton offense. Howard (1-5) picked up his first career Double-A win with six innings of one-run ball. He allowed five hits, struck out three and retired 15 of the last 17 batters he faced.

Zeid (2-3) allowed four runs on five hits with four walks in five innings and took the loss.

Smith was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, Evans went 1-for-4 with a single and a run to extend his hitting streak to seven games and Rosario finished 1-for-4, extending his hitting streak to eight. 

Victor Cruzado belted a leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth, his fifth of the season, cutting the lead to 4-2. The B-Mets brought the game-tying run to the plate but Matt Oberste flew out to end the game. Matt Carasiti converted his Eastern League leading 26th save. 

The B-Mets will go for the series victory in the finale on Sunday at 1:05 PM. RHP Mickey Jannis makes the start against RHP German Marquez for the Yard Goats. The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show can be heard starting at 12:50 PM on News Radio 1290 WNBF and the Binghamton Mets channel on TuneIn.

POSTGAME NOTES: The Binghamton bullpen fired four shutout innings and has not allowed a run in the three games since the All-Star break, a span of 14 and 2/3 innings…Amed Rosario has hits in 18 of his 19 games as a B-Met…all five of Victor Cruzado's home runs have been as a left-handed hitter at NYSEG Stadium

Season tickets and mini packs are on sale now and may be purchased in person at NYSEG Stadium or by visiting www.bmets.com or calling (607) 723-METS.

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