Yard Goats Use Five Run Inning to Defeat B-Mets
Binghamton, NY- The Hartford Yard Goats (63-48) defeated the Binghamton Mets (52-60) by the score of 8-6 on Saturday evening in the second of a three game weekend series at NY SEG Stadium in Binghamton, New York. The Yard Goats used a five-run fifth inning to come from behind and force a rubber game tomorrow. Hartford began the inning with six consecutive hits and the rally was ignited by Raimel Tapia's bunt single. OF Noel Cuevas cracked a 3-run base clearing double and Ryan McMahon followed with a rocket home run to highlight the frame. Hartford starter Alex Balog did not allow an earned run in seven innings and picked up the win, improving to 4-0.
The B-Mets got off to a quick start scoring four runs in the first inning. None of the four runs were earned as RHP Alex Balog retired the first two batters but a fielding error led to the rally. Amed Rosario hit a ball that got by Yard Goats shortstop Juan Ciriaco allowing him to reach first base. Dominic Smith followed with a single and next Matt Oberste cracked a pitch into right field scoring Rosario and giving Binghamton a 1-0 lead. Victor Cruzado then launched a 3-run home run over the right field fence, making it 4-0 B-Mets.
The Yard Goats made it a 4-1 game with a run in the third inning off B-Mets starter Rainy Lara. Juan Ciriaco walked and went to third base on Pat Valaika's single. Rosell Herrera followed with a two-out RBI single to right field, scoring Ciriaco and making it 4-1 Binghamton.
Hartford scored again in the fourth inning and made it a two-run game. Ryan McMahon began the frame with an infield hit. Ashley Graeter then belted a double to the right field fence sending McMahon to third base. Hartford had runners at second and third base with nobody out. Jackson Williams' sacrifice fly scored McMahon and made it a 4-2 game.
The Yard Goats scored five times in the fifth inning to take a 7-4 lead on six consecutive hits. Raimel Tapia began the rally with a bunt single, his Eastern League leading 137th hit. Pat Valaika singled putting runners at first and second base. Rosell Herrera then bunted loading the bases for the cleanup hitter. Noel Cuevas belted a double to centerfield, scoring all three men, Tapia, Valaika and Herrera and giving Hartford its first lead at 5-4. Ryan McMahon then blasted a rocket home run to right field scoring Cuevas and making it 7-4 Yard Goats.
The Yard Goats made it 8-4 on Juan Ciriaco's infield RBI hit, scoring Noel Cuevas. The B-Mets scored a run in the eighth and ninth inning to pull within a pair but Jerry Vasto earned the save in Hartford's 8-6 win.
The Yard Goats play the rubber game of a three game series against the Binghamton Mets at NYSEG Stadium in Binghamton, New York on Sunday afternoon (1:05 PM). RHP Zach Jemiola will start for the Yard Goats. The game will be broadcast live on News Radio 1410 WPOP.