B-Mets' Cohoon pitches two-hit shutout

Mark Cohoon enjoyed perfection in the batter's box on Friday night. And he was even better on the mound.

When Cohoon wasn't laying down three sacrifice bunts, including two that led to runs, or smacking a ninth-inning RBI single, he was striking out 10 and completing a two-hitter in Binghamton's 5-0 blanking of Harrisburg.

"If I'm going to the plate four times, that means I am pitching well. Any four at-bats, even if it's four strikeouts, I'll take," he said. "The hit was a plus, a nice ending to the night, but my duty is on the mound."

Getting to work after a 49-minute rain delay, Cohoon (7-8) retired the first 11 batters before walking No. 3 hitter Justin Bloxom on five pitches in the fourth.

"I was aware of [the no-hit bid], but it wasn't on the top of my conscience," he said. "I was more upset that I walked a guy instead of making him hit the ball."

That's just what Bloxom did when he blooped a one-out double in the seventh.

"I started him off with a fastball away and then threw him a change and he got under it," Cohoon said. "There was a little miscommunication in shallow center field. [Shortstop] Wilfredo Tovar seemed like he was under the ball and [center fielder] Raul Reyes called him off. I trust them on that play any other day. There was another one, on the final out in the ninth, where they did communicate.

"So we didn't get the no-hitter, but that's not as important as the win."

The left-hander, who turns 25 next month, pitched around a single to Brian Goodwin and plunked Jonny Tucker before sealing the deal in the ninth. He faced 31 batters.

As a result, Cohoon has his first scoreless outing 21 games into the season. He also has eight complete games in 101 Minor League appearances spread over five seasons. He recorded three consecutive complete-game shutouts in June 2010 at Class A Savannah. Friday's effort has to rank up there with his best.

"It definitely does," the 2008 12th-round pick said. "I couldn't say I expected it to come. I felt good, my bullpens were definitely improving, my fastball command has been coming around and I was just trying to stay in the game.

"It's good that this is coming at the end of the season. It's so important to finish strong. It's a savory outing for me to know things are rolling."

Senators counterpart Ryan Perry (1-3) gave up four runs on six hits over 7 1/3 innings.

Harrisburg has dropped five straight games.