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Conforto Clutch Again in 6-5 Win

B-Mets Win Their Fourth Straight
June 14, 2015

BINGHAMTON, NY - Michael Conforto stroked a two-out RBI single to center field, propelling the Binghamton Mets to a 6-5 walk-off win over the New Britain Rock Cats Sunday at NYSEG Stadium. Conforto's second walk-off hit of the month gave Binghamton their first home sweep of the season. Eudy Pina added his first career Double-A homer to aid the B-Mets in their fourth straight win.

New Britain scored before Binghamton could even bat, taking their first lead of the series. Trevor Story doubled two batters into the game and was driven in on a two-out single to center field by Pat Valaika. 

Binghamton began the bottom of the second with back-to-back singles, before Brett Marshall struck out the next two B-Mets. Eudy Pina salvaged the scoring opportunity, hitting a three run homer beyond the left field wall, his first long ball in 11 months.

The lead was fleeting for Binghamton, as New Britain would use their own big bat to tie the game in the top of the third. With one out, Mike Tauchman reached on a Gavin Cecchini throwing error, his 15th of the year. One batter latter, Story made the miscue hurt by driving his ninth home run of the year beyond the left field fence.

After flexing their muscles, the Rock Cats would use small ball to regain the lead in the top of the sixth. After a leadoff single for Noel Cuevas, he was advanced to third on a one out single from Dean Espy. Charley Thurber then pushed a bunt to second base, allowing Cuevas to score on a safety squeeze. It was Thurber's second RBI as a Rock Cat.

New Britain would get back to the long ball to add some insurance in the next inning. With Beck Wheeler on in relief, Tom Murphy took him deep to left field with two outs in the inning. It was the first run Wheeler allowed in his last 10 appearances. 

Binghamton would draw closer in the home half, when Jared King led off with a single. With one out, Josh Rodriguez, in his first at-bat of the game, doubled to the gap in left-center field to score King from first. Reliever Carlos Estevez proceeded to retire Cecchini and strike out LJ Mazzilli, stranding the tying run in scoring position. 

Trailing by one in the ninth, King led off the inning by drawing a walk against closer Austin House. Pina sacrificed back to the pitcher, who threw the ball away, allowing Pina to reach base and King to move to third. Rodriguez lined a single to left field, plating King and tying the game at five. 

Pinch-hitter Albert Cordero attempted to sacrifice the runners into scoring position, but House was able to get the lead runner at third base on the play. Mazzilli then bounced into a fielders choice, with the shortstop Valaika erasing the middle man at second base.

With runners on the corners and two outs, Conforto singled up the middle to plate Rodriguez with the winning run.  

John Mincone (1-0) got the win, pitching a scoreless ninth inning in his Binghamton debut. House (0-2) took the loss, allowing two runs in 2/3 innings. It was his third blown save of the year in 21 attempts.  

The B-Mets (32-30) are off Monday before heading to Portland for a three game series with the SeaDogs, beginning Tuesday at 7:00 PM. RHP Rainy Lara (4-2, 3.57) gets the start for Binghamton. The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show can be heard starting at 6:45 PM on Newsradio 1290 WNBF and the Binghamton Mets channel on TuneIn.

POSTGAME NOTES: Josh Rodriguez has driven in 12 runs in his last 19 at-bats…Binghamton has won four in a row for the first time since April 28-May 2…New Britain has lost eight straight road games…16 of Binghamton's 32 wins have been by one run.

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