Buck 2 HR, 6 RBI in Fisher Cats 15-5 win

(Manchester, NH)---Catcher John Buck, who has joined the Fisher Cats on a Major League Rehab Assignment, hit home runs in his first two at bats and helped lead New Hampshire to a 15-5 win over Binghamton before 6,238 on Tuesday night at Merchantsauto.com Stadium.

Kyle Drabek picked up his Eastern League-leading 13^th win, working the first five innings.  In his first start in ten days, Drabek allowed five runs on nine hits.  He walked six and struck out four.

Drabek (13-9) was staked to an 11-0 lead after three innings.  In the bottom of the first inning, Eric Thames walked and Buck followed with a home run into the center field batters eye to make it 2-0.  After Adam Calderone walked, David Cooper homered, his 17^th, to make it 4-0. 

New Hampshire (70-51) extended the lead in the second, knocking Mets starter and loser Josh Stinson out of the game.  Adeiny Hechavarria drove in a run with a fielders choice ground out and Buck (2-for-4, 2 HR, 6 RBI) hit a grand slam to make it 9-0.  Hechavarria also drove in two runs with a third inning single to make it 11-0.

The Mets (58-62) scored all five of their runs in the top of the fourth inning, putting together five hits with two Drabek walks. 

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Adam Calderone doubled and scored on a single by Cooper (3-for-5, HR, 3 RBI).  Calderone also hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh.

B. J. LaMura followed Drabek to the mound and tossed three innings of scoreless relief.  Vince Bongiovanni set down Binghamton in order in the top of the ninth inning. 

The Fisher Cats have established a new franchise record for most runs scored in a season.   In 120 games this season, they have scored more runs than any New Hampshire team.  The 2004 and 2007 Fisher Cats each scored 645 runs.  This season, New Hampshire has already scored 647 runs.

New Hampshire pulled to within 1.5 games of first-place Trenton. The Thunder lost 4-2 at Bowie.  The Fisher Cats also have an 11.5 game lead over third-place Binghamton as they close in on the first playoff spot since 2004. 

The series with Binghamton continues on Wednesday night at 7:05pm at Merchantsauto.com Stadium.  The first 5,000 fans receive a Kyle Drabek No-Hitter Poster, courtesy of Spectrum Marketing.  Fans will also be playing USA Subs Baseball Bingo.  For ticket information, visit www.nhfishercats.com or call (603) 641-2005.

The Fisher Cats will turn to RHP Zach Stewart (8-2, 3.75) in the opener against Binghamton southpaw Mark Cohoon (2-3, 5.80).  Live coverage can be heard on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network with Dave Collins at 6:45pm.