B-Mets Haunted by Blair Catch Project, 1-0

RICHMOND, VA - Richmond Flying Squirrels outfielder Elliott Blair broke a scoreless game with a two-out RBI single in the eighth inning and contributed with two sparkling catches in center field to hand the Binghamton Mets a 1-0 loss on Sunday afternoon at The Diamond. The B-Mets were held to three hits in their fifth straight defeat.

Gabriel Ynoa sailed through his first two innings, retiring six straight batters to open his 11th start of the season. The righty's first challenge arrived in the third when Richmond put two men on via a single and a walk. He avoided harm by inducing Elliott Blair to pop out in foul territory to catcher Xorge Carrillo

Richmond threatened again when Angel Villalona led off the fifth inning by yanking a double down the left-field line. Ynoa responded by retiring three straight, capping the inning by coaxing a groundout out of his counterpart Ty Blach.

On the mound, Blach matched Ynoa inning-for-inning. The southpaw cruised through four no-hit innings before surrendering an infield single to Carrillo in the fourth. Blach erased Carrillo with a double play and ended the frame by retiring Ynoa.

Binghamton finally pushed a runner into scoring position when Brian Burgamy ripped this team-leading 32nd double of the season into left-field with two outs in the sixth. Blach sidestepped the threat by inducing Jayce Boyd to fly out to centerfield.

In addition to Blach's strong pitching, the Squirrels flashed the leather to contain the B-Mets offense. Blair opened the game with a bang, making a diving catch on the warning track to rob Brandon Nimmo of an extra-base hit in the first. He struck again with an over-the-shoulder basket catch against Travis Taijeron in the seventh.

Ynoa ended his afternoon by retiring 13 of the final 14 batters he faced, including nine in a row before leaving for a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning.

Jon Velasquez inherited the scoreless game in the eighth and fell into trouble immediately by allowing a leadoff single to Myles Schroder. Velasquez recovered by retiring the next two batters, but gave Richmond life my issuing a two-out walk to Kelby Tomlinson. Blair made the righty pay for the free pass by lining a 2-1 pitch into center, plating Schroder with the go-ahead run.

Steven Okert inherited the one-run lead and worked around a two-out single by Boyd to post a scoreless ninth, earning his fifth save of the season.

Edwin Quirarte (11-7) worked a perfect eighth inning and collected the win. Velasquez (4-4) allowed two runs on two hits in his lone inning of relief.

The B-Mets (83-57) conclude the regular season on Monday afternoon at 12:05 PM. The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show, starting at 11:50 AM, can be heard on ESPN 1360 WYOS and on the Binghamton Mets Baseball Network via the TuneIn App.

POSTGAME NOTES: Binghamton closed August with a 18-12 record in the month…Binghamton suffered their second 1-0 loss of the season (8/17 @ Reading)…TJ Rivera had his 11-game hitting streak snapped with an 0-for-4 game

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