Key Hit Eludes B-Mets, Late Rally Falls Short, 3-1

HARRISBURG, PA - The Binghamton Mets stranded the tying run on base in the ninth inning in a 3-1 loss to the Harrisburg Senators on Friday night at Metro Bank Park. Binghamton left eight aboard in the game and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position in the final two innings.

One out shy of suffering their third shutout loss of the season, the B-Mets cracked the scoreboard when Cesar Puello blasted a 1-1 offering from Ian Krol over the left field wall for his first homer of the year. Krol failed to bounce back, walking Francisco Pena and hitting Wilfredo Tovar with an 0-2 pitch to put the tying run on.

Aaron Barrett entered from the bullpen and put out the flames. He struck out pinch hitter Blake Forsythe to end the game and earn his fifth save.

The B-Mets offense had a difficult time breaking through against Harrisburg starter Blake Treinen (3-3). The righty caged Binghamton for seven shutout innings before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh. He allowed five hits and only one B-Met reached third base en route to his third win.

Harrisburg rode a three-run first inning to their fifth win in seven games. They greeted B-Mets starter Jacob deGrom rudely with four consecutive hits to start the first inning. Brian Goodwin started by pulling his league-leading fifth triple to right. Josh Johnson quickly brought him home with an infield single. Jerad Head followed with another single and Justin Bloxom gave Harrisburg a 3-0 lead with a two-run double to right.

deGrom (0-3) settled in after his bumpy first inning and capped his fourth start as a B-Met five shutout frames. He exited after allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings of work. The righty walked two and struck out one in the losing effort.

After Treinen's departure, the B-Mets nearly got on the board in the eighth against reliever Neil Holland. Danny Muno led off the inning by shooting a pinch-hit double down the right field line. He was left hanging at second when Holland retired the next three B-Mets hitters.

The Binghamton bullpen supplied two strong innings of relief. Chase Huchingson fanned two in a perfect eighth and Jack Leathersich struck out the side in order in the eighth.

The B-Mets (14-14) continue their three-game series against the Harrisburg Senators (14-14) Saturday night at 7:00 PM. RHP Erik Goeddel (1-2, 5.70) gets the ball against RHP Paul Demny (1-3, 6.12). The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show begins at 6:45 PM on Newsradio 1290 WNBF.

POSTGAME NOTES: The B-Mets record sits at .500 for the first time this season…Puello extended his hitting streak to 10 games with his homer…Josh Rodriguez, Allan Dykstra and Richard Lucas combined to go 0-for-12

Individual tickets for all Binghamton Mets 2013 home games are on sale now. Visit the NYSEG Stadium box office during regular operating hours, purchase them online at www.bmets.com or call the office at (607) 723-METS.

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