READING, PA – The Binghamton Mets hammered the Reading Fightin Phils for 21 hits and compiled their largest scoring performance in seven years in a 16-4 blowout victory on Wednesday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. Binghamton’s win, coupled with the Trenton’s loss, clinches the B-Mets third straight postseason berth. The B-Mets will play the Fightin Phils in the Eastern Division Championship Series starting Wednesday, September 9.
Every B-Met starter collected at least one hit and one RBI while Binghamton fell one hit short of tying the franchise single-game record. Six different B-Mets compiled multiple-hit games, highlighted by Xorge Carrillo’s four-hit, two-homer performance.
After Josh Rodriguez put Binghamton on the board with a sacrifice fly in the first, Binghamton stretched out in the second, plating three runs on four hits, a bases-loaded walk and a passed ball.
The B-Mets kept the offense churning by sending nine men to the plate in third inning. Jared King, Tyler Pill and LJ Mazzilli strung together three straight RBI singles and Rodriguez capped the four-run inning with another sacrifice fly. Joe Benson and Carrillo kicked the lead to double-figures with a pair of solo homers in the fourth.
In response to Brock Stassi’s two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth, Binghamton hung three runs on reliever Hoby Milner in the fifth. Vince Belnome yanked a two-run double down the right-field line and Jonathan Galvez chopped an RBI single up the middle. TJ Rivera added a run-producing single in the sixth against Tom Windle.
Carrillo capped a career night be launching a two-run homer off outfielder-turned-pitcher Brodie Greene in the top of the ninth.
Tyler Pill (6-0) worked through seven innings to earn his sixth win in as many starts since returning to the B-Mets. The righty gave up a homer to Stassi in the fourth and allowed a pair of run-producing groundouts in the fifth. He struck out three, walked two and gave up five hits while extending his Double-A unbeaten streak to 25 starts.
Binghamton torched Reading starter Joely Rodriguez (5-4) for eight runs on nine hits and chased the lefty from the game in the third inning. Reading’s bullpen combined to allow ten runs on 13 hits.
The B-Mets (75-61) conclude their lone regular season visit to Reading on Thursday night at 6:35 PM. RHP Mickey Jannis takes the hill against RHP Ethan Martin. The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show can be heard starting at 6:20 PM on Newsradio 1290 WNBF and the Binghamton Mets channel on TuneIn.
POSTGAME NOTES: It was the tenth time in franchise history the B-Mets have scored 16 or more runs in a game…it was the most runs in a game since Binghamton scored 17 against New Britain on June 8, 2008…it was Binghamton’s highest single-game hit total since they collected a franchise-record 22 against the Erie SeaWolves on April 11, 2008…it was Binghamton’s largest margin of victory since they beat New Hampshire 15-2 on April 21, 2013…Binghamton went 11-for-25 with runners in scoring position…Binghamton earned their ninth playoff ticket in franchise history
Be sure to follow the B-Mets on their official website (www.bmets.com) or on Facebook, Twitter (@bmets) and Snapchat (binghamtonmets). Fans can also stay up to date with all the action on the field by visiting “B-Mets Buzz” at bmets.mlblogs.com or following Tim Heiman (@TimHeiman) on Twitter.
(Courtesy: Binghamton Mets Baseball)
