The fans got their money's worth as the Binghamton Mets beat the Sea Dogs 6-4 in extra innings in the Futures at Fenway game. Alex Hassan sent the game into extra innings with a game-tying 2-run home run in the 8th inning to make it 2-2. The Mets took hold of the lead again in the 11th and never looked back, as Kai Gronauer's 3-run home run off the light tower atop the monster highlighted a 4-run inning. Jon Hee made it interesting in the bottom of the inning, lining a 2-run single into right-center to cut the lead to 2, but Mitch Dening was called out on strikes to end the game.
The game started off as a pitcher's duel, as Portland's Charlie Haeger and Binghamton's Collin McHugh each posted shutouts through 6 innings. Haeger nearly made it out of the seventh inning before Binghamton jumped on the scoreboard. Haeger had Gronauer down 0-2 with 2 outs in the seventh before the Sea Dogs defense turned on him. A wild pitch moved the runners up a base, and Brahiam Maldonado then scored as catcher Dan Butler threw the ball into the outfield. Jon Malo then singled to score Allan Dykstra, making it 2-0. Josh Fields then came on in relief of Haeger and got Matt Den Dekker to strike out to end the inning.
Fields pitched well in relief, not allowing a run, while striking out 2 and walking 1.
Hassan brought the hallowed grounds to life in the eighth, driving a 3-2 fastball to dead center for his 11th home run of the year to tie the game. He was 3 for 4 on the game with an intentional walk and a line-out to left in the first that nearly dropped for a hit. For his effort, Hassan brought his batting average back up over .300 to .302.
Reliever Chris Martin made his Sea Dogs debut in the tenth inning. He ran into trouble quickly, giving up a lead-off double to Malo. Den Dekker then dropped down a sac bunt to move Malo to 3rd with only 1 out in the inning. Michael Fisher then hit a fly ball to shallow center that Jeremy Hazelbaker had to motor to get to, but was shallow enough to keep Male at 3rd. Reese Havens then grounded out to the end the threat.
Martin wasn't so lucky in the eleventh. Juan Lagares dropped a bunt down the 3rd base line for an infield hit to lead off. Lagares entered the at-bat 0 for 4 with 3 strikeouts. After Maldonado struck out, pinch-hitter Niuman Romero singled, moving Lagares to 3rd. Eric Campbell then singled home Lagares for the go-ahead run. Gronauer then gave the Mets some breathing room, crushing a no-doubter over the Green Monster in left for a 3-run homer. It was only his 2nd home run of the year.
The Sea Dogs didn't go down quietly in the bottom of the inning. Ryan Dent pinch-hit for Butler, and singled up the middle to lead off the inning. Hazelbaker then doubled to put men at 2nd and 3rd with no outs. After Oscar Tejeda grounded out to finish off an 0 for 5 night, Hee lined an RBI single into right-center to cut the lead to 6-4. Hee got a little greedy however, as he was easily tagged out trying to stretch his single into a double. Dening then unceremoniously watched strike 3 go past his resting bat, and the game was over.
It was the first time in 3 trips to Fenway that the Sea Dogs have lost. They won close games in 2007 and 2009, but were caught on the wrong side of the nail-biter in this one.
Haeger had a valiant effort on the mound for Portland. The knuckleballer lasted 6 2/3 innings, giving up 2 runs on 7 hits, with 6 strikeouts and 3 walks. He allowed a base-runner to reach in every inning, but thanks to his defense, found a way out of all but one of those jams. He threw 114 pitches, with 69 for strikes.
McHugh frustrated Sea Dogs hitters in his 6 innings of work. He allowed no runs on 4 hits, while striking out 6 and walking just 1 batter. If not for his high pitch count, he could have frustrated them even longer.
The two teams will head back to Hadlock Field tomorrow for the conclusion of the 3-game series. The Mets will be looking for the sweep, and to further distance themselves from the Sea Dogs in the race to avoid last place in the North Division standings.
Sea Dogs Manager Kevin Boles
0 comments:
Post a Comment