The Richmond Flying Squirrels (42-53) dropped their seventh straight ballgame, falling to the Binghamton Mets (59-34), 7-3, on Monday night at NYSEG Stadium. The loss extends the Squirrels’ losing streak to seven games, which matches the franchise record they established earlier this season. Richmond also fell to 8-27 over their last 35 ballgames.
The B-Mets started quickly against Richmond righty Taylor Rogers. Rogers hit Justin Turner with one out to give the B-Mets a base runner. A batter later, Allan Dykstra crunched his 16th home run of the season. The two-run shot to right-center field gave Binghamton an early 2-0 lead.
Jarrett Parker answered for the Squirrels in the top of the second. He cranked a solo-home run to right-center field to but the Binghamton lead in half, 2-1. The home run was Parker’s 12th of the season but first since June 2nd against Erie.
Binghamton broke the game open in the second inning as a spark led to a wildfire. Alonzo Harris reached on an infield-single with one out. Rogers recorded the second out but Darrell Cecilliani punched a single through the hole on the right-side of the infield. Turner followed the same path with an RBI single to plate Harris. Josh Rodriguez then drilled a two-run double through the alley in right-center field. Adding insult to injury, Dykstra rolled a routine ground ball to second base that Mark Minicozzi misplayed allowing an additional run to score. After two innings, the Squirrels trailed 6-1.
Rogers settled in nicely and faced the minimum from the third through the sixth inning. However, the B-Mets got one more run off him before he called it a night. Darrell Cecelliani and Turner chipped in back-to-back one-out singles to force Rogers from the ballgame. Lefty Ryan Bradley entered and issued back-to-back walks to force in a run. The run was charged to Rogers as the B-Mets took a 7-1 lead.
Rogers (5-6) was tagged with the loss over 6 2/3 innings. He was charged with seven runs – six earned – on six hits. He walked two and struck out four in his sixth loss of the year.
Verrett was dominant after Parker’s home run, and had retired 11 in a row when he conceded a two-out single to Brett Krill in the eighth inning. Verrett then walked Javier Herrera to put two aboard. Joe Panik knocked them both in with a double off the right-field wall. It was Panik’s second double of the ballgame and capped the scoring for the night, 7-3.
Verrett (9-4) finished the eighth and earned the win. He allowed three earned runs on five hits. He walked just one and struck out nine. Right-hander Chasen Bradford came on and finished off the Squirrels with a perfect ninth inning.
Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday night at NYSEG Stadium. Richmond LHP Chris Gloor (6-3, 3.50) will make the start. The B-Mets have yet to name a starter for game two of the series. The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup will begin at 6:05 p.m. on Sports Radio 910, SportsRadio910.com and IHeart Radio.
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Chris Graham
