The Binghamton Mets (28-30) dodged a series sweep on Thursday as they defeated the surging Squirrels 3-1 at The Diamond.
B-Mets righty Rainy Lara outdueled Squirrels hurler Tyler Beede to sink the Squirrels (26-40). Beede tossed 7 2/3 innings and allowed just three runs on six hits in the losing effort. Christian Arroyo provided the offense for Richmond with an RBI double in the eighth inning. Arroyo currently ranks second in the Eastern League with 19 doubles.
Tyler Beede got the start for Richmond and kept the B-Mets at bay by facing the minimum through the first three innings. Beede was in command until an infield single and walk opened up the start of the fourth inning. Dominic Smith then provided the B-Mets with a 2-0 lead as he doubled deep down the left field line. Matt Oberste followed with a base hit to move Smith to third but Hunter Cole gunned out Smith trying to tag and score on a fly ball to end the inning.
Rainy Lara held Richmond down over the first three innings. Lara had command of his fastball and worked around a base hit by Myles Schroder in the second and an Ali Castillo single in the third. Lara needed 40 pitches to pick up the first nine outs.
Beede regrouped after the two-run fourth and fielded his position well to start an inning-ending double play in the fifth. A leadoff walk to start the sixth came around to score on a base hit form Dominic Smith for a 3-0 B-Mets lead. Smith drove in al three runs and a total of five in the series.
Lara remained in control for Binghamton and retired 10 in a row from the third inning until an error with one out in the sixth. Richmond managed to load the bases using the error and a pair of walks but Lara wiggled out of trouble with a pair of strikeouts. The righty closed out the seventh inning and departed with a 3-0 lead. Lara (4-6) earned the win and allowed no runs on two hits wit five strikeouts in the effort.
Beede pitched into the eighth inning and tossed a season-high 106 pitches in the defeat. The righty allowed the three runs on six hits with three strikeouts in the quality start. Christian Jones picked up the final out of the eighth inning to relieve Beede and Ray Black punched out the side in the ninth.
The Squirrels scored their only run off the B-Mets bullpen in the bottom of the eighth. Carlos Moncreif opened the frame with a bunt base hit and scored on a one-out double form Christian Arroyo. Binghamton then brought in lefty David Roseboom to face a pair of left-handed hitters in Ryder Jones and Ricky Oropesa to strand Arroyo. Beck Wheeler earned the save with a scoreless ninth.