Binghamton Mets top Richmond Flying Squirrels, 5-1

Brian Burgamy’s sixth-inning grand slam was more than enough for the Binghamton Mets (39-31) as they rolled past the Richmond Flying Squirrels (39-29), 5-1, on Tuesday night at NYSEG Stadium.  The meeting was the first of the season between the two clubs.

The B-Mets grabbed the early lead against lefty Ty Blach.  With one out, Burgamy drilled a double off the wall in center field.  Matt Reynolds followed with a single through the right-side of the infield to put runners at the corners.  Kevin Plawecki then made it 1-0 with a sacrifice-fly to center field.

Blach (4-4) labored throughout the evening, but did not concede anything else to the B-Mets.  He departed after five innings, having allowed the lone run on four hits.  He walked a season-high four, struck out just one and endured his fourth loss of the season.

Meanwhile, right-hander Matt Bowman (5-4) waltzed through six scoreless innings for the B-Mets.  He limited the Squirrels to just three hits, walked two and struck out four.  He earned his fifth win of the season.

Binghamton broke the game open in the sixth inning against a pair of Richmond relievers.  Right-hander Andrew Carignan opened the inning on the mound and allowed the B-Mets to load the bases with one out.  He got the second out, but was then lifted in favor of lefty Josh Osich.  He was greeted by Burgamy, who slammed his first pitch over the left-field wall.  The grand slam stretched the B-Mets’ lead to 5-0.

Three relievers each worked an inning to complete the win for Binghamton.  Lefty Chase Huchingson handled a perfect seventh and righty Ryan Fraser followed with a perfect eighth.  Left-hander Jack Leathersitch had some trouble in the ninth, permitting the only run of the night to Richmond on back-to-back doubles from Matt Duffy and Jarrett Parker.  However, he recovered to finish the ballgame without further incident.

Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. on Wednesday night at NYSEG Stadium.  Richmond LHP Jack Snodgrass (7-0, 2.53) will make the start against Binghamton RHP Greg Peavey (4-1, 4.39).  The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup begins at 6:05 p.m. on Sports Radio 910 and SportsRadio910.com.