Diamond Cutter: Binghamton yogas past Richmond, 4-1

The Binghamton Mets (18-13) downed the Richmond Flying Squirrels (10-19), 4-1, in front of pro-wrestling legend Diamond Dallas Page and 4,301 fans at The Diamond on Tuesday night.  The B-Mets evened the three-game series to create a rubber-game scenario in the series-finale on Wednesday.

Binghamton broke on top in the top of the fourth, using three consecutive hits off lefty Matt Lujan to plate three runs.  T.J. Rivera started the inning with a single.  Jayce Boyd then yanked a double into the left-field corner.  Rivera came around for a 1-0 lead.  Josh Rodriguez followed and lifted a two-run home run to left field.  His first of the season made it 3-0 B-Mets.

B-Mets’ right-hander Rainy Lara held off the Squirrels through the first four innings.  He then led off the Binghamton fifth with a double off of Lujan.  An out later, Brandon Nimmo pulled an RBI single into right field.  Lara scored and it was 4-0 Binghamton.

Lujan (1-3) worked six innings, and was charged with four earned runs.  He permitted 10 hits, walked one and struck out six.  He was saddled with his third loss of the year.

Lara (3-1) stymied the Squirrels for 5 2/3 innings on four hits.  He earned the win, walking two and striking out four.

Richmond got on the board for the first time in the seventh inning.  Jackson Williams led off the inning with a double clubbed off the left-field wall.  An out later, Rando Moreno singled into centerfield to bring in Williams and cut the Binghamton lead to three runs, 4-1.

Right-hander Paul Sewald worked an inning and two thirds of perfect relief.  He coaxed a double-play ball from Angel Villalona to end the seventh and then breezed through the eighth.  Right-hander Jon Velasquez had no trouble in the ninth and earned his eighth save of the season.

The finale of the three-game series is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon at The Diamond. Richmond RHP Kyle Crick (0-1, 1.50) will make the start against Binghamton RHP Gabriel Ynoa (2-1, 4.30).  The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup will begin at 11:35 a.m. on Fox Sports 910 and FoxSportsRichmond.com.