Big Innings Boost B-Mets to Series Opening Win

BINGHAMTON, NY - Dustin Lawley launched a go-ahead three-run homer in the first inning to highlight a four-RBI game and push the Binghamton Mets past the Trenton Thunder, 8-4, on Thursday night at NYSEG Stadium. Lawley's blast, his team-leading 17th of the season, helped Binghamton to their fourth-straight victory.

The Thunder crossed the plate first in the top of the first inning off starter Steven Matz. Jake Cave doubled to start the contest and scored on a single by Mason Williams to make the score 1-0.

The lead was short lived, though. In the bottom frame against Manny Banuelos, Dilson Herrera hit a ground-rule double over the left-field wall and Brian Burgamy walked to put two on with one out. Lawley cleared the bags with a three-run shot to left field to put the home team in front, 3-1.

Trenton got a run back in the third. Williams singled with one out. The next batter, Rob Segedin, singled to center field. Brandon Nimmo bobbled the ball on the play to let the runner score to cut the deficit to 3-2.

The score stayed that way until the bottom of the fifth when the B-Mets took control. Nimmo started the rally with a walk and advanced to second on a Herrera single. Both runners moved up a bag on when Burgamy grounded out to second base. Lawley came through once again, this time with a single to score Nimmo. T.J. Rivera came to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to center field to plate Herrera. The ball snuck away from the catcher, Gary Sanchez, on the play. The error allowed Lawley to slide to second base. That proved to be big as Darrell Ceciliani singled to bring home the runner and extend the Binghamton lead to 6-2

That advantage grew in the following inning against Jairo Heredia. Xorge Carrillo doubled to lead off the frame and moved to third on a Kyle Johnson single. Back-to-back wild pitches allowed Carrillo to score and moved Johnson to third base. He crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Herrera to extend the lead to 8-2.

Trenton staged a comeback in the seventh against Ryan Fraser. Jose Toussen and Ali Castillo smacked back-to-back doubles to score one run. A Cave ground out moved Castillo to third base. Williams grounded out to second, but Castillo came home on the play and made the score 8-4.

Steven Matz (3-1) went five innings, allowed just one earned run and struck out four. Manny Baneulos (0-3) lasted 3-1/3 frames and gave up three runs. Fraser let two runners cross the plate over the course of two innings. Randy Fontanez and Jack Leathersich pitched a shutout over the final two frames to secure the win. Leathersich struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth.

The B-Mets (59-38) and the Thunder play game two of this four-game set on Friday at 7:05 PM. RHP Tyler Pill goes for Binghamton against RHP Zach Nuding for Trenton. The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show, starting at 6:50 PM, can be heard on News Radio 1290 WNBF and on the Binghamton Mets Baseball Network via the TuneIn App.

POSTGAME NOTES: At 59-38, Binghamton is at its high-water mark of the season…Lawley has 13 home runs since June 10…The B-Mets have had nine hits or more in 22 of the last 27 games.

Catch the future stars of the New York Mets all season long at NYSEG Stadium. Visit BMETS.COM, stop by the box office or call 723-METS for tickets.

Be sure to follow the B-Mets on Facebook, Twitter and at the team's official website (www.bmets.com) for more team information. Fans can also stay up to date with all the action on the field by visiting "B-Mets Buzz with Tim Heiman" at bmets.mlblogs.com

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