HARRISBURG DEFEATS B-METS 8-4

Lara Not Long for Action in 8-4 Defeat

HARRISBURG, PA – The Harrisburg Senators chased Binghamton Mets starter Rainy Lara from the game with a four-run first inning and stretched their lead late to beat the B-Mets, 8-4, on Saturday night at FNB Field. Lara recorded two outs before allowing five straight to reach in the first before exiting in his shortest career start.
The B-Mets started fast in the top of the first, as Champ Stuart singled then Derrik Gibson reached on an error charged to Harrisburg second baseman Stephen Perez. Later, with two outs and Stuart at third, Dominic Smith chopped a ball to second that Perez again booted. The error allowed Stuart to score and gave Binghamton a 1-0 lead.
The lead did not last long however as Lara labored through the bottom of the first. After recording two quick outs, Lara issued three straight walks to load the bases. He then delivered a wild pitch that scored Isaac Ballou from third and Stephen Perez followed with a two-run singled. Spencer Kieboom delivered the knockout blow to Lara in the next at bat, a single that scored Perez and gave Harrisburg a 4-1 lead.
Lara (6-10) lasted only two thirds of an inning and took the loss with four runs on two hits and three walks. It was the shortest start of his career and the shortest by a B-Met this season.
The Senators added one more in the fourth when Stevenson singled and stole second. He then scored on a Drew Ward single, pushing the lead to 5-1.
Binghamton came knocking at the door in the third as Smith, Phillip Evans and Victor Cruzado all singled to load the bases. Xorge Carrillo then was hit by a pitch, forcing in Smith. Maikis De La Cruz followed with a two-run single, cutting the deficit to one. Later, with two outs and runners at first and second, Gibson legged out an infield single but De La Cruz was thrown out trying to score from second and the inning ended with the B-Mets trailing, 5-4.
Jose Marmolejos provided the Senators with breathing room in the seventh when he took Paul Paez deep to right. Two more scored in the eighth on a two-run double by Ballou that made it 8-4.
Smith finished 2-for-4 to extend his season-long hitting streak to 11 games. Gibson went 3-for-5 with three singles and Carrillo was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
The B-Mets (55-62) conclude the three-game series in Harrisburg with a rubber game on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 PM. RHP Josh Zeid takes the mound against RHP Phillips Valdez. The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show can be heard starting at 1:15 PM on News Radio 1290, WNBF and the Binghamton Mets channel on TuneIn.
POSTGAME NOTES: Rainy Lara’s outing was the shortest by a B-Met starter since Mickey Jannis recorded just two outs against the Altoona Curve on September 7, 2015…Xorge Carrillo recorded his 25^th career HBP in the sixth inning; he is tied with Allan Dykstra for the franchise record…Dominic Smith extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a single in the fourth
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