R-Phils score 5 unanswered runs; Battle past B-Mets

8/5/2012 (Updated 10:50:15 PM)

READING, PA  The Reading Phillies blasted two homers and scored five unanswered runs to defeat the Binghamton Mets 5-2 on Sunday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. The R-Phils hit seven home runs and handed Binghamton three critical losses during the four-game series.

After waiting through an 85-minute rain delay, the B-Mets took advantage of Reading starter Brody Colvins wildness in the first two innings. Through the first ten batters, Colvin issued three walks, hit a batter and uncorked one wild pitch. Allan Dykstra gave Binghamton the lead with an RBI single in the first and Francisco Pena scampered home on Colvins wild pitch in the second.

It was the only offense Binghamton compiled against the righty. Colvin (1-0) settled down and retired 12 of the final 13 B-Mets he faced, taking the game to the sixth inning. He surrendered just one hit and struck out five to earn his first Double-A victory.

Trailing 2-0 in the fourth, the R-Phils turned the tide with one swing against starter Mark Cohoon. With one out, Darin Ruf launched a solo homer into the left field seats. It was his fourth home run of the series and 22nd second of the year, tying the league lead.

Another long ball burned the B-Mets for good in the fifth. A throwing error by Jefry Marte and a single by Miguel Abreu set the stage for Cody Asche. The third baseman squeezed a high-arching, three-run homer over the left fence, giving Reading a 4-2 lead. 

Cohoons night came to an end in the sixth. After DArby Myers singled and Brandon Tripp walked, Troy Hanzawa flied out to center. Myers raced to third on the play and scampered home when Lagares failed to throw back to the infield quickly. Cohoon (6-8) allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits while striking out seven, a season-high.

Down by three, Binghamtons offensive woes continued against the Reading bullpen. Juan Morillo and Jay Johnson combined for two scoreless innings of relief. Justin Friend worked around a single and a walk in a shutout ninth to earn his 17th save.

C.J. Nitkowski, Jeff Kaplan and Brad Holt combined to close the pitching tab for Binghamton with 2.1 scoreless frames.

The B-Mets (54-60) rest up with a day off on Monday before welcoming in the second place New Britain Rock Cats for a four-game series. The set kicks off on Tuesday at 5:35 PM with a doubleheader. RHP Gonzalez Germen takes on RHP Steve Hirschfeld in the opener. RHP Cory Mazzoni gets the ball for Binghamton in the nightcap.

(Courtesy: B-Mets)