B-Mets drop second straight to Richmond

8/18/2012 (Updated 11:00:59 PM)

BINGHAMTON -- The Binghamton Mets were held to three hits and suffered their tenth shutout loss, falling to the Richmond Flying Squirrels 4-0 Saturday night at NYSEG Stadium. The B-Mets sent just five over the minimum to the plate and were held hitless over their final 16 plate appearances.

Chris Heston (9-5) baffled the B-Mets for seven scoreless innings. The Eastern Leagues ERA leader surrendered just three hits and extended his shutout streak to 15.2 innings. The righty never allowed a runner to reach third and retired the final nine B-Mets he faced.

Richmonds ace helped his own cause in the third against Cory Mazzoni. With Ryan Cavan on first, Heston chopped an RBI double over Wilmer Flores head at third to give the Squirrels a 1-0 lead. Johnny Monell added on with a two-run homer in the fourth.

Mazzoni (5-4) settled down after Monells bomb with three scoreless innings. The Pennsylvania native exited after seven frames. He allowed three runs on seven hits and racked up a career-high seven strikeouts. Armando Rodriguez threw a scoreless eighth and Jeff Kaplan allowed a run on two hits in the ninth.

Binghamtons offensive troubles continued against the Richmond bullpen. Edwin Quirarte fired a perfect eighth inning and Brett Bochy worked around a leadoff walk in a shutout ninth.

The B-Mets (60-66) look to avoid the sweep on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 PM. RHP Gonzalez Germen takes the mound against LHP Mike Kickham.

(Courtesy: Binghamton Mets)