Altoona Blasts Past B-Mets

7/1/2012 (Updated 10:58:01 PM)

BINGHAMTON -- Former New York Mets farmhand Stefan Welch collected four hits, including a pair of two-run home runs, to lead the Altoona Curve past the Binghamton Mets by a 7-4 score Sunday afternoon at NYSEG Stadium. The defeat pushed Binghamtons losing streak to six games, their longest of the season.

B-Mets starter Cory Mazzoni was tagged for six runs on nine hits over four innings in his second straight loss. After Ramon Cabrera singled home a run in the second inning, Welch blasted his first homer to give Altoona a three-run lead. Welch hit his second dinger in the fourth, part of a three-run inning.

Forced the play catch-up, Binghamton plated three runs in the fourth against starter Matt McSwain. Eric Campbell and Allan Dykstra started the frame with a pair of singles and Travis Ozga got Binghamton on the board on fielders choice. Wilfredo Tovar plated a run with a double and pinch-hitter Dustin Martin capped the inning with an RBI ground out.

Erik Turgeon took over for Mazzoni in the fourth and posted a scoreless inning before allowing a run in the fifth. Jeff Stevens took the wheel and kept the deficit at four with a shutout seventh.

The B-Mets struck closer with a run in the seventh against reliever Jeff Inman. Juan Lagares led off with a single, moved to third on a single and double play, and scored on a wild pitch, cutting the deficit to three.

Binghamton threatened in the eighth and ninth, but got no closer. Juan Lagares struck out against Vic Black while representing the tying run in the eighth and Travis Ozga lined into a game-ending double play with the bases loaded to cap Binghamtons eight-straight home loss.

McSwain (3-2) allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings for the win. Mazzoni (1-2) was saddled with his second loss of the homestand while Black collected his fifth save.

The B-Mets (36-44) look to snap their home losing streak Monday night at 6:35 PM. RHP Gonzalez Germen takes the ball against RHP Gerrit Cole.

(Courtesy: B-Mets)

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