Binghamton Mets Top Harrisburg Senators 3-0 In Battle Of Eastern League Division Leaders

It was clash of the Eastern League titans last night in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where the circuit’s two division leaders squared off in Game One of a weekend series.

Greg Peavey climbed the hill for the Binghamton Mets, opposed by Harrisburg Senators starter Taylor Hill.  This was only Peavey’s second start with the B-Mets.  He previously made thirty-eight relief appearances and pitched fifty-seven innings for the Las Vegas 51’s.

Jul 2, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of Rawlings major league baseballs on the field before the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Against the Senators, Greg pitched brilliantly, going six full innings, allowing just one hit, walking two batters and striking out six before giving way to the bullpen.  Closer Jeff Walters pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his thirty-first save of the season, and preserve Binghamton’s combined four hit shutout.  Jeff Walters leads the Eastern League in saves, and has eleven more than his next closest competitor.  He boasts a 1.93 ERA in 46.2 innings pitched, with fifty strikeouts.

A first inning single by first baseman Allan Dykstra gave the Mets a 1-0 lead.  In the sixth inning, right fielder Travis Taijeron‘s double scored fellow outfielder Darrell Ceciliani for Binghamton’s second run.  And in the seventh, the Mets tacked on an unearned insurance run en route to a 3-0 final.  Otherwise, the team was a dreadful 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position.

With a 68-43 (.613) record after Friday’s series opener, the Binghamton Mets own the top mark in the league.  They comfortably lead the Eastern Division by 11.5 games over the Trenton Thunder.  The Harrisburg Senators are the Western Division leaders, and now sport a 61-52 (.540) record.  They hold a slim 1.5 game lead over the second place Erie SeaWolves.  Binghamton and Harrisburg started the night as the only Eastern League teams with sixty wins or better.

The series continues Saturday evening.  Logan Verrett will climb the hill in Game Two for visiting Binghamton, while Nate Karns will make the start for Harrisburg.

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