Two out hits lift Binghamton to win

Josh Outman threw two scoreless innings of relief in Wednesday's loss.  The lefty has a 2.84 ERA in three outings since moving to the bullpen on May 2.

By Tony Zonca

Reading, PA -- Using a better-late-than never approach, the Binghamton Mets held off the Phillies 9-7 Wednesday night at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The Mets' first six runs -- and eight of their nine runs -- came as the result of two-out hits.  They also scored three runs in the ninth to open a five-run lead before Jason Donald made it interesting with a three-run homer to left off Tim Lavigne.

For the Mets (13-20), Daniel Murphy delivered a two-run home run in a three-run third and Fernando Martinez a two-run single in the fourth, all off starter Shane Youman (0-1), and the highlights in an early offensive attack that produced a 6-2 lead.

Lou Marson's two-run double had cut the lead to 3-2 in the third.  A two-out, two-run throwing error by pitcher Eddie Camacho on a pickoff attempt made it 6-4 through seven innings.

Bobby Parnell (2-2) went five innings and got the win.  The Phillies (15-17) fell two games below .500 for the first time since April 23, when they were 9-11.  

PHILLERS:  With a second-inning single, Lou Marson jacked his hitting streak to eight games.  He has reached base safely in 21 straight games, longest this season in the Eastern League. . . . Jason Donald (.346) began the night as the fifth-leading hitter in the league. . . . The first three batters in the Mets lineup had five hits, seven RBIs and scored four runs. . . . Phillies lefty Josh Outman pitched two scoreless innings in relief. . . . Greg Golson broke out of a 4-for-21 slump with three hits. . . . Donald was on base four times. . . . Phillies batters walked seven times, but only one of them scored. . . . Former Philadelphia Phillies first baseman and current Arizona Diamondbacks scout Rico Brogna was at the yard Wednesday. 

PLAYER MOVES:  Infielder Gookie Dawkins (.224, 1-4) was traded to the Chicago White Sox for a player to be named later.  Right-hander Will Savage (0-1, 5.14) was activated from the disabled list.

DID YOU KNOW THAT Phillies starter Shane Youman set an Altoona team record with a 1.51 ERA in 2006, when he was the starting pitcher in the Eastern League All-Star Game.  Did you also know that the left-hander was a member of LSU's college World Series title team in 2000.

This story was posted on May 7, 2008