CURVE, Pa. – Edwin Espinal drove in five runs for the Altoona Curve, including a two-run home run in the first inning, in a 13-1 rout over the Binghamton Mets on Monday night at PNG Field.
Espinal’s blast came off Rainy Lara (Loss, 7-11) and capped a three-run frame for the Curve. Espinal also drove in a run while reaching on a Rainy fielding error in the second and struck a two-run double in the eighth inning.
The twelve-run margin of victory marks the largest win ever for Altoona (73-60) over Binghamton (61-72), and marks the largest margin of victory in the history of the series. It also marked the largest margin of victory for the Curve in 2016.
Barrett Barnes followed Espinal’s double in the eighth with a two-run home run, his ninth of the year and eighth since July 5, to give the Curve a 13-1 lead. Barnes was named Eastern League Player of the Week earlier Monday afternoon.
Cody Dickson (Save, 1) worked three scoreless innings in relief of Nick Kingham (Win, 1-0) and allowed just one hit in his first career save.
Altoona added to its 3-0 lead in the second inning with a four-run frame which included RBIs from Elvis Escobar on a single, Erich Weiss on a bases-loaded walk, Espinal on a fielding error by Lara and a Barnes sacrifice fly to give the Curve a 7-0 lead.
Kingham allowed one run in the top of the third on a Champ Stewart sacrifice fly to bring Binghamton within 7-1, but the Curve got a run back on a Chris Stewart sac fly in the bottom of the third and Kingham added an RBI double in the fifth to extend the Curve lead to 9-1.
Kingham also scattered three hits while striking out four in his first Double-A start of the season.
All nine Curve starters recorded a hit, and both Espinal and Eric Wood recorded 3-for-5 nights. Wood finished a home run shy of the cycle.
The Curve and B-Mets will continue their four-game series on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at PNG Field. Curve left-hander Brandon Waddell (7-8, 4.21) will get the start.
It will be a 2 For Tuesday when fans can take advantage of 2 for 1 tickets, hot dogs and small popcorn, presented by Atlantic Broadband. The Curve will also host a ceremony to honor Vietnam Veterans. For tickets and more information, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office.
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