BINGHAMTON - Ruben Tejada keyed the offense Sunday night with a pair of big hits, a double and a homer, to drive in three of Binghamton’s four runs in a 4-3 triumph over Altoona at NYSEG Stadium. Roy Merritt tossed the final 1.1 innings scoreless to nail down his team-leading 14^th save.

Tejada got the run scoring started in the first with a solo homer to left off Curve starter Derek Hankins, his fifth of the year.

Binghamton (54-85) starter Jenrry Mejia did not allow a hit until the fourth inning and did not allow a run until the fifth inning when Jonel Pacheco brought Gorkys Hernandez home with an RBI double down the right-field line to tie the score. The damage could have been worse in the inning had corner outfielders Emmanuel Garcia and Carlos Guzman not thrown out two men at the plate in the frame.

The B-Mets rallied to take the lead in the seventh inning against hard-throwing righty Ramon Aguero. Garcia led off the frame with a bloop single to left-center. He then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Unlikely hero Jose De La Torre, Binghamton’s relief pitcher, hit for himself in the frame and lined a single into center after showing bunt with the infield in. The hit vaulted the B-Mets ahead 2-1.

Aguero walked the next hitter, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, leading to Tejada, who made him pay with a two-run double over the head of Altoona (61-80) leftfielder Jeff Corsaletti, expanding the lead to 4-1.

The Curve responded with two runs in the eighth off De La Torre and Merritt. Milver Reyes singled in a run against De La Torre with runners at second and third, forcing De La Torre to depart. Merritt entered and allowed a single to Shelby Ford that scored Ray Chang to get Altoona within a run at 4-3.

Merritt allowed two men to reach with one out in the ninth thanks to a walk and a single, but induced a game-ending double play off the bat of Jonel Pacheco to secure the save.

De La Torre was credited with the win after allowing two runs in two innings, his third victory.

The B-Mets finish off their 2009 campaign tomorrow afternoon with the Curve. Binghamton will send LHP Eric Niesen (4-6, 4.86) to the bump and Altoona will call on RHP Michael Crotta (6-8, 5.00). The first pitch is slated for 1:05 and the radio broadcast on ESPN 1360 WYOS begins at 12:50 with the Horizons Federal Credit Union Pre-Game Show.

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