Binghamton Mets (0-0) vs.
Akron RubberDucks (0-0)
(Double-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Indians)
LHP Darin Gorski (0-0, ---) vs. RHP Cody Anderson (0-0, ---)
Thursday, April 3, 2014 • Game #1 • Home Game #1
NYSEG Stadium • Binghamton, NY • 6:35 PM
2013 IN REVIEW: The Binghamton Mets collected a franchise-record 86 victories in 2013 en route to winning the Eastern Division regular season title, their first since 2000. Allan Dykstra earned league MVP honors while Pedro Lopez was recognized as league Manager of the Year. Closer Jeff Walters set a B-Mets franchise record with 38 saves, the second-highest total in league history. Binghamton made their first trip to the postseason since 2004, but were swept away by the eventual-champion Trenton Thunder in the Eastern Division Championship Series.
BINGHAMTON STARTER: LHP Darin Gorski takes the hill as Binghamton’s Opening Day starter. The southpaw returns to the Southern Tier for his third go-around with the B-Mets. After suffering a shoulder injury with Las Vegas (AAA) early last season, Gorski returned to Binghamton and went 6-1 with a 1.83 ERA in 14 games (13 starts). The southpaw held opponents to a .172 batting average and surrendered just one home run after allowing 20 in 2012.
AKRON STARTER: RHP Cody Anderson gets the ball to open the season for the newly named Akron RubberDucks. The California native spent most of last season with Carolina (High-A), going 9-4 with a 2.34 ERA in 23 starts. He finished the season in Double-A with Akron, compiling a 5.68 ERA in three starts. He was a Carolina League Mid-Season All-Star in 2013 and led the league in ERA at the time of his promotion. He was selected in the 14th round of the 2011 draft by the Indians out of Feather River College.
100th SEASON: This year marks the 100th season of professional baseball in the Southern Tier. Binghamton enjoys a rich history of baseball, dating back to the Binghamton Crickets of the League Alliance in 1877. The Southern Tier has been also home to the Bingos and Triplets. This the B-Mets 23rd season in existence.
MEET THE METS: The B-Mets welcome 12 new players to the Southern Tier, including nine that will be making their Double-A debuts. Sixteen members of the record-setting 2013 Binghamton Mets will suit up on Opening Day for Binghamton.
OPENING DAY: This marks the fifth consecutive season the B-Mets have started the year against Akron. The B-Mets are 3-1 against Akron in the last four Opening Day games. The B-Mets are 14-8 overall on Opening Day in franchise history.
THE WHO?: Tonight is the first game for Akron under their new RubberDucks moniker. Formerly known as the Aeros, the club underwent a rebranding effort following the 2013 season. The name references the prevalent rubber industry in the Akron area.
PROSPECT CENTRAL: The B-Mets Opening Day roster includes five players ranked by Baseball America as Top-30 prospects in the Mets organization: Kevin Plawecki (#5), Jack Leathersich (#23), Dustin Lawley (#26), Wilfredo Tovar (#29)Jayce Boyd (#30)
HOME SWEET HOME: The B-Mets went 44-28 at NYSEG last season, the best home record in the Eastern League. They hit .248 as team, put together a 3.38 ERA and enjoyed five walk-off wins.
BOMBS AWAY: The B-Mets Opening Day roster includes four players that hit 20 home runs or more last season: BrianBurgamy (32), Dustin Lawley (26), Matt Clark (25) and Travis Taijeron (23). Binghamton ranked third in the Eastern League with 115 home runs in 2013.
AGAINST THE RUBBERDUCKS: The B-Mets went 8-6 against Akron last season, including a 4-2 mark at NYSEG Stadium. Binghamton hit .260 as a team and compiled a 3.55 ERA in 14 meetings last year.
NEXT GAME PREVIEW: The B-Mets continue their season-opening series against the RubberDucks tomorrow at 7:05 PM. RHP Rainy Lara makes his Double-A debut against RHP Joe Colon.
No comments:
Post a Comment