Binghamton Mets 2014 Game Notes

Binghamton Mets (0-1) vs.

Akron RubberDucks (1-0)

(Double-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Indians)

RHP Rainy Lara (0-0, ---) vs. RHP Joe Colon (0-0, ---)

Friday, April 4, 2014 • Game #2 • Home Game #2

NYSEG Stadium • Binghamton, NY • 7:05 PM

LAST GAME: Five B-Mets pitchers issued eleven walks and the offense was limited to four hits in a 7-1 Opening Night loss to the Akron RubberDucks on Thursday at NYSEG Stadium. Giovanny Urshela drove in four runs and finished a triple shy of the cycle for Akron. His home run off losing pitcher Darin Gorski broke a tie game in the fourth. Darrell Ceciliani provided the only offensive highlight with a triple and run off winning pitcher Cody Anderson. Three Akron relievers combined for three shutout, hitless innings of relief to close the game.

BINGHAMTON STARTER: RHP Rainy Lara makes his Double-A debut tonight against the RubberDucks. The Dominican Republic native split last season between Savannah (Low-A) and St. Lucie (High-A). He was a two-time Pitcher of the Week in the South Atlantic League and was promoted to the Florida State League in late May. He saw a 91% increase in his innings from 2012 to 2013 and went 8-7 with a 2.85 ERA between both levels.

AKRON STARTER: RHP Joe Colon makes his Double-A debut tonight against the B-Mets. The right-hander from Puerto Rico made two starts in April last season with Lake County (Low-A) before getting promoted to Carolina (High-A) in early May. He made two starts before getting sidelined until late June. In 15 starts with the Mudcats he posted seven quality starts. Between two levels he went 5-4 with a 3.16 ERA in 17 starts. He was selected by the Indians in the 12th round of the 2009 draft.

STROLLING ALONG: The eleven walks issued by B-Mets pitchers last night were the most since they handed out the same total on June 7, 2011 in the first game of a doubleheader against the Harrisburg Senators. In 2013, the B-Mets pitching staff averaged 3.0 walks per game.

TRIPLING UP: Darrell Ceciliani opened his second season with the B-Mets by tripling to lead off the first inning last night. The Binghamton centerfielder led the 2013 Binghamton Mets with six three-baggers.

A HOLE IN THE LINEUP: Binghamton’s three through six hitters in the batting order (Kevin Plawecki, Matt Clark, Jayce Boyd and Dustin Lawley) combined to go 1-for-15 last night. Boyd’s single in the fourth inning was the lone ball in play by the group that left the infield.

MEET THE METS: Three members of the 2014 B-Mets were All-Stars at another level last year. Kevin Plawecki and Jayce Boyd were both South Atlantic League Mid-Season All-Stars. Dustin Lawley earned Mid-Season and Postseason honors in the Florida State League, while also being named the league’s Most Valuable Player.

PLENTY OF POWER: The B-Mets Opening Day roster includes four players that hit 20 home runs or more last season. Dustin Lawley went deep 26 times between St. Lucie and Las Vegas, Travis Taijeron launched 23 for St. Lucie and Binghamton, Matt Clark teed off 25 times for the Chunichi Dragons (Japan), and Brian Burgamybashed 32 with four different teams.

AKRON’S UPPER HAND: Dating back to their final match up last season, Akron has won four of the last five meetings with the B-Mets.

AND THE WHIFF: B-Mets reliever Jack Leathersich struck out three in a scoreless inning last night. The southpaw fanned 55 Eastern League hitters in 29.1 innings over 24 games with the B-Mets in 2013.

HAPPY FRIDAY: The B-Mets kick off the weekend with their first Friday game of the season. The club went 11-12 on Fridays in 2013. They followed that with a combined 34-11 mark on Saturdays & Sundays.

NEXT GAME PREVIEW: The B-Mets continue their four-game series against the RubberDucks on Saturday at 1:05 PM. RHP Tyler Pill takes the mound against RHP Will Roberts.