Binghamton Mets 2014 Game Notes

Binghamton Mets (24-21) vs.

New Britain Rock Cats (20-24)

(Double-A Affiliate of the Minnesota Twins)

RHP Tyler Pill (1-4, 4.84) vs. LHP Taylor Rogers (4-3, 5.36)

Friday, May 23, 2014 • Game #46 • Home Game #24

NYSEG Stadium • Binghamton, NY • 7:05 PM

LAST GAME: Portland Sea Dogs infielder Mookie Betts lined a walk-off, two-run triple down the right-field line in the ninth inning to stun the Binghamton Mets in a 6-5 loss at Hadlock Field on Thursday night. Betts’ shot off reliever Cody Satterwhite drove in two and handed Binghamton their fifth straight defeat. The B-Mets had trailed 3-0 before Kevin Plawecki ripped a two-run homer in the sixth and Wildredo Tovar drove in two with a single in the seventh. The teams traded runs in the eighth with Dustin Lawley singling home Rylan Sandoval and Portland answering back on Derrik Gibson’s RBI single. Aaron Kurcz tossed a scoreless ninth and earned the win.

BINGHAMTON STARTER: RHP Tyler Pill makes his eighth start of the season. The righty took a no-decision in his most recent start against the Fisher Cats on Sunday, May 18. He allowed two runs over 5.2 innings and exited with a chance to earn his second straight win. The B-Mets failed to preserve the lead, but eventually triumphed 9-8 in 14 innings. In his last four starts, Pill has tossed at least five innings and compiled a 1.69 ERA. He was selected in the 4th round in 2011 out of Cal State Fullerton.

NEW BRITAIN STARTER: LHP Taylor Rogers makes his ninth start of the season and looks for his fifth victory in as many starts. Rogers went a season-best seven innings in his most recent start against the Harrisburg Senators on Sunday, May 18. He struck out four in the win. Rogers opened the season with three straight losses, compiling an 11.68 ERA in his first three starts. In his last five games, the Colorado native has gone 4-0 and compiled a 2.87 ERA. He’s posted a quality start in each of his last five games. He was picked  by the Twins in the 11th round of the 2012 draft out of the University of Kentucky.

YOU’RE HOT THEN YOU’RE COLD: The B-Mets have lost five straight games, their longest skid since they dropped seven in a row in late June/early July of 2012. The losing streak comes directly after a six-game winning streak, their longest of the season.

BUMPED BACK IN THE STANDINGS: Following their 5-0 win in the series opener against the Sea Dogs on Monday night, the B-Mets were just 1.5 games out of first. Their five-game losing streak has dropped them 6.5 games out and in a tie for third in the Eastern Division.

BACK HOME AGAIN: The B-Mets return home after going 4-5 on a nine-game road trip, their longest of the season. They won the first four games, including a three-game sweep of the Fisher Cats, before dropping the final five to the first-place Portland Sea Dogs.

REYNOLDS ROLLING: Matt Reynolds went 3-for-5 on Thursday night and extended his hitting streak to nine game. He’s hit 16-for-35 during the stretch, bumping his batting average to .352.

AGAINST THE ROCK CATS: The B-Mets match up with the Double-A Twins for the first time this season. Binghamton went 7-4 versus New Britain in 2013, including a 2-1 mark at NYSEG Stadium.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU: Binghamton and New Britain will match up in five series this season, including three in the next 17 days. The B-Mets and Rock Cats will match up in each of the next three weekends.

SCOUTING THE ROCK CATS: New Britain opened the season going 6-16 in the month of April. They have rebounded by going 14-8 in May. They rank eighth in the league in runs scored and have posted a 4.36 ERA as a staff, the third-worst in the league.