Binghamton Mets 2014 Game Notes

Binghamton Mets (25-21) vs.

New Britain Rock Cats (20-25)

(Double-A Affiliate of the Minnesota Twins)

RHP Hansel Robles (2-2, 4.46) vs. RHP Tyler Duffey (1-0, 3.65)

Saturday, May 24, 2014 • Game #47 • Home Game #25

NYSEG Stadium • Binghamton, NY • 7:05 PM

LAST GAME: Kevin Plawecki launched a tie-breaking, solo home run in the eighth inning to power the Binghamton Mets to a 3-2 win over the New Britain Rock Cats on Friday night. Plawecki’s homer, his second in as many games, helped snap Binghamton’s five-game losing streak. The B-Mets catcher had put Binghamton on the board with an RBI double in the fourth, tying the game at one. The B-Mets grabbed the lead on Kyle Johnson’s run-producing infield single in the fifth before Brad Boyer stroked an RBI double in the eighth off Jon Velasquez to tie the game at two. Velasquez suffered his second blown save, but also earned the win thanks to Plawecki’s homer. Chasen Bradford posted a perfect ninth for his ninth save.

BINGHAMTON STARTER: RHP Hansel Robles makes his eighth start of the season and first against the Rock Cats. The righty tossed six scoreless innings to collect a win in his most recent start against the Sea Dogs on Monday, May 19. He struck out two and held Portland hitless in five at-bats with runners in scoring position. The shutout performance followed a pair of starts in which Robles surrendered a dozen runs combined. He was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Mets in August 2008.

NEW BRITAIN STARTER: RHP Tyler Duffey takes the mound for his fifth start with the Rock Cats. He earned his first Double-A victory in his most recent start versus the Flying Squirrels on Monday, May 19. The righty allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits over 6.2 innings, but received 10 runs of offensive support in the win. Duffey opened the season with Fort Myers (High-A), going 3-0 with a 2.82 ERA over four starts in the Florida State League. Duffey was selected by the Twins in the 5th round of the 2012 draft out of Rice University.

APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY POWER: B-Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki hit .250 in April with three doubles. He collected three RBI and posted a .304 slugging percentage. The Indiana native has flipped the switch in May with a .370 batting average, seven doubles, three home runs and 19 RBI. Over 18 games, he’s compiled a .589 slugging percentage and hit safely in all but three contests.

DOUBLE FIGURES, AGAIN: B-Mets infielder Matt Reynolds extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single in the fourth inning on Friday night. He’s hit .447 (17-for-38) during the stretch. Reynolds compiled a 14-game hitting streak in April, the fourth-longest in the league in 2014.

HOME SWEET HOME: Friday’s victory was Binghamton’s third straight at home and sixth in the last eight games. The B-Mets are 15-9 at NYSEG Stadium this year.

THROWING STRIKES: Three B-Mets pitchers combined to issue no walks in Friday’s game. It was the sixth time this season Binghamton has compiled a walk-less game on the mound. They’ve issued fewer than three walks 25 times this year. As a team, Binghamton has handed out 123 free passes, the second-fewest in the Eastern League.

GUNNING THEM DOWN: Kevin Plawecki threw out Daniel Ortiz in a double play in the seventh inning on Friday night. Plawecki has thrown out 32% (12-for-37) of attempted base stealers this season, the fourth-best mark in the league.

LOSING THE LEADS: The B-Mets have owned a lead and lost it in each of their last five games. Friday’s game marked the first time in the stretch in which the B-Mets rebounded to earn the victory.

LIVING FOR THE WEEKEND: The B-Mets have won a season-best six games on Saturdays this year.