Binghamton Mets 2014 Game Notes

Binghamton Mets (30-23) at

New Britain Rock Cats (23-29)

(Double-A Affiliate of the Minnesota Twins)

RHP Matt Bowman (3-2, 4.24) vs. RHP Virgil Vasquez (2-2, 3.40)

Saturday, May 31, 2014 • Game #54 • Road Game #24

New Britain Stadium • New Britain, CT • 6:35 PM

LAST GAME: The Binghamton Mets matched a season-high by striking out 14 times and went hitless after the fourth inning in a 4-0 loss to the New Britain Rock Cats on Friday night at New Britain Stadium. The B-Mets went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left nine aboard in their fourth shutout loss of the year. Rock Cats starter Sean Gilmartin stranded two men in three consecutive innings on the way to his fifth win of the season. Angel Cuan was tagged four runs, all in the fourth inning, in his second loss. Mike Kvasnicka delivered the major blow, a three-run double off the left-center field wall.

BINGHAMTON STARTER: RHP Matt Bowman takes the mound for his ninth start and faces the Rock Cats for the first time. Bowman tossed two scoreless innings in his last start against the Fisher Cats on Tuesday, May 27 before rain suspended play. The righty out of Princeton looks to snap a five-game winless streak that includes a pair of losses. His last win came against the SeaWolves on April 26. Bowman was picked by the Mets in the 12th round of the 2012 draft.

NEW BRITAIN STARTER: RHP Virgil Vasquez makes his seventh start of the year and second straight against the B-Mets. The veteran righty allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits over six innings in a loss to Binghamton on Monday, May 26. Vasquez was originally drafted in the seventh round of the 2003 draft by the Tigers out of the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has spent time in the Pirates, Rays and Angels organizations.

WE “MAY”DE IT: Despite going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts on Friday night, catcher Kevin Plawecki has still compiled one of the best months by a B-Met in recent memory. The Indiana native has batted .374 with ten doubles, five home runs, 27 RBI and 13 multiple-hit games. Over 25 games, he’s compiled a .626 slugging percentage and hit safely in all but four contests. He drove in a career-high five runs on Tuesday versus the Fisher Cats.

AT THE HOT CORNER: Due to injuries to several B-Mets infielder, Nelfi Zapata has made back-to-back starts at third base. A catcher by trade, Zapata had never played third professionally before Thursday’s contest against New Hampshire. He played third base in high school before converting to catcher in his senior year. Zapata committed an error last night on a ground ball.

BIRTHDAY BOY: B-Mets starter Matt Bowman makes his ninth start of the season and also celebrates his 23rd birthday today. It is the first time in his professional career he has pitched on his birthday.

WELCOME BACK: After missing nine games with a right hamstring strain, Brian Burgamy delivered a three-hit game on Thursday versus the Fisher Cats and a two-hit game on Friday against the Rock Cats.

BOSSES IN THE BULLPEN: Excluding Tyler Pill”s relief appearance Wednesday, the B-Mets bullpen has compiled a 2.42 ERA in the last 22 games. During that span, they’ve struck out 71 and walked only 19 over 67.0 innings. Binghamton’s overall bullpen ERA for the season is down to 3.19.

AND THE WHIFF…: Binghamton matched a season-high with 14 strikeouts on Friday night, a mark set against the Akron RubberDucks on April 28. Despite the rough night, the B-Mets still have struck out the fourth fewest times in the league.

ROAD STRUGGLES: Friday’s loss marked Binghamton’s sixth straight on the road this season. They’ve gone 10-13 away from home in 2014.