Las Vegas 6 - Albuquerque 5

NEED TO KNOW: For the second time during the opening road trip of the season, the Albuquerque Isotopes (9-11) fell victim to a walk off victory. The Las Vegas 51s (12-8) claimed a 6-5 win after a two-run ninth inning at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, NV, Tuesday afternoon. The Isotopes return home to face the Salt Lake Bees Thursday night at 6:35 p.m.

DECIDING MOMENT: The Isotopes jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the second inning after back-to-back home runs from Angelys Nina and Tim Smalling. Dustin Garneau singled to get the offense started before Tim Wheeler drew a walk. Nina lined a 1-1 pitch over the center field wall, and Smalling followed with a solo shot of his own. The 51s chipped away to cut the Topes lead to 5-4 in the seventh. After escaping a bases loaded, no one out jam in the bottom of the eighth, Albuquerque needed just three outs to take the final game of the series. Las Vegas had other ideas as Johnny Monell led off the ninth with a double. Following back-to-back outs, a walk put runners on the corners with two down. Wilfredo Tovar then doubled in both runs to give the 51s the walk-off win.

BACK-TO-BACK: Angelys Nina and Tim Smalling blasted back-to-back home runs in the second inning. The long balls were the first of the year for each player. It is the first time Isotopes players have gone back-to-back since Mike Baxter and Joc Pederson went back-to-back on August 18 of last season against Nashville.

TWO-OUT TURBULANCE: The 51s posted five two-out RBI Tuesday afternoon. Combined with Monday's two-out magic, 14 of the last 17 runs given up by the Isotopes pitching staff have come with two outs. In the four-game series against Las Vegas, Albuquerque surrendered 27 runs in total, 17 of which came with two outs.

NINA ON FIRE: Second baseman Angelys Nina turned in his best outing of the year, a 3-for-4 showing with a homer and four RBI. It is his third three-hit game and fourth multi-hit game overall. Nina's four RBI tops his three-RBI performance on April 12 against Reno.

FORMER TOPES, CURRENT FOES: Albuquerque faced two former Isotopes during their series in Las Vegas: catcher Johnny Monell and infielder Alex Castellanos. The duo produced plenty of offense against their former team. Monell turned in a 6-for-13 series with two doubles and four RBI, while Castellanos combined to go 7-for-14 with a double, a triple, two homers, five RBI and two walks in the series.

Delmarva Shorebirds 12 Savannah Sand Gnats 0

Game one of the three game series between the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Delmarva Shorebirds was played Tuesday evening at Grayson Stadium in front of  1,008 fans. The five-inning game was shortened by the steady  rain.
Delmarva bats were hot as they banged out 10  hits to win the first game of the series,  12-0.
Stating pitcher for the Shorebirds, Matthew Grimes(W,1-0), pitched a gem, pitching  5 shutout innings, allowed only 1 hit, walked 1 and struck out 11.
The second inning, Delmarva sent 13 batters to the plate and scored 7 runs, on 2 hits, 3BB, 2 hit batters, and 3 Savannah errors( 5 errors for the game).
The Shorebirds added a run in the 3rd inning and 4 runs in the 5th inning.
Savannah could only muster 1 hit, a single  by secondbaseman JC Rodriquez in the second inning.
Sand Gnat starter, Scarlyn Reyes,(L, 0-3) pitched 1.2 innings and gave up 7 runs(1earned) on 4 hits.
Game two of the series starts at 7:05pm Wednesday at Grayson Stadium.

Delmarva 12 - Savannah 0

The Delmarva Shorebirds (11-7) tallied 12 runs on ten hits in route to a 12-0 victory at Historic Grayson Stadium on Tuesday. The Gnats (6-12) mustered just one hit and commit five errors in the five-inning game.

The Shorebirds threatened early in the first, but would strand two runners in the inning. After a quick bottom half, Delmarva would plate seven runs against Gnats’ starter RHP Scarlyn Reyes (0-3, 3.86). Reyes was saddled with the loss after pitching 1.2 innings, allowing four hits, and walking three. Only one of the seven runs was earned for Reyes, due to a throwing error by 3B Pedro Perez.

With the Gnats trailing 7-0, Shorebirds’ starter RHP Matthew Grimes (1-0, 4.91) went to work. Grimes would throw all five innings of the rain-shortened game on his way to a complete game shutout victory. The Hochston, GA native threw a career-high 11 strikeouts on Tuesday, topping his previous high of seven. Second baseman JC Rodriguez tallied the lone hit for the Gnats.  

Jimmy Duff made his seventh appearance on the year and allowed just one hit over his 1.1 innings of work. Duff has now made three straight scoreless appearances.

Binghamton 11 - Portland 7

The Binghamton Mets rode a five-run third inning to an 11-7 victory over the Portland Sea Dogs in the resumption of a suspended game on Tuesday night at Hadlock Field. The B-Mets racked up ten hits and set a season-high in runs to earn their second straight win.

Trailing by two in the third, Binghamton jumped on Jonathan Aro, getting the first five batters aboard safely. After a fielding error by Mike Miller brought in the first run of the frame, Xorge Carrillo tied the game with a single to right. Binghamton grabbed the lead with back-to-back run-producing groundouts and capped the inning with an RBI single by Jared King.

The B-Mets added to their lead with two runs in the fourth on a double by Dustin Lawley and a sac fly from Carrillo. Cecchini plated two more with a single into left in the sixth.

The Sea Dogs had owned a 4-2 lead thanks to a three-run second inning. Matt Koch, who toed the rubber when the game resumed, walked two with two outs before surrendering a two-run single to Oscar Tejeda.

Following Binghamton’s big third inning, the Sea Dogs scratched out a run in the fourth and two in the sixth against Koch. Paul Sewald took over and worked a perfect seventh before stranding two in the eighth. The righty tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to close his second save of the season

Before play was suspended on Monday night, the Sea Dogs cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the first on a passed ball by Carrillo.

Binghamton grabbed the lead against Luis Diaz in the second. Following a pair of walks, Eudy Pina yanked a two-out double down the third base line, plating Gavin Cecchini and Gilbert Gomez to give the B-Mets a 2-1 advantage.

As the rain picked up in the bottom of the second inning, the Sea Dogs cashed in on a Cecchini throwing error at short. Tim Roberson reached second when the shortstop’s throw sailed high and came home when Kevin Heller zipped a game-tying double down the third-base line. Before Mike Miller could bat, the tarp was placed on the field. After waiting for an hour and forty minutes the game was suspended.

Koch (1-1) allowed four runs on six hits over 4-2/3 innings to earn his first Double-A victory. Aro (2-1) was touched for seven runs (four earned) on six hits over three innings of work.

The B-Mets (10-8) continue their three-game series against the Sea Dogs with a seven-inning game on Tuesday night.

POSTGAME NOTES: Seth Lugo tossed 1-1/3 innings on Monday night before rain interrupted his third start…Aderlin Rodriguez earned his first stolen base since May 22, 2013 with his swipe in sixth inning…Binghamton scored ten runs or more for the second time in their last three games at Hadlock Field (W 11-4, EDCS Game 4, 9/6/14)

Jupiter 4 - Mets 1

Three Jupiter pitchers limited St. Lucie to four hits as the Hammerheads defeated the Mets 4-1 on Tuesday at Roger Dean Stadium.

For the second time in a week, Hammerheads pitcher Scott Lyman stymied the Mets. He allowed just three hits and one run in seven strong innings while striking out eight. Lyman retired the last nine batters he faced.

Last Wednesday, Lyman held the Mets to one run on two hits in 5.1 innings in an 8-2 Hammerheads win at Tradition Field.

After two straight clean games in the field, the Mets defense committed four errors on Tuesday.

In the second inning, Cameron Flynn initially held at third base on a fly ball hit to center field with one out, but he scored standing up when Champ Stuart’s throw home was way off the mark.

The Mets tied the game 1-1 in the top of the third when Adrian Abreu grounded into a double play and Amed Rosario scored from third.

The bottom of the fourth came unglued for Mets starter Miller Diaz. He hit Flynn the leadoff hitter Flynn and gave up a single to Chris Hoo to put runners at the corners. Then with Yefri Perez batting, Diaz threw a wild pitch allowing Flynn to score and Hoo to move to second.

In a moment of frustration while covering the plate after the wild pitch, Diaz flipped the ball up in the air and tried to snatch it with his hand. He accidently knocked it away and into the Hammerheads dugout which gave Hoo the free pass home to score and make it 3-1.

Felix Munoz added an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI double to complete the scoring at 4-1.

The lone offensive bright spot for the Mets was Jeff McNeil, who had two of the Mets four hits. McNeil extended his hitting streak to eight games and now has eight multi hit games in his last 10.

Diaz, who had not allowed a run in 11 innings coming into Tuesday, lasted just four innings and gave up three runs.

Bonghamton 7 - Portland 1

The Binghamton Mets plated seven runs in the first two innings en route to a 7-1 win over the Portland Sea Dogs on Tuesday night at Hadlock Field. Aderlin Rodriguez and Dustin Lawley combined for four hits and five RBI to guide Binghamton to their third straight win. Three B-Mets pitchers teamed up for the staff’s third two-hitter of the season.

Binghamton jumped on Mike Augliera in the first inning. Following Gavin Cecchini’s leadoff double, Rodriguez shot an RBI single into left field. Lawley belted Augliera’s next pitch over the Maine Monster in left field for his third home run of the season. Jairo Perez capped the inning by ripping an RBI double down the third-base line.

The offensive onslaught continued into the second. With runners at the corners, King dunked an RBI single into shallow right in front of Kevin Heller. Two batters later Rodriguez pulled a run-producing single down the left-field line and Lawley struck again with a sacrifice fly to center.

Jake Kuebler deftly kept the Sea Dogs in check in his first start since 2013. The righty needed just 45 pitches to cruise through four scoreless innings, facing two over the minimum.

Portland scratched out their only run without the aid of a hit in the sixth against Beck Wheeler. Reed Gragnani started the inning with a walk, advanced to third on a passed ball and crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

Wheeler (1-0) allowed one unearned run over 1-2/3 innings to earn his first Double-A victory. Chase Huchingson collected the final four outs to close Binghamton’s pitching tab.

Augliera (0-4) was tagged for seven runs on ten hits over 3-2/3 innings in his fourth straight loss. Simon Mercedes and Pat Light combined for 3-1/3 scoreless innings of relief.

The B-Mets (11-8) conclude their three-game visit to Portland on Wednesday night at 6:00 PM. RHP Rainy Lara takes the mound against RHP Mike McCarthy. 

POSTGAME NOTES: Binghamton has collected 10 hits or more in four of their last five games…the B-Mets have won four straight games at Hadlock Field, dating back to their postseason victories in 2014…it was the second time the B-Mets have scored four runs in the first inning this season (4/14 @ Erie, G1)

April 28th 2015 -- Miami 4, Mets 3

Michael Morse’s RBI single snapped a 3 all tie in the bottom of the 8^th inning. The Marlins go on to beat the Mets 4-3. Rafael Montero started for the Mets and was terrific until he tired in the 6^th.  Giancarlo Stanton gave the Fish a 1-0 lead in the 6^th with an RBI single.  Marcel Ozuna hit an infield hit to make it 1^st and 2^nd, and then with two outs Jacob Realmuto singled to make it 2-0.  Buddy Carlyle came in and uncorked a wild pitch to score Ozuna and that made it 3-0.  The Mets came back in the top of the 7^th.  Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Anthony Recker reached on singles.  Curtis Granderson singled to load the bases. That brought up Juan Lagares who doubled over the head of Ozuna driving in 3 runs to tie the game.  In the bottom of the 8^th Carlos Torres came on and had a shaky outing. He walked Martin Prado and Ozuna and with one out Morse struck the single to plate the winning run.  Montero went 5 2/3 allowing 5 hits 3 runs (all earned) walking 1 and striking out 6.  Alex Torres pitched a perfect 7th striking out the side.  Carlos Torres takes the loss falling to 1-1.  Bryan Morris gets the win he’s now 3-0. Offensively the Mets managed 10 hits on the day. Daniel Murphy continues to be red hot going 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles. Granderson went 2 for 4. With the loss the Mets fall to 15-6 overall and 5-6 on the road. Wednesday night is the rubber game of the series Bartolo Colon (4-0 2.77) looks to capture the series for the Mets, Mat Latos (0-3 7.31) goes for Miami. 

Binghamton Mets 2015 Game Notes

Binghamton Mets (9-8) at

Portland Sea Dogs (7-10)

(Double-A Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox)

RHP Matt Koch (0-1, 4.96) vs. RHP Mike Augliera (0-3, 5.65)

Tuesday, April 28, 2015 • Games #18 & #19 • Road Games #12 & #13

Hadlock Field •  Portland, ME • 5:00 PM

SUSPENDED PLAY: Monday night’s action was halted in the bottom of the second inning with the game tied at two. The teams will play the nine-inning game to completion and follow with a seven-inning contest.

 LAST GAME: The B-Mets tossed their third shutout of the season, blanking New Hampshire 3-0 Sunday afternoon at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. John Gant allowed four hits in seven innings, while Dario Alvarez and Jon Velasquez combined to throw two perfect innings of relief. Gant notched his first win of the year, while Velasquez picked up his fifth save.Jared King and Xorge Carrillo each went deep in the series finale win.

 BINGHAMTON STARTER: RHP Matt Koch makes his fourth start of the season and first against the Sea Dogs. The Cherokee, Iowa native comes off his longest outing of the season, tossing seven innings against the SeaWolves last Monday night. He allowed one run and struck out six in the no-decision. Koch, selected by the Mets in the 3^rd round of the 2012 draft.

PORTLAND STARTER: RHP Mike Augliera makes his fourth start and looks to end a season-opening three-game losing streak. The former Binghamton University pitcher was tagged for five runs on eleven his over 4.1 innings in his last start against the Thunder on April 23. The Old Bridge, NJ native went 8-10 with a 4.56 ERA over 24 starts with the Sea Dogs in 2014.

VS. PORTLAND: The Sea Dogs won the season series 12-9 in 2014. Binghamton got the last laugh, beating Portland in five games in the first round of the playoffs. The B-Mets won the season series in 2013, 13-7.

HAD-LOCKDOWN: Portland won eight of 10 games at home against the B-Mets last season, including a stretch of seven straight wins. The Sea Dogs outscored Binghamton 48-35 in the 10 games. The B-Mets went on to take two out of three at Hadlock Field in the postseason and won five of eight matchups in 2013.

IT’S GOOD TO BE KING: Jared King has homered twice in a three game span for the first time in his career. King went 140 at-bats in between home runs, before hitting two in a seven at-bat span. He averages a home run every 83 at-bats for his career.

SE7EN: B-Met starters have made it through seven innings four times this year, including twice in the last 13 games. B-Mets starters have average 5.2 innings pitched per start through the first 17 games of the season.

LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE: Binghamton has

homered twice in three of their last 13 games. They had done it three times in their previous 30 games.

ERRORS: Binghamton has committed an error in five straight games and 11 of their last 12. The 12 errors in their last 12 games have only led to four unearned runs allowed.

FOREVER YOUNG: Brandon Nimmo has played, and hit second, in all 17 games this season. He is one of 11 players in the EL to play in every game this year.

HOME SWEET HOME: The B-Mets have been much more successful at home, where they have hit .315 and scored 33 runs in six games. In addition, the B-Mets pitching staff has a 4.50 ERA at NYSEG Stadium. On the road, the B-Mets are hitting .249 with 40 runs scored in 11 games. The B-Mets pitching staff has thrown to a 4.93 ERA away from home. Binghamton is 5-6 on the road this season.

Tom Brennan - AHH, PERSPECTIVE!!

Tom Brennan - AHH, PERSPECTIVE!!

Ahh, where would we all be without perspective? 

The 1962 Mets went on a number of 2 game winning streaks and if someone saw them those 2 games, and did not know they had a miserable record, they'd have thought they were the greatest thing since sliced cheesecake.

The 1986 Mets started out with a mere 2 wins in their first 5 contests.  To a person without the proper perspective, they might have thought they were a mediocre bunch.  But those who understood the team's talent knew such performance would have a short shelf life.  

After all, they were young, great, had terrific veterans...my 1986 pre-season call to my boss of the time (a fellow Met fan) was the 1986 squad would win 105 games.  He felt I was nuts. His call was 95. 

We were both wrong, as they won 108 while losing just 54.  My boss, though, carded a double bogey.  I had a short putt for eagle.

Anyway, several weeks ago, I postulated the Mets would start out with a very strong record in the first several weeks, due to 3 key attributes: strong pitching from starters, and from relievers, and upgraded hitting.  And a 4th - a relatively light schedule.

And whaddya know?  3 weeks in, the Mets are 15-5, as a result of the presence of those 3 attributes.

Now if you'd told me then that by game 20, the Mets would have been without Edgin, Wheeler, Parnell, Black, Mejia, and Wright for most or all of the season to date, I'd have never predicted 15-5.  I’d have never expected those attributes to flourish as they have.

So the fact the Mets had 2 losses over the weekend to the despised and hated crosstown rivals (whose team name rhymes with Tom Hanks, but should never be uttered by a Mets aficionado) needs to be kept - you get it - in perspective.  

So…

Let's hear it for Colon who has, (if you've not noticed) a " DO NOT WALK" sign installed near home plate.

Let's hear it for Harvey, for deGrom, for Niese, for Familia, for Lethal Dude Lucas Duda, for Flores, for d'Arnaud/Plawecki, for Juan "vacuum" Lagares, for Flores, for MC Hammer, for Grandy, and yes, even Jerry and Terry.  

And for the best danged Soup in the tri-state area.  And for the rest of the squad.

We don't ask for much in the next 20 games, as we gaze forward with proper perspective.  

JUST GO 15 AND 5 AGAIN!  

We love it so far, and we can get used to a .750 win percentage. And clearly we are not getting greedy and expecting .800 ball.  750 is fine.

So, from that “perspective”, LET'S GO METS!