BINGHAMTON METS 2012 GAME NOTES

Binghamton Mets (3-4) at

Portland Sea Dogs (2-7) LHP Darin Gorski (1-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Billy Buckner (0-1, 9.00)



LAST GAME: The Portland Sea Dogs scored four unanswered runs over the final three innings highlighted by Juan Carlos Linares’ two-run home run off Erik Turgeon in the eighth inning to defeat the Binghamton Mets in comeback fashion by a 4-3 score at Hadlock Field last night. The home run spoiled a stellar start by B-Mets righty Zack Wheeler. The Georgia native racked up nine strike outs and allowed just one run over six innings in the no-decision. The B-Mets jumped out to an early lead on a three-run home run by Eric Campbell in the first inning. Port-land was kept at bay by Wheeler until the sixth, when they scratched out a run on Oscar Tejeda’s sac fly to right. Bryce Brentz cut Binghamton’s lead to one on a solo shot in the sev-enth off Turgeon. After Linares’ homer gave Portland the lead, Aaron Kurcz tossed a scoreless ninth to secure the Sea Dogs’ second win of the season. Linares has collected four hits in the series, including two home runs.


STARTING PITCHING MATCHUP: LHP Darin Gorski (1-0, 0.00) will make his second start as a B-Met. The Pennsylvania native earned the win in his Double-A debut against the Akron Aeros on April 7. He collected seven strikeouts and allowed just one hit over six shutout innings. The southpaw hailing from Mount Joy, PA spent all of last year with the St. Lucie Mets (High-A) and was named the Florida State League pitcher of the year. He won his first ten decisions and finished the season at 11-3 with a 2.08 ERA. He held opponents to a .212 batting average, the second-lowest for any pitcher in the league. Gorski won the Sterling Organizational Award as the top pitcher in the New York Mets’ farm system.


RHP Billy Buckner (0-1, 9.00) makes his second start with the Sea Dogs. The Georgia native was originally selected by the Kansas City Royals in the second round of the 2004 draft. He pitched for five seasons in the Royals system and made his Major League debut with the club in 2007. He also pitched three seasons in the Arizona Diamondbacks system, making 26 appearances with the Big League club. He spent part of 2010 with the Tigers’ system and all of 2011 with the Colorado Rock-ies organization. In 36 Major League appearances (21 starts) he has gone 6-11 with a 6.25 ERA.


LETTING IT SLIP AWAY: Last night was the first game of the season the B-Mets have lost when scoring first and leading after seven innings. It was also the bullpen’s first blown save of the season.


NO FREE PASSES ALLOWED: For the second straight game, the B-Mets pitching staff did not walk a single opponent. The B-Mets have not issued a free pass since Brad Holt walked Niu-man Romero in the ninth inning on April 10; a span of 18 in-nings and 73 plate appearances. Only two at bats for Portland went to three balls last night.



FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING: Derrik Gibson’s fielding error in the first inning last night was the first error committed by a B-Mets opponent hit season. The Sea Dogs also launched two home runs, the first time any B-Met opponent has done that in 2012.


SATURDAY, HERE IN THE PARK: The B-Mets won their first game of the season last Saturday by beating the Akron Aeros by a 2-1 score at NYSEG Stadium. Last year, Binghamton went 13-8 on Saturdays.


RACKING UP THE K’S: Zack Wheeler’s nine strike outs last night were the most for a B-Mets starter since Brandon Moore struck out nine Akron Aeros on April 30, 2011.


RISE AND SHINE: The B-Mets won their first day game of the 2012 season by defeating the Akron Aeros on April 7 by a 2-1 score. Darin Gorski also started the game for Binghamton.


NEXT GAME PREVIEW: The B-Mets and Sea Dogs wrap up their four-game series tomorrow at 1:00 pm. RHP Greg Peavey takes the ball for Binghamton against RHP Chris Balcom-Miller.