Binghamton Mets 2013 Game Notes

Binghamton Mets (16-16) at Trenton Thunder (18-14) (Double-A Affiliate of the New York Yankees) 

RHP Logan Verrett (4-1, 3.49) vs. LHP Nik Turley (3-1, 4.91)

Wednesday, May 8, 2013 • Game #34 • Away Game #20

Arm & Hammer Park • Trenton, NJ • 7:05 PM

LAST GAME: Rafael Montero cruised through six innings, but faltered late as the Thunder scored four runs in the seventh to beat the B-Mets, 5-1,Tuesday night. Binghamton collected three hits in the first two innings, but were held hitless for the final seven frames in their second straight loss. The B-Mets did all of their damage against starter Jose Ramirez. Cesar Puello blasted a solo home run to left field to put Binghamton up 1-0. Meanwhile, Montero matched a season-high with eight strikeouts and allowed just two base runners on a walk and single through the first six innings. In the seventh however, he gave up a two-run single to Slade Heathcott and was taken out of the game. Josh Edgin allowed two more runs in the seventh, and one more in the eighth on another RBI single from Heathcott. The Thunder bullpen picked up where Ramirez left off and silenced the B-Mets offense for the remainder of the game. At one point, Trenton had retired 20 consecutive B-Mets.

BINGHAMTON STARTING PITCHER: RHP Logan Verrett makes his seventh start of the season for the B-Mets. He Is coming off of his roughest start of the year, an eventual 9-1 loss to Erie. The right-hander threw six innings, gave up six runs on eight hits, and was tagged with the loss. He has eaten a lot of innings so far in 2013, lasting at least 6.0 innings in five of his six starts. He won his first four decisions of the season, and is tied for second in the league with four wins. Verrett was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2011 draft out of Baylor University. He was ranked the #26 prospect in the Mets organization by Baseball America prior to 2013.

TRENTON STARTING PITCHER: LHP Nik Turley makes his seventh start of the season, and his eighth career start with the Thunder. After a slow start to 2013, Turley has been very effective lately. He has won his last three games, and has lowered his ERA from 7.82 to 4.91. In his last start, he struck out a season-high eight hitters in a win over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. In 2012, Turley spent all but one start with the Tampa Yankees. In 21 starts, he finished 9-5 with a 2.89 ERA.

OFFENSIVE STRUGGLES CONTINUE: One game after being two-hit, Binghamton was held hitless after the second inning, and recorded just three hits in Tuesday’s loss. This was the third time in the last six games where the B-Mets were limited to three or less hits.

TOUGH LUCK FOR MONTERO: After winning his first three decisions, Rafael Montero has been tagged with the loss in his last three starts. In those games however, Montero has only received five totals runs of support. On Tuesday, he faced only one over the minimum through his first six innings before running into trouble in the seventh.

PUELLO STILL STREAKING: Cesar Puello hit a solo home run in the second inning last night to push his hitting streak to 14 consecutive games. He has hit both of his 2013 home runs during this road trip.

PITCHERS KEEP IT IN THE PARK:  Binghamton pitching has not given up a home run since the final game of the last homestand, 5/2 v ERI. The pitching staff has given up 22 long balls so far in 2013. Logan Verrett has given up one home run in each of his six starts this season.

IN THE RUN COLUMN: Over the past 27 innings (3 games), the B-Mets have scored a run in only four frames. They have scored a total of seven runs, but only one in the last two games.

AVOIDING THE SWEEP: If the B-Mets lose on Wednesday, the B-Mets will be swept for the first time in 2013.

NEXT GAME PREVIEW: The B-Mets begin a four-game home series against the Harrisburg Senators. Game one is Thursday night at 6:35 PM. RHP Jacob deGrom will take on RHP Paul Demny. The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show begins at 6:20 PM on Newsradio 1290 WNBF.