Binghamton Mets 2014 Game Notes

Binghamton Mets (21-16) at

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (15-24)

(Double-A Affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays)

RHP Rainy Lara (3-1, 3.48) vs. LHP Matt Boyd (0-0, 10.00)

Saturday, May 17, 2014 • Game #38 • Road Game #15

Northeast Delta Dental Stadium • Manchester, NH • 5:35 PM

LAST GAME: The Binghamton Mets bounced back from blowing a four-run lead to defeat the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in comeback fashion, 8-6, on Friday night at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. Brian Burgamy drove in three with a go-ahead double in Binghamton’s pivotal four-run eighth inning. B-Mets starter Matt Bowman struck out a career-high 12 over six innings in the no-decision. The Fisher Cats erased a four-run deficit with six runs in the third inning, highlighted byAndy Fermin’s first career grand slam. Jon Velasquez tossed 1.2 scoreless innings to pick up the win. Chasen Bradford worked around a two-out single in the ninth to earn his eighth save. Kevin Plawecki racked up three hits and three RBI.

BINGHAMTON STARTER: RHP Rainy Lara makes his seventh start of the season and third against the Fisher Cats. Lara earned the win in his last start versus the Harrisburg Senators on Saturday, May 10. The righty allowed just two runs on four hits while striking out a season-high seven over 6.2 in the victory. Lara made back-to-back starts against New Hampshire in mid-April and did not allow an earned run in 13.0 innings of work. The Fisher Cats are hitting just .119 against him. Lara was signed as a non-drafted free agent in October 2009.

NEW HAMPSHIRE STARTER: LHP Matt Boyd makes his fourth start with the Fisher Cats and second against the B-Mets. The southpaw was tagged for five runs on six hits over just 1.2 innings in his last start against the Portland Sea Dogs on Sunday, May 11. He walked four and struck out just one in the no-decision. Boyd surrendered a season-high nine hits over 3.1 innings against the B-Mets on May 6. Boyd opened the season with Dunedin (High-A) going 4-0 with an 0.29 ERA. He was promoted to New Hampshire in early May. Boyd was selected by the Blue Jays in the 6th round of the 2013 draft out of Oregon State University.

COMEBACK KIDS: The B-Mets matched a season-high by overcoming a two-run deficit to earn the comeback win on Friday night. It was just the second time they’ve won this season when trailing after seven innings. Binghamton last did that in a win over Portland on April 24.

AND THE WHIFF: B-Mets starter Matt Bowman struck out a career-high 12 Fisher Cats in six innings on Friday night. It was the most strikeouts for a B-Met in one game sinceYusmeiro Petit fanned a dozen Portland Sea Dogs on August 17, 2005.

ON A HOT STREAK: Since falling to 14-14 on May 6, the B-Mets have won seven of their last nine games. They enter tonight on a three-game winning streak.

THREE’S COMPANY: B-Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki went 3-for-3 and drove in three runs on Friday night. It was his eleventh multiple-hit game of the season and first three-hit night as a B-Met.

JOHNSON STREAKING: Kyle Johnson extended his hitting streak to nine games with a 3-for-5 night on Friday. The B-Mets outfielder is hitting .448 (13-for-29) during the stretch and has raised his batting average by 72 percentage points.

K’S IN THE FIRST: Matt Bowman struck out the side in order in the first inning on Friday, the third time a B-Met starter has done that in the last six games. Binghamton starting pitchers have combined for 13 strikeouts in the first inning in the last six games.

LEAGUE LEADERS: Wilfredo Tovar ranks ninth in the league with a .321 batting average. Matt Clark’s .568 slugging percentage puts him second in the league. Chasen Bradford is tied for second with eight saves.