Binghamton Mets 2015 Game Notes

Binghamton Mets (18-13) at

Richmond Flying Squirrels (10-18)

(Double-A Affiliate of the San Francisco Giants)

RHP Rainy Lara (2-1, 3.04) vs. LHP Matt Lujan (1-2, 4.05)

Tuesday, May 12, 2015 • Game #32 • Road Game #19

The Diamond •  Richmond, VA • 6:35 PM

LAST GAME: The B-Mets suffered their fourth one run loss, 4-3, against the Richmond Flying Squirrels Monday night at The Diamond. Binghamton was held to four hits for the first time since the second game of the season. Gavin Cecchini hit his second home run of the season. Seth Lugo took his first loss of the season, allowing four runs in six innings pitched. The four earned runs were more than his first four starts combined. The righty struck out eight for the second straight outing. Binghamton went 1-for-3 with men in scoring position, dropping the first game of the series.

BINGHAMTON STARTER: RHP Rainy Lara makes his fifth start of the season and the second of his career against Richmond. The righty is coming off his first loss of the season, allowing four runs and nine hits, both season-highs, in five innings against Portland. The starter has allowed seven earned runs in nine total innings over his last two outings. Lara’s two wins came in his first two starts of the year. Lefties are hitting .333 against him this season, while all batters are hitting .304 with men in scoring position. Lara faced Richmond in his final start of the 2014 regular season, allowing four runs and nine hits in five innings. He didn’t factor into the decision.

RICHMOND STARTER: LHP Matt Lujan is making his sixth start of the season and the first of his career against Binghamton. The southpaw is coming off his first win, holding Altoona to two runs and six hits over six innings. Lujan has allowed two runs in 12 innings over his last two starts. Opponents are hitting .317 against the lefty in two starts at The Diamond this season. 11 of the 12 earned runs he has allowed, have come in the first three innings of a game. Opponents are batting .349 in those innings against Lujan, compared to .175 after the third. 

THE BIG EAST: Monday’s win snapped Richmond’s fifteen game losing streak against the Eastern Division. Their last four regular season victories against the East have come against Binghamton.

SOUTHPAWS: The B-Mets wrap up a stretch of three straight games against lefty starters. Binghamton has gone 2-4 against lefty starters this season, losing their last three. The B-Mets are hitting .238 against lefties, compared to .269 against righty pitching. They average a run every 13.7 at-bats against lefties, compared to a run every 6.9 at-bats against righties.

PITCH-HITTING: The B-Mets pitching staff is 1-for-9 at the plate this season. Reliever Paul Sewald owns the lone hit, a double against Harrisburg. Binghamton pitchers hit .219 last season.

IN A PINCH: Binghamton pinch-hitters are 2-for-9 with three strikeouts this season, including Jared King’s walk-off single against Portland last Thursday.

OFFENSE: Binghamton is hitting .216 over their last eight games, going 4-4 during that span. The B-Mets hit .280 in their first 23 games. Their runs per game are down from 5.0 to 3.5 over their last eight games.

OOPS I DID IT AGAIN: Binghamton has committed multiple errors in 11 of their 31 games this season, including two Monday night against Richmond. The B-Mets are 3-8 in those games. Binghamton is 8-1 in their nine games without a single error.

ONE RUN: Seven of Binghamton’s last 11 games have been decided by one run. Binghamton has gone 5-2 in those seven games. Overall,13 of the B-Mets 31 games this season have been decided by one run. Binghamton played in 35 one run games in the 2014 regular season.