Binghamton Mets 2014 Game Notes

Binghamton Mets (0-1) vs.

Akron RubberDucks (1-0)

(Double-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Indians)

Game 1: RHP Rainy Lara (0-0, ---) vs. RHP Joe Colon (0-0, ---)

Game 2: RHP Tyler Pill (0-0, ---) vs. RHP Toru Murata (0-0, ---)

Saturday, April 5, 2014 • Games #2 & #3 • Home Games #2 & #3

NYSEG Stadium • Binghamton, NY • 12:05 PM

LAST GAME: Five B-Mets pitchers issued eleven walks and the offense was limited to four hits in a 7-1 Opening Night loss to the Akron RubberDucks on Thursday at NYSEG Stadium. Giovanny Urshela drove in four runs and finished a triple shy of the cycle for Akron. His home run off losing pitcher Darin Gorski broke a tie game in the fourth. Darrell Ceciliani provided the only offensive highlight with a triple and run off winning pitcher Cody Anderson. Three Akron relievers combined for three shutout, hitless innings of relief to close the game.

BINGHAMTON STARTER: RHP Rainy Lara makes his Double-A debut today in game one against the RubberDucks. The Dominican Republic native split last season between Savannah (Low-A) and St. Lucie (High-A). RHP Tyler Pill will toe the rubber in the nightcap. The California native made four starts with the B-Mets last year before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

AKRON STARTER: RHP Joe Colon makes his Double-A debut today against the B-Mets. The right-hander from Puerto Rico split last season between Lake County (Low-A) (two starts) and Carolina (High-A) (15 starts) and missed six weeks with an elbow injury. He was selected by the Indians in the 12th round of the 2009 draft. RHP Toru Murata gets the ball in the nightcap. The righty from Japan made five starts with Columbus (AAA) and 23 starts for Akron (AA) in 2013. He went 6-9 and compiled a 4.44 ERA between both levels.

STROLLING ALONG: The eleven walks issued by B-Mets pitchers Thursday night were the most since they handed out the same total on June 7, 2011 in the first game of a doubleheader against the Harrisburg Senators. In 2013, the B-Mets pitching staff averaged 3.0 walks per game.

TRIPLING UP: Darrell Ceciliani opened his second season with the B-Mets by tripling to lead off the first inning Thursday night. The Binghamton centerfielder led the 2013 Binghamton Mets with six three-baggers.

A HOLE IN THE LINEUP: Binghamton’s three through six hitters in the batting order (Kevin Plawecki, Matt Clark, Jayce Boyd and Dustin Lawley) combined to go 1-for-15 Thursday night. Boyd’s single in the fourth inning was the lone ball in play by the group that left the infield.

MEET THE METS: Three members of the 2014 B-Mets were All-Stars at another level last year. Kevin Plawecki and Jayce Boyd were both South Atlantic League Mid-Season All-Stars. Dustin Lawley earned Mid-Season and Postseason honors in the Florida State League, while also being named the league’s Most Valuable Player.

PLENTY OF POWER: The B-Mets Opening Day roster includes four players that hit 20 home runs or more last season. Dustin Lawley went deep 26 times between St. Lucie and Las Vegas, Travis Taijeron launched 23 for St. Lucie and Binghamton, Matt Clark teed off 25 times for the Chunichi Dragons (Japan), and Brian Burgamybashed 32 with four different teams.

AKRON’S UPPER HAND: Dating back to their final match up last season, Akron has won four of the last five meetings with the B-Mets.

AND THE WHIFF: B-Mets reliever Jack Leathersich struck out three in a scoreless inning Thursday night. The southpaw fanned 55 Eastern League hitters in 29.1 innings over 24 games with the B-Mets in 2013. He racked up 102 strikeouts in 58.1 innings last year.

HAPPY SATURDAY: The B-Mets start the weekend with a double dip on Saturday. In 2013, the B-Mets went a combined 34-11 on Saturdays & Sundays.

NEXT GAME PREVIEW: The B-Mets conclude their four-game series against the RubberDucks on Sunday at 1:05 PM. RHP Hansel Robles makes his Double-A debut against against RHP Will Roberts