Only four Binghamton Mets will be playing in the Eastern League All-Star Game on Wednesday at Hadlock Field.
But the way these Mets play in Portland, maybe the whole Binghamton roster should hang around.
Binghamton continued its dominance at Hadlock on Monday afternoon with a 7-2 victory, in the last game before the All-Star break.
It was the Mets’ 12th straight victory at Hadlock and completed a four-game sweep.
Sam Travis, the Red Sox first-base prospect, paced the Sea Dogs with three hits and two RBI. Portland dropped to 32-59.
Binghamton improved to 47-42 and remains in third place in the Eastern Division, 2½ games behind first-place Trenton.
“We’re right there in the mix,” said Binghamton shortstop Gavin Cecchini, brother of Red Sox prospect Garin Cecchini.
“We hit the ball really well all four games.”
That’s not a surprise. The Mets’ 11 hits improved their batting average at Hadlock Field to .295 this year. They bat .245 elsewhere on the road, and only .259 at their home NYSEG Stadium in Binghamton.
Portland starter Mike Augliera (2-13), could not contain the hot Mets. After a scoreless first inning, he gave up three runs in the second and three in the fifth.
Augliera exited with two outs in the fifth inning, his ERA nudging up to 5.88. He allowed seven hits, three walks and hit one batter, while striking out three. Augliera’s 13 losses in a season are one shy of the franchise record, set by Mark Johnson in 1998. After going 8-10 last year, his 23 total losses is tied for second in franchise history, with Kason Gabbard (Nate Bump lost 26).
Mets starter Gabriel Ynoa improved to 6-6, allowing four hits, no walks and one run over seven innings. He struck out five and lowered his ERA to 3.87
Portland scored in the first inning with singles by Marco Hernandez, Carlos Asuaje and Travis.
But the Sea Dogs got only four more hits in the game.
Travis, 21, was a second-round draft pick last year. Since being promoted to Double-A on June 25, he is batting .286 – and .360 (18 for 50) in his last 13 games.
While Travis has not been in the league long enough to qualify for the All-Star Game, Cecchini, 21, a first-round draft pick in 2012, will be one of the Mets playing Wednesday at Hadlock. So he skipped the team bus after the game and joined his parents, Glenn and Raissa.
“Good to have my dad and mom here. We’re going to hang out and get some nice dinners, relax and re-charge the batteries,” Cecchini said. “The (All-Star) game should be a lot of fun.”
NOTES: The announced paid attendance was 5,568 … Only 25 tickets remain available for the All-Star game … The Sea Dogs revealed the participants in the All-Star Home Run Derby at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday. Sea Dogs infielder Jantzen Witte will be joined on the Eastern team by Brock Stassi (Reading), Josh Rodriguez (Binghamton), Gary Sanchez (Trenton) and K.C. Hobson (New Hampshire). The Western team features Anthony Gallos (Akron), Ricky Oropesa (Richmond), Rossmel Perez (Bowie), Dean Green (Erie) and Dan Gamache (Altoona). Rodriguez is tied for the league lead with 13 home runs, with New Britain’s Tom Murphy … All the Eastern League teams are off Tuesday. After the All-Star break, the Sea Dogs will play in New Hampshire July 16-19, before returning to Hadlock Field on July 20.
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