PORTLAND, ME - The Binghamton Mets hammered out a season-best 18 hits to defeat the Portland Sea Dogs, 7-3, in the series opener on Friday night at Hadlock Field. Gavin Cecchini compiled a four-hit game, reached base safely five times and extended his hitting streak to a season-best 11 games. Four B-Mets registered three hits or more to push Binghamton into third place.


Binghamton hung a four-spot on the board in the second against Justin Haley. Josh Rodriguez opened a stretch of five consecutive hits by singling to start the inning. Xorge Carrillo laced a two-run double down the right-field line, Cecchini skipped a run-producing single up the middle and Michael Conforto capped the frame with an RBI single to center.


The B-Mets chased Haley from the game with three straight hits to open the third, adding two more runs on an error by right fielder Henry Ramos and a sacrifice fly from Eudy Pina.


B-Met starter John Gant surrendered a run in each of his first three innings before settling down in the fourth. The righty allowed just two runners to reach on a single and a walk over his next three scoreless innings to preserve Binghamton's lead.


Given a four-run advantage, Adam Kolarek took over in the seventh and worked a perfect inning. Matt Koch side-stepped a single in a blank eighth and pitched around a leadoff hit in a scoreless ninth, securing Binghamton's second straight win.


Gant (3-4) allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits over six innings in his first win since returning from a five-week stint in the Florida State League. Haley (3-10) was touched for six runs on eleven hits in the loss.


The B-Mets (44-42) continue their final series before the All-Star break on Saturday at 6:00 PM. RHP Robert Gsellman takes the hill against RHP Luis Diaz.


(Courtesy: Binghamton Mets Baseball)

(Video Courtesy: WCSH)