BINGHAMTON, N.Y. - New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, the National League's leading hitter, excited the Binghamton fans with a home run in his second rehab game Friday night against the Curve.
Reyes' blast helped the B-Mets to a 3-1 victory at NYSEG Stadium, snapping Altoona's three-game winning streak. Reyes led off the sixth inning with a blast against Curve starter Mike Colla for his only hit in four at-bats over two games.
Reyes played seven innings and is scheduled to play one more rehab game for Binghamton tonight, then rest Sunday and rejoin the Mets on Monday. The All-Star leads the NL in hitting at .336 and in triples with 16.
Juan Lagares had an RBI double in the fourth and run-scoring single in the sixth for Binghamton. Colla (5-10) allowed all three B-Mets runs to take loss.
Matt Curry provided the lone Curve highlight with a solo homer in the seventh inning.
Binghamton starter Collin McHugh (7-2) blanked Altoona for six innings, allowing just three hits with eight strikeouts and one walk.
Fact Box
Next stop
Tonight: Altoona at Binghamton, 7:05 p.m.
Pitching matchup: Curve RHP Brett Sinkbeil (0-0, 2.25) vs. B-Mets RHP Tobi Stoner (4-5, 5.31)
Record: 60-72
Covering the bases
LEADING OFF: The Curve and Binghamton have identical records at 60-72, tied for second worst in the Eastern League. Portland has the worst record at 55-70.
SAFE AT FIRST: RHP Tim Alderson turned in by far his strongest outing in a while Friday night, tossing 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. He didn't allow a hit and struck out four with no walks. Alderson had allowed 16 earned runs in 141/3 innings over his previous seven appearances (10.05 ERA).
STEALING SECOND: 2B Brock Holt likely will need a strong finish if he's going to take second place in the EL in hits. CF Starling Marte is in first place by a wide margin with 163, while Reading's Michael Spidale has 143 and Holt 141. Spidale is fourth in the EL in hitting at .320, so he has a shot to catch Marte (.332) for the batting title with a hot finish.
ROUNDING THIRD: Binghamton has a pitcher named Brandon Moore, which is also the name of the Curve's hitting coach. The B-Mets' Moore is 10-8 with a 4.43 ERA.
HEADING HOME: Binghamton had a big crowd of 6,033 for Friday's game to see Mets SS Jose Reyes. The B-Mets don't get many big crowds as they are averaging just 3,149 fans and will finish last in the EL in attendance.
- Cory Giger
Jack Egbert pitched the final three innings for his fifth save, giving the B-Mets their eighth win in nine games.
Starling Marte went 1-for-3 to collect his 163rd hit of the season. He's now just three shy of the Curve record of 166 set by Nate McLouth in 2004.
Game recap
Key player: RF Juan Lagares went 3-for-3 with two RBIs for Binghamton.
Key play: SS Jose Reyes hit a homer leading off the sixth inning for the B-Mets.
Key stat: CF Starling Marte has 163 hits and needs just three more to match the Curve's single-season record.
How they scored
Bottom 4th: Havens singled, scored on Lagares double (0-1).
Bottom 6th: Reyes solo homer (0-2); Den Dekker doubled, scored on Lagares single (0-3).
Top 7th: Curry solo homer (1-3).
