Herrera goes off in Binghamton blowout

Dilson Herrera started hitting as soon as he arrived in the Eastern League and he hasn't slowed a tick since.

The Mets' eighth-ranked prospect went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, a walk and four RBIs on Friday night in Double-A Binghamton's 12-3 romp over visiting Akron.

Herrera has recorded back-to-back three-hit efforts as part of a modest four-game hitting streak.

"His approach allows him to go out there and have success," Binghamton manager Pedro Lopez said. "The one thing he does is -- and he's still 20 years old, I'm not saying that he doesn't swing at pitches out of the strike zone, they all do, even in the big leagues -- but he has quality at-bats. He has a game plan and he tries to execute it every time he goes up to the plate.

"I think that's the one thing that has made him successful to this point."

In 54 games since a promotion from the Florida State League, Herrera has compiled a .346/.415/.579 slash line with nine homers, three triples, 17 doubles and 46 RBIs. Among Double-A batters since his debut on June 19, he ranks first in OPS (.995), second in hits (74) and third in batting average and RBIs.

"I think he's been locked in the since the day he got here," Lopez said. "I think the coaches down in St. Lucie did a great job with him. Luis Rivera, our hitting coach here, he's done a good job with him, too. He's a guy that, once again, he knows what he's working on.

"Whenever he takes his 0-fer on any given night, he comes out on the next day and starts working on what's made him successful to this point. He's a guy that doesn't deviate from the plan. He doesn't deviate from what he's trying to do. And right now, it's paying off for him."

Herrera has three games this season ar with at least four RBIs. He drove in a career-high five runs in the B-Mets' 8-7 win over Altoona on June 28.

The Colombia native -- whom New York acquired with reliever Vic Black from the Pirates for outfielder Marlon Byrd, catcher John Buck and cash last August -- spent his first 67 games this season with Class A Advanced St. Lucie, where he batted .307/.355/.410 with three homers and 23 RBIs.

Herrera began his stint with Binghamton by notching three straight multi-hit performance, an indication of the success to come.

"This is the first time that I've ever seen him play," Lopez said, "and I'm glad that I have him on my team and am not playing against him."

Jayce Boyd and Darrell Ceciliani both homered and collected three RBIs for the Mets on Friday, while Wilfredo Tovar joined Herrera and Ceciliani with three hits.

Binghamton starter Tyler Pill (9-5) allowed two runs on four hits and a walk over five innings, striking out. Akron's Nick Maronde (0-1) was charged with seven runs on 10 hits and a walk while fanning five in four frames.

The B-Mets celebrated after a loss by New Britain on Thursday guaranteed the eighth trip to the playoffs in franchise history and second in as many years.

"I'm glad that we were able to have the game that we had and give these guys a little chance to celebrate," Lopez said. "They've done a great job throughout the whole year and I can see the best is still to come."