Plawecki homers in third straight game

For Kevin Plawecki, personal success is a team effort. His 24 RBIs are the result of his teammates getting on base, while his four homers are because of pitchers who throw him good pitches.

If that's true, then Saturday was a big team win as the Mets' seventh-ranked prospect went 3-for-3 with a homer and a game-tying double as Double-A Binghamton rallied for an 8-6 win over visiting New Britain.

"Anytime you get on base like tonight, the more times, it puts us in good positions to win," Plawecki said. "Just been getting good pitches to hit and I was able to capitalize on those pitches and put good swings on them, and they were finding holes."

The 23-year-old catcher singled in his first at-bat, then put the Mets on the board in the third with a solo shot to left field. After walking in the fourth, he got another chance to produce for Binghamton.

Down by one with Matt Reynolds on second and two outs, Plawecki was thinking one thing: "Get Reynolds in."

"I got a good pitch and I was able to drive him in," he said after doubling in the sixth. "That was a big point of the ballgame; it tied the game and really re-energized us in the dugout.

The Purdue product has driven in at least one run in 12 of his last 14 games. He had only three RBIs in his first 19 contests.

"Matt Reynolds is getting on base just about every at-bat in front of me. Everyone's been doing a great job getting on base, you just have to capitalize," Plawecki said. "I didn't have a lot of opportunities with guys on base early on, but I'm fortunate to have those opportunities in May, and I've been able to get into a groove."

Nine of Plawecki's teammates have already tied or surpassed their April hit totals this month, giving him ample opportunities to drive in runs. Reynolds extended his hitting streak to 11 games and is second in the Eastern League with a .355 average.

On Sunday, Binghamton will add an experienced bat to the lineup when catcher Travis d'Arnaud begins a rehab stint after suffering a concussion on May 13. Plawecki is looking forward to picking the brain of his big league counterpart.

"He's a great guy. We got to know each other in Spring Training. I'm looking forward to seeing him," Plawecki said. "Hopefully, he is not here too long and returns to the Majors soon."

D'Arnaud will work with a B-Mets starting rotation that has gone seven games without a win. Against the Rock Cats, reliever John Church (2-0) struck out three over 1 1/3 scoreless innings to get the victory.

New Britain's Adrian Salcedo fell to 0-6 after surrendering two runs on three hits in one inning.