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Benson Makes Strong First Impression, 6-1

First-inning homer send B-Mets to third straight
July 11, 2015

PORTLAND, ME - Joe Benson launched a three-run homer in his first at-bat as a B-Met and Robert Gsellman went seven strong innings to guide Binghamton to a 6-1 win over the Portland Sea Dogs on Saturday night at Hadlock Field. Dustin Lawley followed Benson's blast with a homer of his own to highlight a four-run first inning in Binghamton's third straight victory.

Benson, signed to a Minor League contract by the Mets on Saturday afternoon, wasted little time making a strong first impression. With two aboard in the first, he used his first swing to blast a towering homer over the Maine Monster in left field. Lawley followed by hitting a laser off the video board in left-center, completing Binghamton's first back-to-back homers of the season.

Given an immediate four-run cushion, Gsellman opened his eighth start as a B-Met with five scoreless innings. The righty surrendered just two hits and prevented the Sea Dogs from advancing past first. Portland finally plated a run on in the sixth on an RBI groundout by Jake Romanski following a triple by Keury De La Cruz.

The B-Mets stretched their lead with a pair of two-out runs in the sixth off reliever Williams Jerez. Xorge Carrillo pulled a double down the third-base line to plate Benson from second and Eudy Pina capped the inning with an RBI single to left.

Gsellman closed his night with two scoreless innings, leaving two aboard in the sixth before using a double play in a blank seventh. Dario Alvarez struck out two in a scoreless eighth and Josh Smoker closed Binghamton's tenth straight win at Hadlock Field with a shutout ninth.

Gsellman (3-5) allowed one run on six hits over seven innings to collect his second win in three starts. Sea Dog starter Danny Rosenbaum (0-1) allowed four runs and lasted one inning in his Portland debut.

The B-Mets (45-42) continue their four-game visit to Portland on Sunday at 1:00 PM. RHP Seth Lugo toes the rubber against RHP Luis Diaz. The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show can be heard starting at 12:45 PM on Newsradio 1290 WNBF and the Binghamton Mets channel on TuneIn.

POSTGAME NOTES: Binghamton hit back-to-back home runs for the first time since 7/20/14 against Trenton (Brian Burgamy & Dustin Lawley)…Gavin Cecchini went 0-for-2 with three walks, snapping his 11-game winning streak…Dario Alvarez extended his scoreless streak to 11 games (12.0 IP)…Gsellman has thrown six innings or more in seven straight games

Be sure to follow the B-Mets on their official website (www.bmets.com) or on Facebook, Twitter (@bmets) and Snapchat (binghamtonmets). Fans can also stay up to date with all the action on the field by visiting "B-Mets Buzz" at bmets.mlblogs.com or following Tim Heiman (@TimHeiman) on Twitter.