PORTLAND — The plunging temperatures did little to cool off the Binghamton Mets.

The Mets reached double digits in hits for the third straight night while posting an 8-4 victory over the Portland Sea Dogs before an announced crowd of 4,746 at frigid Hadlock Field Wednesday night.

Daniel Garcia had three hits and Ron Acuna and Chris Basak added two hits and two RBI each to pace the Binghamton attack.

The Mets pounded out 40 hits while winning two of three games in the series.

“We broke out,” said Binghamton manager John Stearns. “We were struggling offensively when we came in here and we just exploded.”

“If they are all that good, then we won’t have to worry about it because they’ll all be out of this league in about to weeks,” said Portland manager Ron Johnson. “And I refuse to believe that my pitching staff is that bad.”

Binghamton (5-5) scored three times in both the fourth and fifth innings. Chris Basak’s two-run home run to left-center field in the top of the sixth gave the Mets an 8-0 lead and spelled the end for Portland starter Tim Kester (0-1).

The right-hander gave up 11 hits in five-plus innings while walking one and striking out four.

“You have to give them credit,” said Portland catcher Andy Dominique. “They were hitting balls that aren’t always hit.”

In the bottom of the seventh inning, the 500 or so fans who braved the elements finally had something to cheer about when Dominique pulled a ball down the left-field line for what was ruled a three-run home run by homeplate umpire Adrian Johnson.

The ball appeared to be well foul and the ruling set off pitcher Tim Lavigne, who flung his glove to the ground and was immediately ejected.

“The fence goes all the way to the foul line and if it’s left of the fence, then it’s foul” said an incredulous Stearns. “It didn’t hit the fence, did it? Did it go over the fence?

“It’s hard to believe,” Stearns went on. “But I don’t think we should be talking about it because I don’t want Mr. Umpire to harbor any ill feelings. But I hate to see my pitcher have to add all of those earned runs to his ERA and get thrown out on his mistake.”

Portland loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth, but P.J. Bevis struck out Justin Sherrod. Bevis struck out two in the ninth inning to record his second save.

The Sea Dogs were held in check by Binghamton starter Jake Joseph (2-0). The left-hander allowed just one hit, a second-inning single to Raul Nieves, while facing the minimum 15 batters in his five innings of work. He walked one and struck out four.

Portland (3-4) managed just seven hits against the three Binghamton starters (Joseph, Joey Cole and Phil Seibel) in the series.

“They’re all major league prospects,” said Johnson. “That’s what makes that team scary to me. I remember them from last year and I don’t like facing any of them.”

The Sea Dogs finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Kevin Youkilis and Justin Headley singled to put runners at the corners. After a strikeout, Dustin Brisson singled off of the glove of second baseman David Bacani to end Portland’s scoreless innings streak at 15 2/3.

Dominique then drilled a 2-0 pitch from Lavigne, setting off the fireworks in the center-field lighthouse and the Mets’ dugout.

“I was running and didn’t see it,” said Dominique. “They called it a home run and that’s what it is in the books.”

Sea Dogs notes: Suzanne Trefsger of Auburn won the contest to name the left field wall. Her winning submission, The Maine Monster, was chosen from over 1,350 entries. Trefsger, who was one of 24 contestants that had the winning entry, will receive four season tickets….Catcher Brian Loyd was a late scratch with a stiff neck….The wind blew over part of the screen and an advertisement on top of the wall in the eighth inning….The Red Sox signed former Sea Dog Trace Coquillete to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Portland. Coquillete hit .208 with four home runs and 20 RBI in 43 games last season for the Sea Dogs. He will be activated for Friday night’s game against New Britain, taking the roster spot of second baseman Carlos Leon, who has a cracked left fibula….Today is an off day. Josh Stevens (1-0, 4.50 ERA) opposes the Rock Cats’ Pete Fisher tomorrow night at 6 p.m. The game can be seen on Channel 8 (WMTW)

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