Juan Lagares, returning from an oblique injury, got his rehab off to a roaring start at NYSEG Stadium in Binghamton on Monday. Lagares showed no ill effects from his muscle strain, and reached base safely the first three times he stepped into the batter’s box. Lagares hit at the top of the B-Mets order, drawing a first inning walk and would later score on Jayce Boyd‘s RBI single.
Largares singled to lead off the second inning. Probably the best indicator that he is healthy and ready to roll occurred as he led off first base. Reading’s left handed pitcher Jesse Biddle, tried to pick him off but his errant throw ended up going down the right field line. Lagares kicked it into high gear peeking over his outside shoulder as he advanced to second never slowing down ending up at third base. He was driven in when Dilson Herrera doubled off the right-center field wall.
Coming to bat again in the third inning, Lagares drove in a run with a single into center. After the success in his first three at-bats, Lagares would be retired in his final two times at the plate.
It was a pedestrian sort of night for Lagares in center field. The Binghamton Mets fans were deprived of his normal theatrics in the field that he has flashed from time to time at Citi Field. There were two hit his way but they were of the routine variety.
The B-Mets beat Reading 12-8, winning for the 12th time in their last 14 games.
