BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – The Binghamton Mets ran away from a tie game in the sixth inning Saturday afternoon against the Portland Sea Dogs.

The Mets combined a hit-and-run with a double steal to turn four consecutive singles into three runs on their way to a 6-1 Eastern League victory at NYSEG Stadium.

“They have team speed and good athletes,” Sea Dogs Manager Kevin Boles said. “It’s our responsibility to slow things down.

“We have to take care of the ball and make sure our stretch times are right, too.”

The Sea Dogs have lost three straight and 6 of 7, and own the worst record in the Eastern League, 4-13.

Sea Dogs reliever Will Latimer (1-1) took over for starting pitcher Chris Martin with the game tied in the sixth.

Jefry Marte and Eric Campbell got the Mets started with consecutive one-out singles. They were both on the move when Josh Rodriguez singled to right field, breaking the tie and putting runners on the corners.

Travis Ozga singled to score another run and again put men on the corners. He was then part of a double steal that included Rodriguez making a successful break to the plate for the third run of the inning.

Martin was strong through five innings for the Sea Dogs except for needing 77 pitches, which ended his day early on a pitch count.

Martin shut out the Mets through four innings and allowed his only run on a fifth-inning double-play ball. He gave up two hits and hit Joe Bonfe with pitches twice while striking out three.

“He pitched great,” Boles said after Martin lowered his ERA from 6.14 to 5.03. “He had real good life to his fastball. His slider was crisp.

“It was a very impressive game.”

The Sea Dogs scored on Matt Spring’s homer with one out in the third, one pitch after Ronald Bermudez was picked off first base.

Spring was in the lineup for the first time since returning to the team Thursday from Triple-A Pawtucket. The catcher had been 0 for 14 in his four games with the Sea Dogs before going to Pawtucket, where he was 2 for 5 with a double.

Mark Cohoon (1-2) held the Sea Dogs to one run on seven hits through seven innings.

Cohoon got help from two double plays in the first three innings. The Sea Dogs also had a runner thrown out trying to advance on a pitch that got away from catcher Juan Centeno, and Jeremy Hazelbaker was thrown out at the plate to end the sixth as he tried to score on a single by Ryan Dent.

Spring and Dent each had two hits.

NOTES: Sea Dogs first baseman Reynaldo Rodriguez was ejected after arguing a call on the bases in the fifth inning.