It is not due to a lack of effort. And the players are not distracted by Instagram or anything silly like that.

These Portland Sea Dogs are just not playing good baseball, evidenced by Thursday night’s 7-1 loss to the Binghamton Mets before a Hadlock Field crowd of 7,057.

The Sea Dogs (25-41) lost their fourth straight and 14th of their last 17 games.

This team is quite a drop from last year’s squad that set a franchise record for wins (88). But that team was filled with prospects, including a group already in the big leagues.

These Sea Dogs are grinding away. And when they run into a talented roster like Binghamton’s, the result is a three-game sweep. Portland was outscored, 16-3.

On Thursday the Sea Dogs had eight hits and four walks but left 11 on base, four on third.

“We’re just not clicking,” Manager Billy McMillon said. “We get men on base and can’t get them in. It’s frustrating. We have talent, but we fall behind (early) and can’t seem to come back.”

Binghamton (35-30) won its seventh straight. The Mets feature some of the best prospects in New York’s system, including outfielder Brandon Nimmo (first-round draft pick in 2011), who rejoined the team Thursday after recovering from a sprained knee. Nimmo jumped right in with two doubles, a run and an RBI.

Another prospect, right-handed starter Michel Fulmer (2-0) held the Sea Dogs to one run over 61/3 innings.

Fulmer was the 44th overall draft pick in 2011.

Sea Dogs outfielder Aneury Tavarez ended Fulmer’s shutout with a home run in the seventh inning, his first in Double-A.

Portland starter William Cuevas (6-4) had one of his shortest outings, going 41/3 innings, allowing eight hits and six runs (five earned).

Cuevas pitched three scoreless innings but Nimmo led off the fourth with a double, followed by Josh Rodriguez’s two-run homer to right field.

Rodriguez, 30, is past prospect age but gives Binghamton both experience, including some major league time with the Pirates, and power. He leads the Eastern League with 12 home runs. He went 3 for 4 on Thursday with three RBI.

Doubles by Michael Conforto (first-round pick, 2014), Nimmo and Rodriguez chased Cuevas in the fifth.

“We just have to keep working,” McMillon said.

NOTES: Former Sea Dogs first baseman Travis Shaw, a member of last year’s Portland team, was called up to the majors for the third time this season. Shaw was summoned to play third base in place of Pablo Sandoval, who was benched for being on Instagram during Wednesday night’s game. … The fact that Shaw was promoted to play third instead of former Sea Dogs third baseman Garin Cecchini speaks to Cecchini’s struggles in Pawtucket. He is batting under .200 although he hit two home runs Thursday. … Cecchini’s younger brother, Gavin, is a Mets prospect. He went 0 for 4 on Thursday with a walk for Binghamton. … The Sea Dogs left after the game on a long bus ride to Reading, Pennsylvania, and a four-game series against the Fightin Phils. Portland then plays four in New Hampshire before returning to Hadlock Field on June 27.