Mazza’s Gem Undone in Odd Eighth, Ponies Fall in Akron

AKRON, OH – Rumble Ponies starter Chris Mazza baffled the RubberDucks through seven innings before Akron plated two runs in the eighth on a wild pitch and a missed catch in Binghamton’s 2-0 loss on Wednesday night at Canal Park. Binghamton was held to two hits, but settled for a 5-1 road trip.

The oddities in the eighth began with two outs and runners at the corners. With Daniel Johnson at the plate, Ali Sanchez failed to cleanly snag Chris Mazza’s high fastball. The ball squeaked behind Sanchez and allowed Tyler Friis to dash home from third with the game’s first run. Johnson then hit a towering pop up to second that Mike Paez lost in the twilight sky. Tyler Krieger scored from second as the drive landed safely on the infield dirt.

Binghamton’s missteps in the eighth overshadowed a stellar pitchers’ duel between Mazza and Akron starter Matt Solter. Coaxing a total of two dozen groundouts from opposing hitters, the well-traveled righties matched each other zero-for-zero through seven innings. Solter retired ten straight from the fourth through the seventh while Mazza set down eleven of twelve before Akron struck in the eighth.

The Rumble Ponies only major threat offensively came against reliever David Speer in the top of the eighth. Binghamton filled the bases with two outs, but Speer struck out Andres Gimenez on three pitches to preserve the scoreless game.

James Karinchak worked a perfect ninth to claim his fourth save and make a winner of Speer. Solter allowed one hit over seven scoreless innings in the no-decision.

Mazza (0-1) took the hard-luck loss in his second start with the Ponies. He struck out three and allowed two runs on five hits over 7-2/3 innings. Thirteen of his outs recorded came via ground ball.

Binghamton (9-5) open a four-game series at home against the Portland Sea Dogs on Thursday at 6:35 PM. RHP Mike Gibbons takes the mound against LHP Kyle Hart. The Horizons Federal Credit Union pregame show starts at 6:20 PM and can be heard on NewsRadio 1290 AM WNBF and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies channel on TuneIn.

POSTGAME NOTES: Ali Sanchez extended his hitting streak to a team-best eight games with a single in the second inning…Chris Mazza’s 7.2 innings pitched was the longest outing by a Binghamton starter this season