True to His Name, Kay Delivers; Offense Erupts

AKRON, OH –Binghamton starter Anthony Kay struck out ten over six scoreless innings and the Rumble Ponies erupted for 17 hits in a 16-3 victory over the Akron RubberDucks on Monday night at Canal Park. The Ponies set season highs in runs and hits to extend their winning streak to four games.

Kay opened the game on cruise control and retired the first ten batters he faced, striking out eight along the way. The southpaw fanned the first two batters he faced in the first and second and tore through the bottom third of the lineup in the third, striking out the side in order.

Mitch Longo was the first RubberDuck to reach thanks to a walk in the fourth and Wilson Garcia followed with Akron’s first hit by singling to center. Kay stranded both by fanning Li-Jen Chu, his last strikeout of the night. The lefty capped his stellar outing with two more scoreless innings.

Binghamton’s offense backed Kay’s effort with their biggest outburst of the season. With multiple-hit contributions coming from six members of their lineup, the Rumble Ponies scored at least four runs in three different turns at the plate.

Andres Gimenez highlighted Binghamton’s first big inning, a four-run fourth, with a three-run double. The two-bagger, one of his two hits in the game, extended his hitting streak to six games.

The Rumble Ponies blew the game open late against Akron’s bullpen. Braxton Lee capped a five-run sixth by stroking a two-run single to the left-field alley against Luke Eubank. Will Toffey and Ali Sanchez each delivered two-run doubles in Binghamton’s five-run eighth inning.

Akron’s three runs scored in the eighth inning were the only thing separating the Rumble Ponies from their largest shutout victory (13-0) and their largest margin of victory (14 runs) in franchise history.

Kay (1-1) allowed just one hit over six scoreless innings. Akron starter Sam Hentges (0-2) was touched for six runs (four earned) on five hits over three innings in the loss.

Binghamton (8-4) continues their series in Akron on Tuesday at 6:35 PM. LHP David Peterson takes the mound against LHP David Peterson. 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: Binghamton improved to 5-0 in series-opening games…Anthony Kay’s ten strikeouts were the most by a Binghamton starter since Franklyn Kilome struck out ten Reading Fightin Phils on August 10, 2018…it marked the eighth time in franchise history Binghamton has scored 16 runs in a game…Binghamton’s franchise record for runs in a game is 18, set on April 11, 2008 against the Erie SeaWolves