Ponies Pitching Leads to Pair of Shutout Wins in Portland

Portland, ME – The Binghamton Rumble Ponies (46-42, 11-13) did not allow a run in two victories on Friday over the Portland Sea Dogs (9-13, 36-53). In the continuation of a suspended game from Thursday, the Ponies blanked the Sea Dogs 2-0 while in the nightcap the Ponies shutout the Sea Dogs 5-0 at Hadlock Field.

Rumble Ponies pitchers have not allowed a run in the last sixteen innings. Binghamton relievers have not yielded a run in their last 26 innings of work.

Game One – Rumble Ponies 2, Sea Dogs 0

The Rumble Ponies and Sea Dogs picked up play from Thursday’s suspended game in the bottom of the fourth. Joseph Shaw, Matt Blackham, and Blake Taylor combined for a one-hit shutout over the two days. On Thursday, Shaw allowed only one hit over three frames. Blackham (5-2) got the win beginning Friday’s action with two perfect frames and striking out four. Taylor closed things out with his first save of the year allowing just one walk over two innings.

It was Patrick Mazeika’s RBI double in the first inning and Gavin Cecchini’s RBI double in the fourth on Thursday that held as the only two runs of the game.  The Ponies left seven on base and were 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

Game Two – Rumble Ponies 5, Sea Dogs 0

Barrett Barnes finished with three RBI, including a two-run homer in the seventh inning, as the Ponies won their fifth straight game. Zach Lee (1-0) allowed just two hits over 5, with one walk and five strikeouts as he gets his first win in a Binghamton uniform.

The Ponies scored two runs in the third on a Barrett Barnes sac fly with the bases loaded and an RBI single from Patrick Mazeika. Mazeika, now with a team-leading 48 RBI, has driven in a run in the last three games he’s played.

Barnes two-run shot over the “Green Monster” in left went an estimated 417 feet and was his 10^th of the year, pulling him into a tie with Mazeika for the team lead.

Stephen Villines pitched two scoreless frames, closing out the game for his seventh save of the year.

POSTGAME NOTES: The Ponies have now won six of their last seven games…they are also 6-2 this year in Portland...Barnes season-long hit streak ended at 10 in the first game.