MAGIC NUMBER AT 1 FOR PONIES

Magic Number at One After Double Dip Split

Portland, ME – Runs came at a premium in Friday’s doubleheader at Hadlock Field, with the Sea Dogs taking game one, 2-1, before the Ponies nabbed game two, 2-1. The nightcap victory snapped Binghamton’s three-game losing streak and moved them to one win, or one Reading loss, away from clinching a playoff berth. All three games in this series have finished 2-1.  
Game 1 – Portland 2, Binghamton 1
Portland wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in game one, plating two runs on three hits in the first inning. Danny Mars began the inning by roping a triple into the right field alley, before Chad De La Guerra followed with a double to score Mars. Two batters later, Jeremy Barfield’s single plated De La Guerra, earning the Sea Dogs an early 2-0 advantage.
Mickey Jannis (7-7) followed his difficult opening frame by setting down 17 straight Sea Dogs, going perfect from the second inning through the end of the game. He struck out six without issuing a walk.
Binghamton’s lone run crossed in the sixth inning following Patrick Biondi’s leadoff triple. Luis Guillorme’s ground ball to the right side brought Biondi home, slicing the Sea Dogs lead in half, 2-1.
Two Sea Dogs runs proved to be enough for Teddy Stankiewicz and the Sea Dogs pitching staff as the Rumble Ponies offense continued to struggle with runners in scoring position.
Stankiewicz (5-5) tossed 6-1/3 innings, allowing just one run on five hits. After putting the potential tying and go-ahead runs on-base in the seventh, Sea Dogs Manager Carlos Febles summoned Ty Buttrey from the bullpen. He locked down his fourth save of the season by setting down Tomas Nido and L.J. Mazzilli.
The Ponies finished 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position, extending their mark to 0-for-14 in the series.  
Game 2 – Binghamton 2, Portland 1
The late-inning drama continued in Friday’s nightcap, with neither team scoring until the sixth inning.
Binghamton finally broke through with runners in scoring position, thanks to a run-scoring single by Kevin Taylor. Matt Oberste jolted the offense with a leadoff single, he was pinch-run for by Patrick Biondi. Peter Alonso then collected his third hit of the day to push Biondi to second. The Sea Dogs corner infielders, expecting a bunt, played in for the left-handed hitting Taylor. The Ponies left fielder stroked Elih Villanueva’s 0-1 pitch through the right side, giving Binghamton their first lead of the series and snapping an 0-for-18 with runners in scoring position.
The lead lasted just two batters, though. Danny Mars began the sixth by walking and then darting to second on an Adonis Uceta wild pitch. Josh Tobias followed with a single into right field, scoring Mars to tie the game, 1-1.
The Rumble Ponies had an answer in the top of the seventh by playing small ball. Guillorme kickstarted the rally with a leadoff walk, before moving to second on Kevin Kaczmarski’s sacrifice bunt. After taking third on a wild pitch, Guillorme touched home on David Thompson’s sacrifice fly, putting the Ponies ahead, 2-1.
Tyler Bashlor locked down his second Double-A save by striking out Cole Sturgeon with the tying run on second.
Uceta (1-0) garnered his first Double-A win despite giving up a run and a walk in his two innings of work.
Jacob Dahlstrand (5-4) coughed up Binghamton’s winning run, his third decision against Binghamton this season.  
The Rumble Ponies (77-53) try to punch their ticket to the 2017 Eastern League playoffs on Saturday evening when thye battle the Sea Dogs. Matt Harvey is scheduled to make his second Major League rehab appearance with Binghamton. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 PM at Hadlock Field. The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show can be heard starting at 5:45 on NewsRadio 1290 AM WNBF and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies channel on TuneIn.
POSTGAME NOTES: Binghamton has played seven straight one-run games…the Ponies are 3-for-their-last-42 with runners in scoring position…Mickey Jannis’ complete game in game one was the Rumble Ponies 14^th of the season
Tickets for Binghamton’s entire home schedule can be purchased at the NYSEG Stadium box office, online on www.bingrp.com and over the phone at (607) 722-FUNN.