PONIES WIN OVER ERIE, 13-1

Offense Explodes in Erie, 13-1

BINGHAMTON, NY – The Binghamton Rumble Ponies slugged the Erie SeaWolves, 13-1, in Friday night’s series-opener at UPMC Park. Binghamton collected a season-best 13 runs on a season-high 12 hits with three home runs. The Rumble Ponies scored more than one run in five separate innings. 

Binghamton began its best batting night with their first four batters reaching base. After a hit by pitch to John Mora and a pair of walks issued to Jeff McNeil and Peter Alonso, Patrick Mazeika softly stroked a double down the left field line, giving Binghamton an early 2-0 lead.

In the third inning, the Ponies hopped back on starter Spencer Turnbull, pushing across two more runs. After a run-scoring double play groundout off Kevin Taylor’s bat, Jhoan Urena singled home Alonso for Binghamton’s second two-run frame in the first three innings. 

That was already enough for Mickey Jannis (2-0), who pitched into the sixth inning for his second straight win. The knuckleballer allowed six hits and whiffed five while walking one. The only run on his card was Dominic Ficocello’s RBI double in the bottom of the first inning. 

Turnbull (0-3) allowed a fourth-inning tally on Alonso’s RBI single and would be yanked after five frames. Despite being hit with the loss, it was Turnbull’s first time completing five innings in his four 2018 starts. 

Alonso’s incredible night, and beginning of the season, continued as the game progressed. In the sixth, he connected for a booming home run over the left-field wall, his team-leading fifth of the season. The Ponies first baseman reached base in each of his first four plate appearances. 

Binghamton continued to damage the SeaWolves bullpen after Turnbull’s exit. Following a two-run seventh inning, the Ponies rumbled for three more tallies in the eight. Mazeika connected for his third home run of the season, while Jhaon Urena’s two-run blast was his first Double-A dinger and capped the night’s scoring.

Daniel Zamora, Adonis Uceta, and Johnny Magliozzi combined to toss 3-2/3 innings of one-hit baseball out of the Binghamton bullpen. The trio struck out five, including Magliozz’s three ninth-inning K’s. 

Binghamton (9-9) continues its weeklong road trip on Saturday evening in Erie. The Rumble Ponies will battle SeaWolves RHP Kyle Funkhouser with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 PM. The Horizons Federal Credit Union pregame show starts at 5:50 PM and can be heard on NewsRadio 1290 WNBF and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies channel on TuneIn.

POSTGAME NOTES:Binghamton’s 2-3-4 hitters (Jeff McNeil, Peter Alonso, Patrick Mazeika) combined to go 8-for-14 with 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 runs, and 2 walks…Mazeika extended his hitting streak to a Rumble Ponies-best seven games…Binghamton has 19 home runs through 18 games (last year had just 7 after 18 games)…