PONY BATS RUMBLE EARLY 8-5

Pony Bats Rumble Early, 8-5 

BINGHAMTON, NY – The Binghamton Rumble Ponies grabbed the series-opener from the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, 8-5, Monday night at NYSEG Stadium. The Rumble Ponies exploded for six runs in the first inning and led the contest wire-to-wire. 

Following a perfect first frame from starter Joseph Shaw, the Rumble Ponies put together their biggest inning of the season so far. John Mora started the rally with a walk, before being pushed home on Jeff McNeil’s triple. Already leading 1-0, Binghamton’s first baseman Peter Alonso walked, putting two aboard for Patrick Mazeika. Binghamton’s catcher bashed Francisco Rios’ pitch over the right field fence, his second home run of the season earned the Ponies a 4-0 lead. Matt Oberste followed Mazeika’s footsteps by completing the first set of back-to-back home runs of Binghamton’s season. Oberste’s long ball, his second of the season, gave the Ponies a 5-0 advantage. Tim Tebow doubled in Jhoan Urena, capping the first-frame party at six runs.

Francisco Rios (0-1) recorded just one out before being replaced. He coughed up six earned runs on five hits and walked two. His winless streak, which started May 7, 2017 against Binghamton, was extended to 22 appearances.

The high-powered Fisher Cats offense didn’t touch Shaw until the fourth inning. After whiffing four batters through the first three innings without allowing a runner to reach third base, Shaw allowed three fourth-inning runs and was yanked before completing the inning. The frame began with five straight Fisher Cats reaching, including back-to-back home runs by Cavan Biggio and Max Pentecost. Gunnar Heidt’s run-scoring double play got Juan Kelly home, making it a 5-3 game.

Shaw’s three runs were all earned over his 3.2 innings. After walking one batter in his first two starts, the 24-year-old issued four free passes on Monday night.

A Levi Michael fifth-inning solo blast gave Binghamton an insurance tally. His leadoff dinger was his second of the homestand and of the 2018 season. 

The insurance was needed with the Fisher Cats bats not going down quietly. Facing Gerson Bautista in his return from the New York Mets, New Hampshire scratched across a pair in the sixth inning. Singles from Heidt and Davis allowed Guerrero Jr. to step to the plate with two outs. He mashed the Bautista offer off the wall in dead centerfield for a two-run double, slicing the deficit to 7-5.

Matt Oberste’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly concluded the scoring. His second RBI of the night scored McNeil from third. 

Eric Hanhold (2-0) was one of five Rumble Ponies pitchers used on Monday night. He twirled a scoreless seventh and eighth inning, striking out four Fisher Cats.

Binghamton (7-8) continues the three-game set on Tuesday night against the New Hampshire Fisher. RHP Andrew Church gets the ball for the Rumble Ponies against Fisher Cats RHP Jordan Romano with first pitch at NYSEG Stadium slated for 6:35 PM. The Horizons Federal Credit Union pregame show starts at 6:20 PM and can be heard on NewsRadio 1290 WNBF and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies channel on TuneIn.

POSTGAME NOTES:Patrick Mazeika and Matt Oberste’s back-to-back home runs was Binghamton’s first August 30, 2017 (Kevin Kaczmarski & Peter Alonso)…Tyler Bashlor has not allowed a run in 17 Double-A apperances (22.1 IP)…All nine Rumble Ponies starters reached base safely…Binghamton collected a season-best 11 hits