PONIES WALK TO VICTORY

Ponies Walk to Victory in Series Finale, 3-2

BINGHAMTON, NY – Binghamton drew three walks in their two-run eighth inning, earning a 3-2 series-ending win against the Bowie Baysox on Monday afternoon. The Rumble Ponies scored first and last on Memorial Day, nabbing three of four from the Baysox in their only NYSEG Stadium set this season. 

Despite scoring first for the first time in five games, Binghamton played from behind for most of the game. The Rumble Ponies broke the seal in the bottom of the third inning when Levi Michael capped a stretch of three straight hits by singling home Tim Tebow. Tebow kick started the third-inning rally by singling up the middle against Baysox starter Jayson Aquino. 

The Ponies advantage was not long lived, as Baysox third baseman Ryan Mountcastle blasted a two-run home run over the left field fence in the top of the fourth inning to give Bowie a 2-1 lead. Mountcastle finished the series with a hit and an RBI in each of the four games, including two home runs.

Marcos Molina was nearly flawless outside of the two-run home run. He tossed a season-high 6-2/3 innings, with a season-best nine strikeouts. He allowed just four hits excluding the fourth frame.

Aquino, meawhile, outlasted Molina and became the second straight Baysox starter to last seven innings. He coughed up just five hits, striking out four with one walk.

Binghamton’s big eighth inning occurred with Luis Gonzalez (1-1) on in relief for Aquino. For the second time in the series, an eighth-inning leadoff single by Jose Garcia would prove to be an important one. Pinch running for Garcia, Champ Stuart swiped second base to put the tying run in scoring position. After Jeff McNeil’s groundout pushed Stuart to third, Peter Alonso’s two-out walk extended the inning. With runners on the corner, Kevin Taylor delivered a game-tying single, plating Stuart from third. After issuing his second walk of the inning to Jhoan Urena, Gonzalez dished out a bases-loaded five-pitch walk to John Mora, giving Binghamton a 3-2 lead.

Eric Hanhold worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning to pick up his team-leading eighth save of the season, while David Roseboom (1-0) kept the deficit at one for Binghamton by twirling 1-1/3 frames of scoreless baseball

Binghamton (26-23) hits the road for a three-game series at Erie starting Tuesday evening. RHP Nabil Crismatt goes for the Rumble Ponies against SeaWolves RHP Sandy Baez, with first pitch at UPMC Park 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: David Roseboom has not allowed a run in 11-1/3 innings (9 appearances)…It’s the Rumble Ponies league-leading fourth win when trailing after seven innings…Eric Hanhold is tied for second in Eastern League saves (8)