BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – The Binghamton Rumble Ponies (30-28) scored three-runs on two errors in the seventh inning and defeated the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (22-36), 4-3 in the series opener Tuesday night at Mirabito Stadium.
Right-hander Gary Gill Hill made his fifth start as a member of the New York Mets organization and allowed one run in the first frame to give New Hampshire a 1-0 lead.
The Fisher Cats had three consecutive one out singles from right fielder Alexis Hernández, third baseman Dub Gleed and designated hitter Aaron Parker. First baseman Carter Cunningham delivered an RBI groundout to bring in Hernández but Gill Hill stranded two runners.
Gill Hill surrendered eight hits over 4.0 innings with four strikeouts and allowed his second earned run in the fourth inning. New Hampshire took a 2-0 lead on an RBI single from left fielder Matthew Vallee as he scored second baseman Tucker Toman who had a three-hit night.
Fisher Cats left-hander Mason Olson retired nine straight batters between the first and fourth inning but Binghamton finally got to him in the fifth inning to cut the New Hampshire lead to 2-1.
Catcher Chris Suero worked a lead-off walk and stole his 35th base to sit on second with one out. Right-hander Aaron Munson took the ball to face center fielder John Bay. On the third pitch of the at-bat, Bay won the battle with an RBI double. Bay has 28 hits in 30 Double-A games with 15 RBI and six doubles.
Right-hander Douglas Orellana pitched 2.0 scoreless frames for Binghamton with three strikeouts and has gone scoreless in four of his last five appearances.
The Rumble Ponies threatened again in the sixth inning. Shortstop Marco Vargas laced a one out single and stole his second bag of the night to raise his season total to 25. With two outs, third baseman Jacob Reimer walked, but Munson got Suero to pop out to first baseman Cunningham to end the frame.
New Hampshire right-hander Devereaux Harrison (L, 0-1) entered in relief in the bottom of the seventh inning. He sent left fielder Eli Serrano III to first on a lead-off walk, and then Bay hit a ground ball to Cunningham at first base, but Cunningham threw it over the shortstop Coffey’s head into left field to put runners on first and third with one out.
Bay stole his seventh base of the year to put two runners in scoring position for first baseman Corey Collins and he delivered a two-run double that squeaked down the right field line to give Binghamton a 3-2.
Binghamton right fielder JT Benson followed and laid down a bunt and third baseman Dub Gleed tossed the ball over Cunningham’s head for the second error of the inning and it scored Collins to make it 4-2.
Harrison retired the next three batters as Binghamton left one on base in a three-run frame.
Right-hander Carlos Guzman (W, 5-1) pitched a scoreless seventh inning for Binghamton with one strikeout.
Binghamton right-hander Brendan Girton allowed a lead-off single in the eighth inning to designated hitter Aaron Parker, but then Cunningham grounded into a double play and Girton notched a scoreless frame. It was the fourth straight scoreless outing for Girton.
In the top of the ninth inning right-hander Garrett Stratton (S, 6) surrendered a lead-off double to Toman and with two outs Vallee brought him in on a throwing error from Stratton to first base. With two outs Hernández singled to put the go-ahead run on the bases paths, but Gleed grounded out to end the game.
New Hampshire out hit Binghamton, 12-5, but the Ponies held on for their 30th win of the second half of the season.
The Rumble Ponies continue a six-game series with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Double-A, Toronto Blue Jays) on Wednesday at Mirabito Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:07 p.m. The game will be broadcast on MiLB.TV News Radio 1290 AM & 92.1 FM, and on the WNBF News Radio App.
Postgame Notes: Vargas 15th multi-hit game and now has 24 stolen bases (2-for-4, 2 SB)...Bay 6th Double-A double (1-for-4, R, 2B, RBI, SB)...Collins go-ahead two-run double (1-for-3, R, 2B, 2 RBI)...Suero two stolen bases to put his total at 36 (0-for-2, R, 2 BB, 2 SB)...Orellana (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO)...Guzman (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO)...Stratton scoreless in eight straight appearances with five saves in that span (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO)...Girton (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO).