BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – The Binghamton Rumble Ponies (33-29) were out-hit for the fifth time in the series but secured their fourth victory of the week, defeating the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (23-39), 3-1, at Mirabito Stadium on Saturday night.
Binghamton was out-hit 4-3 with two of their hits coming in the bottom of the first inning when they took a 2-0 lead. Against New Hampshire right-hander Danny Thompson Jr., (L, 1-3) left fielder Eli Serrano III reached on a fielder's choice followed by a walk from center fielder John Bay.
Then, designated hitter Corey Collins stepped up to deliver an RBI double that scored two runs behind an error from Fisher Cats center fielder Victor Arais. Collins has 12 extra-base hits over his 38 Double-A games.
New Hampshire right-hander Angel Obando entered in the second inning to replace Thompson Jr. and handed in 3.0 scoreless frames with three strikeouts and did not surrender one hit.
Binghamton got back in the hit column in a big way in the fifth inning to take a 3-0 lead against right-hander Fernando Perez. Third baseman Jefferson Rojas clobbered a solo home run, his eighth as a member of the New York Mets organization.
Rumble Ponies right-hander R.J. Gordon (W, 5-8) allowed just two-hits and no runs over 5.0 innings and it sent Binghamton’s pitching staff scoreless streak to 15 innings. In the sixth inning, New Hampshire got on the board to cut the lead to 3-1.
Catcher Aaron Parker launched a solo home run, his 19th of the season and his second of the series. Gordon finished the frame and finished 6.0 innings for the sixth time this season and for the sixth time in his last seven starts.
Left-hander Felipe De La Cruz replaced Gordon in the seventh inning, but after walking two batters across 27 pitches, right-hander Cristofer Gomez entered to get the final out.
Perez was taken out of the game with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, and replaced with right-hander Deveraux Harrison who retired four straight batters out of the bullpen between the seventh and eighth inning.
Binghamton right-hander Douglas Orellana (S, 4) pitched a scoreless ninth inning and tallied his fourth save of the season. The Rumble Ponies bullpen has not allowed a run in back-to-back games.
The Rumble Ponies sit 3.0 games back of first place in the Northeast Division after their win over New Hampshire on Saturday night. A loss by the Reading Fightin Phils to the Hartford Yard Goats on Saturday night would put Binghamton just 2.5 games back of first place.
The Somerset Patriots dropped Game 1 of their doubleheader with the Erie SeaWolves and sit 3.5 games back of first place. A Game 2 loss to Erie on Saturday night would give Binghamton sole possession of second place with seven games left to play in the regular season.
The Rumble Ponies close out a six-game series with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Double-A, Toronto Blue Jays) on Sunday at Mirabito Stadium. First pitch is set for 5:00 p.m and the game will be broadcast on MiLB.TV, News Radio 1290 AM & 92.1 FM, and on the WNBF News Radio App.
Postgame Notes: Rojas 8th home run as a member of the Mets organization in 25 games (1-for-4, R, HR, RBI)...Collins 12th XBH (1-for-4, 2B, RBI)...Vargas (1-for-3, BB, SB)...Gordon has pitched 6.0 innings in six times this season (6.0, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO)...Orellana scoreless in five of his last six appearances (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO).