BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – The Binghamton Rumble Ponies (27-24) took five of six games from the Altoona Curve (19-31) and picked up their 18th victory of the month, powered by a go-ahead three-run home run from Corey Collins in the fourth inning in a 7-3 win on Sunday afternoon at Mirabito Stadium.
New York Mets right-hander Justin Hagenman (rib) made his second start on this rehab assignment and his first with Binghamton. In the first inning shortstop Keiner Delgado belted a lead-off home run to give Altoona a 1-0 lead.
Hagenman settled in and allowed just one earned run over 3.0 innings on four hits and struck out two batters.
New York Mets infielder Mark Vientos (right-hand fracture), played in his second game on this rehab assignment and went 0-for-3.
Binghamton took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning against right-hander Peyton Stumbo (L, 2-11). Shortstop Jefferson Rojas mashed a two-run home run, his third of the series and his second off of Stumbo. Binghamton has now homered in eight straight games.
Altoona added a run in the third inning to tie the game at 2-2. Left fielder Titus Dumitru doubled to lead-off the frame and reached third base on a passed ball before center fielder Lonnie White Jr. delivered a sacrifice fly.
The Rumble Ponies stormed back for a three-run fourth inning to take a 5-2 lead. Catcher Chris Suero doubled with two outs, center fielder John Bay, who had a two-hit game, walked, and then left fielder Corey Collins blasted a go-ahead three-run home run. Collins hit two-three run home runs in the series.
Right-hander Gabe Davis (W, 1-0) tossed 4.0 innings in relief which matched a career-high for the eighth time in his professional career. Davis struck out seven batters and allowed one run that was not earned.
Binghamton led 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning against right-hander Jake Shirk, when second baseman Mitch Voit tallied a two-run single. It capped off the day for Voit, his ninth multi-hit game and he now has 31 hits in 18 games at Double-A.
Right-handers Douglas Orellana and Saul Garcia both threw scoreless frames in the eighth and ninth inning to shut the door for the victory.
Binghamton has homered in eight straight games and now hold a 45-31 record when they hit a home run. They have also notched at least two home runs in six of their last 13 games.
The Rumble Ponies open up a six-game series with the Reading Fightin Phils (Double-A, Philadelphia Phillies) on Tuesday at First Energy Stadium. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. and the game will be broadcast on News Radio 1290 AM & 92.1 FM, and on the WNBF News Radio App.
Postgame Notes: Collins goes 6-for-16 in the series with 6 RBI and 2 HR (2-for-3, R, HR, 3 RBI, BB)...Rojas 3 HR in the series (1-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI)...Voit 9th multi-hit game at Double-A (2-for-4, R, 2 RBI)...Bay (2-for-3, R, BB)...Suero (1-for-4, R, 2B)...Davis matches career-high in innings pitched and sets a Mets organization high in innings and strikeouts (4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO).