(Reading, PA) - The Reading Fightin Phils (63-61, 33-22) swept the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (55-70, 28-28) in a doubleheader on Saturday. With the victory and Somerset's loss, Reading's lead in the Eastern League Northeast Division is up to 3.5 games, and the Fightin Phils magic number is 10 with 13 games to play.
Game One
The Rumble Ponies took an early 1-0 lead, as Chris Suero hit an RBI single to score Marco Vargas. The Fightin Phils answered in the home first inning with a leadoff home run to left-center field off the bat of Bryan Rincon. The Phillies No. 5 prospect leads all of Minor League Baseball with nine leadoff home runs.
Corey Collins gave Binghamton a 2-1 lead in the top of the second, with a blast over the right-field wall for his eighth Double-A home run. Jefferson Rojas followed with a solo shot in the third, giving the Rumble Ponies a 3-1 lead.
Caleb Ricketts retaliated with another long-ball, his tenth of the year onto the Redner’s Event Center veranda in right field. Ricketts went 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored for the Fightins.
Reading starter Reese Dutton allowed three runs on five hits and walked four. Former Phillies draft-pick Luke Gabrysh pitched 3.2 innings, allowed five runs and struck out three for Binghamton.
The Fightins took advantage of Binghamton’s relief struggles in the home fourth inning, putting a three-run lead on the board. After two walks and a single, the bases were loaded for Bryan Rincon. A wild pitch by Dakota Hawkins allowed Carson DeMartini to cross the plate to tie the game. Hawkins allowed two more runs in the inning, walking in a run and a hit batter, to give the Fightin Phils a 5-3 edge.
Reading’s bullpen was solid in relief of Dutton, as Jack Dallas, Christian McGowan and Estibenzon Jimenez combined 3.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Dallas earned the win (3-1) and Estibenzon the save (6), while Gabrysh suffered the loss (1-1).
Game Two
The Fightin Phils got the scoring started in the bottom of the second, thanks to an RBI double by Bryson Ware. Reading took a 1-0 lead.
From there, pitching took the reins for both starters. Luke Russo tossed a scoreless five innings, allowing five hits with six punchouts. For the Ponies, RJ Gordon went six innings, allowed three runs and struck out six.
Strong defense led the Fightins to their second victory. In the fourth, Carson DeMartini robbed JT Benson of a base hit with a pick at third base. Raylin Heredia also flashed some leather in the fifth with an outfield assist, taking away a double from Jamari Baylor.
The Ponies threatened in the top of the 5th with the bases loaded, but did not score. Raider Tello added two insurance runs in the sixth, with a two-run double, scoring Heredia and DeMartini.
Russo earned the win (11-8), and Gordon (4-8) the loss, and Wen-Hui Pan earned the save (2), while Gordon suffered the loss (4-8).
Reading returns to the field on Sunday against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies at 5:15 p.m. LHP Adam Seminaris will start for Reading, with RHP Gabe Davis set to start for Binghamton. Pregame radio coverage is underway at 4:55 p.m. on the Reading Fightin Phils Radio Network. A video stream is available via MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.
The series ends Sunday with an appearance by the Phillie Phanatic (Berks County Intermediate Unit). Tickets to all games are available at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL, or in person at the Customers Bank Ticket Office.
The 2026 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.