(Reading, PA) - The Reading Fightin Phils (49-50, 19-11) walked off the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (36-63, 9-21) for the second time in three nights, this time in 6-5 fashion. After going three and a half months without a walk-off, the Fightins have clinched two of their three wins this week in walk-off fashion and have won five games in a row.
Binghamton jumpstarted the scoring for the third game in a row, this time pushing their first runs across the plate in the third frame. Chris Suero (13) lifted a ball to right-center field, carrying it over the wall for a solo home run. Nick Lorusso (17) followed him up, hitting a ball in the same spot to mark back-to-back home runs for the Rumble Ponies.
This marked the second time this year that the Ponies have recorded back-to-back homers, with the first time coming on May 19 against the Richmond Flying Squirrels. The Mets’ Double-A affiliate held a 2-0 lead after the top of the third.
Reading found the equalizer in the bottom of the fourth stanza, as Alex Binelas (21) throttled a two-run home run to left field, scoring Raylin Heredia (Phillies’ no. 29 prospect). Binelas leads all R-Phils hitters in homers, and he has already eclipsed 20 homers in a season for the first time since the 2022 campaign.
Binghamton responded in the fifth frame with some clutch hitting, as Kevin Parada stepped up with runners on first and second base with two outs. Parada ripped a two-RBI single through the right side of the infield, scoring both Suero and Jose Ramos.
The Fightins answered in the bottom half of the inning. Bryan Rincon (17) whalopped a solo home run to right field, reaching the roof of the Redner’s Event Center. This made the ball game 4-3.
The Rumble Ponies found some insurance in the eighth inning on a JT Schwartz (10) home run to right field. It was Binghamton’s third long ball of the evening, all of them going to the opposite field. This bolstered the Ponies’ lead to 5-3.
The Fightin Phils clawed back in the bottom half of the inning, as Alex Binelas pulled an RBI single to right field, scoring Heredia and making the score 5-4.
Reading found more magic in the ninth inning, as Caleb Ricketts and Luke Ritter compiled back-to-back singles. Riley Tirotta pushed a productive groundout up the right side of the infield, scoring Ricketts. Binghamton closer Garrett Stratton then intentionally walked Rincon to face Pedro León. León proceeded to smack a ball to right field, plating Ritter for the team’s second walk-off of the week.
Estibenzon Jimenez (5-0) got the win for the R-Phils, logging 1.2 shutout innings and allowing just one hit.
Stratton (1-4) blew his second save of the week, giving up two runs on three hits while recording a pair of outs.
Reading leads the Eastern League-Northeast Division by 2.5 games and has won five straight contests.
Reading returns to the field on Saturday against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies for a doubleheader beginning at 4:30 p.m. LHP Adam Seminaris gets the start in game one for Reading, and RHP Braydon Tucker will start game two, and they will go opposite RHP Noah Hall and RHP Bryce Conley for Binghamton. Pregame radio coverage is underway at 4:10 p.m. on the Reading Fightin Phils Radio Network. A video stream is available via MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.
The Fightin Phils remain home through Sunday against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets. Saturday is a Harry Potter-themed Carpenter MEGA Blast Fireworks, thanks to International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 429. The series ends Sunday with a R-Phils Mascot Band T-Shirt Celebrating 25 Seasons of the Mascot Band for the first 2,000 kids, sponsored by Ron Procopio Custom Guitars, Asher's Chocolate Co., Reading Fire Department Paramedics and Berks County Department of Agriculture/Bountiful Berks.
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.