(Reading, PA) - The Reading Fightin Phils (20-12: 50-51) split the doubleheader with the visiting Binghamton Rumble Ponies (10-22; 37-64), falling 10-5 in game one and winning game two, 5-4. Reading clinched the series over Binghamton winning four out of the first five games played, and they still remain atop the Eastern League Standings.
Game 1:
Binghamton grabbed the first run of the day on a sacrifice fly from Chris Suero in the top of the first. D’Andre Smith (2) added on with a three-run homerun to give the guests a 4-0 lead before Reading got to bat.
Bryan Rincon (18) responded with a solo home run to start the game off for the R-Phil offense and reduce the lead to three. Rincon has home runs in back-to-back games for the third time this season.
Nick Lorusso launched another three-run shot in the second to extend the Ponies lead to 7-1.
The Fightins chipped away at the deficit in the bottom of the second. Wuilfredo Antunez hit a sacrifice fly to bring Caleb Ricketts across and trim the deficit to five.
There was no scoring in the third and fourth innings, as both pitching staffs settled into the game.
Adam Seminaris’ race was run after only three innings for Reading. The southpaw allowed seven runs, all of them earned, on seven hits. Seminaris did collect six strikeouts, but his ERA jumped to 3.27 as a result.
Alex Binelas and the Fightins were the next to strike. Binelas (22) roped a two-run homerun over the wall in right field and continued to trim down the Binghamton lead. The Wisconsin native finished game one going two for three with a walk.
The Ponies responded immediately in the top of the sixth with another Lurusso home run, this time a two run shot. Lorusso finished the day going two for three, with two home runs, a walk and five RBIs.
Noah Hall’s debut start for Binghamton was finished after five innings. Hall allowed four runs on six hits while grabbing six strikeouts.
The R-Phils kept fighting in the bottom of the sixth through Caleb Ricketts. Ricketts (8) smoked a line drive into the pool in right field to bring the score to 9-5, still in favor of the guests.
Matt Rudick added the final dagger in game one, sending a solo home run rocket out into the pool area in right field, leaving the score 10-5 for Binghamton.
Hall (1-0) grabs the win in his Double-A debut. It is his fourth win of the season across multiple levels of minor league baseball.
Seminaris (9-7) is handed the loss. The 27-year-old is given back to back losses on his starts for the first time since June.
Both teams combined for seven home runs and 19 hits in a power-filled affair in game one.
Binghamton stranded six men on base and went 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
Game 2:
Reading got the ball moving first in game two, plating two runners in the bottom of the first. Aroon Escobar and Wuilfredo Antunez each collected one RBI for their part in the hot start.
Gabriel Rodriguez was relieved from his start after only one inning for the Ponies. Rodriguez allowed two earned runs on two hits and took 30 pitches to get through the first.
Pedro Leon (10) took the first pitch of the bottom of the third out to left field for a solo home run and extended the R-Phil lead to 3-0. The home run party wasn't over, as Escobar (7) followed up with a two-run homer of his own, pushing the lead to five. Escobar reached base all three times in game two, collecting two hits and a walk.
Reading starter Braydon Tucker was perfect through 4.1 innings but had his bid broken up on a Billy Amick single.
Tucker was lifted after five innings. The righty only allowed one hit, no walks and struck out five batters, allowing for his ERA to drop to 3.03.
Binghamton finally got their first run of the game in the sixth through a John Bay RBI double to right center field. R-Phils reliever Jack Dallas limited the damage to one run, and picked up three strikeouts in the inning.
Rumble Ponies infielder Wyatt Young was called upon to pitch the bottom of the sixth and produced a one-two-three inning for the guests.
Binghamton continued to knock in the top of the seventh, and it came through Amick with a two-run homerun to reduce the lead to two. One more run would cross the plate but it wouldn't be enough as Reading held on to win 5-4. Christian McGowan picked up a save for his work in the seventh.
Tucker (7-6) gets the win. The 27 year-old now has 78 strikeouts which surpasses his strikeout total from last year (75) in 18 fewer innings.
Rodriguez (3-3) is given the loss. The righty has picked up two losses against the R-Phils this series
Reading returns to the field on Sunday against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies at 5:15 p.m. RHP Reese Dutton gets the start for Reading, and he will go opposite TBA 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 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.