Diaz Puts Ponies in Daze in Series Finale
MANCHESTER, NH - New Hampshire starter Yennsy Diaz held the Binghamton Rumble Ponies to one hit over six scoreless innings in the Fisher Cats' 3-1 victory on Sunday afternoon at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. Diaz and two relievers combined for a two-hitter, forcing the Rumble Ponies to settle for a four-game series split.
Diaz wasted little time settling in for his Double-A debut. The righty set down the first four Ponies he faced before allowing a single to Barrett Barnes, a blemish he erased via pickoff. Diaz flipped into cruise control after nabbing Barnes and retired the final 13 batters he faced, keeping Binghamton off the bases through the end of the sixth.
The Fisher Cats backed Diaz's fine effort with strong defense. In the third, catcher Ryan Hissey sprinted in foul ground to snag Jason Krizan's pop up a step shy of the Rumble Ponies dugout. Later in the inning, shortstop Kevin Smith made a basket catch over his left shoulder to take a hit away from Kevin Kaczmarski.
The Fisher Cats offense scratched out enough against Mike Gibbons to send Diaz to the victory. New Hampshire stranded five runners in the first four innings against the Rumble Ponies righty before Josh Palacios snapped the scoreless draw with a two-run homer in the fifth. Chad Spanberger added an RBI double in the seventh off Ryder Ryan.
Barnes provided Binghamton's only offensive highlight by lacing a solo homer over the wall in right-center off reliver Tayler Saucedo in the eighth inning. Barnes' home run was his first in affiliated ball since September 4, 2017 when he was with the Indianapolis Indians.
Diaz (1-0) struck out five and faced the minimum in six scoreless innings to earn the win. Kirby Snead worked a perfect ninth for his first save.
Gibbons (0-1) took the loss, allowing two runs on five hits, but provided a respite for Binghamton's taxed bullpen by tossing six innings. He issued four walks and struck out five.
The Rumble Ponies (2-2) start a three-game series against the Sea Dogs in Portland on Monday at 6:00 PM. RHP Harol Gonzalez makes his season debut against LHP Dedgar Jimenez. The Horizons Federal Credit Union pregame show starts at 5:45 PM and can be heard on NewsRadio 1290 AM WNBF and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies channel on TuneIn.
POSTGAME NOTES: Binghamton's two hits were the fewest they have had in a nine-inning game since May 29, 2018 when the Erie SeaWolves held them to two hits…Barnes hit 12 home runs last season with Sugar Land (Indy)…at 2:00 in length, it was Binghamton's quickest nine-inning game since April 19, 2018 when they clocked in at 2:00 in a 5-2 loss to the Fisher Cats