Four-Run Seventh Inning, Collins 10th Double-A Home Run Lift Binghamton Past Portland

PORTLAND, Maine – The Binghamton Rumble Ponies (34-31) engineered a four-run seventh inning to pull past the Portland Sea Dogs (33-32), 5-2, at Hadlock Field on Wednesday night.

Binghamton right-hander Will Watson in his third start since coming off the injured list on August 27, pitched 3.1 innings and allowed just one earned run.

Portland took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Catcher Ronald Rosario walked to lead-off the frame and reached second base on a wild-pitch. With one out, left fielder Isiah Jackson delivered his first Double-A hit, an RBI double to give the Sea Dogs the lead.

On the other side, Portland left-hander Hayden Mullins, the reigning Eastern League Pitcher of the Week, tossed 6.0 innings and allowed just one earned run while striking out five.

Binghamton tied the game at 1-1 in the top half of the sixth inning. Second baseman Jefferson Rojas tallied a double with two outs for his second hit of the night Third baseman Jacob Reimer followed with an RBI base-hit, but was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double from right fielder Justin Gonzales.

In his Double-A debut, Binghamton right-hander Ryan Dollar (W, 1-0) pitched 2.0 scoreless frames and allowed just one hit with four strikeouts.

In the top half of the seventh inning against right-hander Aaron Nixon (L, 0-1), making his Double-A debut, Binghamton scored four runs on four hits to take a 5-1 advantage. Center fielder Chris Suero collected his second hit of the night to lead off the frame and advanced to third after stealing second and taking advantage of a throwing error by Rosario. Right fielder John Bay then drove in Suero with a single to tie the game at 1-1.

Binghamton took a 4-1 lead on one swing as left fielder Corey Collins belted a two-run home. Collins has 10 Double-A homers, 15 extra-base hits and has hit a home run in back-to-back games.

The fifth run of the inning was delivered from shortstop Marco Vargas as he delivered an RBI single to score first baseman Jamari Baylor who was hit by a pitch.

Right-hander Bryce Conley followed Dollar in the seventh and eighth innings and went 2.0 scoreless frames with just one walk added to his stat line along with two punchouts.

Portland right-hander Griffin Kilander settled down the scoring for Binghamton as he struck out four batters over 2.0 innings pitched with three punchouts in the ninth inning.

Binghamton out-hit Portland, 10-4, snapping a seven-game streak in which the Rumble Ponies had been out-hit by their opponents. The Rumble Ponies’ bullpen allowed just three hits over 5.2 innings, striking out nine while allowing one unearned run to right-hander Bryce Jenkins in the ninth inning.

Binghamton enters the final four games of the regular season 3.0 games behind the Reading Fightin Phils for the top spot in the Northeast Division.

If the Reading Fightin Phils beat the Erie SeaWolves on Wednesday night, Binghamton will trail by 3.5 games, if Erie pulls past Reading, Binghamton will move within 2.5 games of first place.

The Somerset Patriots entered Wednesday night within 2.5 games of first place as they host the Hartford Yard Goats.

With a Reading win on Wednesday night, Binghamton would be eliminated with any combination of one Reading win or one Binghamton loss over the final four games.

The Rumble Ponies continue a six-game series with the Portland Sea Dogs (Double-A-Boston Red Sox) on Thursday at Hadlock Field. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.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 homers in back-to-back games, with 10 at Double-A and has 15 XBH (2-for-4, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI)...Rojas 8th multi-hit game with Binghamton (2-for-4, R, 2B)...Bay reached base three times (2-for-3, R, RBI, BB)...Suero 21st multi-hit game (2-for-4, R, SB)...Vargas (1-for-4, RBI)...Dollar Double-A debut (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO)...Conley scoreless in four of last five appearances (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO)...