Mazeika's Efforts Not Enough in Finale Loss
HARTFORD, CT - Binghamton catcher Patrick Mazeika launched his second homer in as many games, but it was not enough to save the Rumble Ponies from a 2-1 loss to the Hartford Yard Goats on Thursday night at Dunkin Donuts Park. The Rumble Ponies mustered five hits in their fourth straight defeat.
For the second straight night, Binghamton jumped on the scoreboard first on the strength of Mazeika's bat. The Rumble Ponies backstop opened the fourth with solo shot deep over the right-field wall. His ninth longball of the season, and third in August, gave the Ponies a one-run lead.
The edge did not last long. Franklyn Kilome struck out the first two of the fourth, but surrendered back-to-back singles to Brian Mundell and Mylz Jones. Facing a full count, Nelson Molina brought both home by stroking a two-run double down the right-field line before getting nabbed attempting to stretch the hit into a triple.
Binghamton failed to muster a rebuttal against the Yard Goats bullpen. Sean Nolin took over in the sixth and tossed two scoreless innings without allowing a hit. Scott Griggs retired the heart of the Rumble Ponies order in the eighth. Matt Pierpont stepped around Mazeika's leadoff single in the ninth to lock down his league-leading 29th save.
Kilome (0-2) took his second loss with the Rumble Ponies. The righty struck out six, but was touched for two runs on four hits over five innings of work. Binghamton's bullpen closed the pitching tab with three stellar innings. David Roseboom tossed a perfect sixth before Stephen Villines fanned five over two scoreless innings.
The Rumble Ponies (60-68) open a three-game series in New Hampshire against the Fisher Cats on Friday at 7:05 PM. RHP Justin Dunn takes the mound for Binghamton. The Horizons Federal Credit Union pregame show starts at 6:50 PM and can be heard on NewsRadio 1290 AM WNBF and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies channel on TuneIn.
POSTGAME NOTES: Excluding the result of the Trenton-Reading game, Binghamton's elimination number slipped to two…Patrick Mazeika has gone 14-for-34 at the plate in August with three homers…Stephen Villines' five strikeouts were the most by a Rumble Ponies reliever since Gerson Bautista fanned RubberDucks on April 9