Paez Pushes Ponies to Walk-Off Win
BINGHAMTON, NY - Mike Paez ripped a walk-off single in the ninth to cap the Binghamton Rumble Ponies' 4-3 come-from-behind win over the Erie SeaWolves in their home opener on Thursday night at NYSEG Stadium. Binghamton erased a one-run deficit in their final turn at the plate and extended their winning streak in home openers to five games.
Down 3-2, the Rumble Ponies filled the bases to open the ninth on a single and a pair of walks issued by Mark Ecker. Dario Pizzano tied the game by rolling an RBI groundout to first. Paez followed by stroking Ecker's 2-2 offer into left field, plating pinch-runner Arismendy Alcantara with the game-winning run.
The Rumble Ponies were forced to play from behind after letting a two-run lead slip away in the seventh. The SeaWolves used a pair of two-out, run-producing hits from Cam Gibson and Troy Montgomery off Joshua Torres to turn a deficit into a lead.
Anthony Kay started for Binghamton and exited in the fourth inning after needing 81 pitches against 14 batters. He stepped around three walks without allowing a run in 3-2/3 innings in the no-decision.
Binghamton reliever Harol Gonzalez, pitching in relief after three straight postponements forced him to skip a start, was sharp in his season debut. He stranded two inherited runners in the fourth before tossing two more scoreless. Zack Jones earned the win with a scoreless ninth.
Binghamton's two-run ninth took a potential win from Erie starter Alex Faedo. The righty struck out eight over six innings. Binghamton scored twice against him, highlighted by Barrett Barnes' solo homer in the fifth, his second long ball in as many games.
The Rumble Ponies (3-2) continue their first homestand of the season on Friday at 7:05 PM. RHP Chris Mazza takes the hill against RHP Spenser Watkins. 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: Binghamton collected six walk-off victories in 2018…Binghamton has won each of their series openers this season…the Rumble Ponies welcomed 4,317 fans for their home opener