Ponies’ Bats Explode Behind Santos’ Dominant Outing to Claim Series Opener in Altoona

ALTOONA, Pa. – Junior Santos tossed a career-high eight innings and the bats exploded for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (23-22) on Tuesday night in the series opener against the Altoona Curve, as the Ponies won 10-3 at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The Ponies have won a season-high five-straight games.

Santos went eight innings and struck out five batters, allowing just two runs without issuing a walk. The 21-year-old right-hander had gone seven innings four different times in his career prior to this season, but dominated and set a new career high in innings pitched on Tuesday.

Binghamton’s offense exploded, highlighted by Agustin Ruiz’s grand slam and Luke Ritter’s two homers.

Binghamton was ahead on Altoona (22-22) 2-1 heading into the fifth, before putting up a five-spot in the frame. The first six batters in the inning reached base, with Ruiz ripping a grand slam to right field to extend the Ponies’ lead to 7-1.

With the Ponies up 7-2 in the seventh inning, Ritter hit his first home run of the night to give Binghamton a 9-2 lead. Ritter homered again to lead off the ninth inning to put Binghamton up 10-2.

Quinn Brodey made his Double-A pitching debut for the Ponies in the ninth inning and struck out two batters, while allowing a solo homer.

The Rumble Ponies will continue their series with the Curve (Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates) on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 6:00 PM and pregame coverage gets underway at 5:45 PM on the WNBF Rumble Ponies Radio Network.

Postgame Notes: Santos’ eight-inning outing is tied with Mike Vasil for the longest of the season for Binghamton…Ruiz’s grand slam was Binghamton’s second of the season and first since Matt Rudick’s on April 6^th…Brandon McIlwain extended his hitting streak to 13 games…Rudick reached base three times.