Ponies Drop Friday Night’s Game to Reading

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – The Binghamton Rumble Ponies (5-7) fell to the Reading Fightin Phils, 8-2, on Friday night at Mirabito Stadium. The Fightin Phils evened the series 2-2.

Rumble Ponies starter Joander Suárez (0-1) struck out four batters and only allowed one hit over the first three frames. Reading (5-8) then put up a three-spot in the fourth inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Carson Taylor and RBI single from Caleb Ricketts.

The Ponies got a run in the fifth on an RBI single from Rhylan Thomas to cut Reading’s lead to 3-1.

In the sixth inning, Reading added four more runs, highlighted by an RBI double from Jim Haley and two-run homer from Casey Martin against Rumble Ponies reliever Junior Santos.

With Reading ahead 7-1, Brandon McIlwain led off the sixth inning with a double for Binghamton. Later in the inning, José Peroza drove in McIlwain with an RBI single to cut Reading’s lead to 7-2.

The Fightin Phils added one more run in the ninth on an RBI single from Taylor that made it 8-2.

The Rumble Ponies left 11 runners on base and went 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

The Rumble Ponies will continue their six-game series with the Reading Fightin Phils (Double-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies) on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:05 PM and the game will be broadcast live on SNY, MiLB.TV, and Newsradio 1290 WNBF & 92.1 FM.

Postgame Notes: McIlwain went 3-for-4 with two singles and a double, which marked his fourth multi-hit game and first three-hit game of the season…Peroza extended his hitting streak to three games with two singles, an RBI, and a run scored…Thomas picked up his seventh hit of the series.