Benson’s 4 RBIs, Rojas’ Homer, Gabrysh’s 1st Double-A Win Push Binghamton Past Altoona

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – The Binghamton Rumble Ponies (25-24) won their 16th game of August, powered by a four-RBI night from JT Benson, as they defeated the Altoona Curve (19-29), 8-5, on Friday night at Mirabito Stadium.

New York Mets infielder Mark Vientos played in the first game of this rehab assignment and hit third as Binghamton's designated hitter. Vientos, who is recovering from a right-hander fracture, went 0-for-2 with a BB over five innings in the lineup.

Binghamton right-hander Luke Gaybrush (W, 1-0), who was acquired on August 3 from the Philadelphia Phillies for LHP Brooks Raley, made his Double-A debut. He threw 54 pitches across 5.0 innings and allowed four runs with four strikeouts. Gabrysh at one point retired seven straight batters.

The Rumble Ponies took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning against left-hander Connor Oliver (L, 2-6) who struck out eight batters in 3.2 innings. Second baseman Jefferson Rojas clubbed a two-run home run. Rojas has three home runs as a member of the Mets organization and 18 on the season.

Binghamton added three runs in the fourth inning to take a 5-0 lead against Oliver and left-hander Cristhian Tortosa. Center fielder John Bay singled, first baseman Corey Collins walked and then right fielder JT Benson drove them both in with a single. Benson matched a career-high with four RBI tonight, his most at Double-A.

Later in the frame Rojas laced an RBI single, as he drove in three runs and has 17 RBI over his first 14 games with Binghamton.

Altoona stormed back for four runs in the fifth inning to make it a 5-4 game. First baseman Callan Moss hit a lead-off solo home run on the first pitch and later in the inning catcher Samuel Escudero blasted a three-run home run off of Gabrysh.

Binghamton scored two in the bottom of the fifth inning to get back in front 7-4. Benson delivered a sacrifice fly and left fielder Vincent Perozo hammered an RBI single but was thrown out at second base.

In the seventh inning, Altoona scored a run to make it 7-5 against right-hander Cristofer Gomez. Left fielder Will Taylor tripled and then Escudero grounded out to bring him in. Right-hander Bryce Jenkins pitched a scoreless eighth inning for Binghamton and has gone scoreless in six of his first seven Double-A outings.

The Rumble Ponies took an 8-5 lead in the seventh inning as Benson capped off his career night with an RBi single. Right-hander Garrett Stratton (S, 4) notched his fourth save and secured Binghamton's 16th win of August.

The Rumble Ponies continue a six-game series with the Altoona Curve (Double-A, Pittsburgh Pirates) on Saturday at Mirabito Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:07 p.m and the game will be broadcast on MiLB.TV, News Radio 1290 AM & 92.1 FM, and on the WNBF News Radio App.

Postgame Notes: Benson matches career-high 4 RBI (2-for-3, 3 RBI)...Rojas third home run as member of Mets organization (2-for-5, R, HR, 3 RBI)...Bay (1-for-3, 2 R, BB, 2 SB)...Perozo (1-for-3, R, RBI, BB)...Gabrysh (5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO)...Gomez (2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO)...Jenkins (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO)...Stratton (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO).