Binghamton Scores Early to Win Rubber Match

The Binghamton Rumble Ponies defeated the Harrisburg Senators 5-3 Thursday afternoon at FNB Field. After falling behind 5-0 early, the Senators comeback fell short as they dropped the three-game series. 

Jeff McNeil opened the scoring in the first with a solo home run to right off Senators starter Wirkin Estevez to put the Ponies ahead 1-0.
The Ponies added their final four runs in the second on a pair of bases loaded walks and a run-scoring single by Jhoan Urena. 
Derek Self, Roman Mendez, Kaleb Fleck and Ismael Guillòn finished the game with seven and a third shutout innings, limiting the Rumble Ponies to four hits and two walks while striking out five. 
"The bullpen came in and gave us some much needed innings, especially going into the weekend with the doubleheader," Senators manager Matt LeCroy said. "They came up and put up zeroes and more importantly kept us in the game."
The Senators got on the board in the sixth. With Kelvin Gutierrez and Drew Ward on-base on a single and a double, Matt Reistetter singled in a pair to make it 5-2 Ponies.
The Senators plated their final run in the seventh when Gutierrez singled in Zach Collier, who singled to start the inning. 
Collier led off the ninth with a walk, but reliever Ryder Ryan retired the next three hitters to notch his first save.
Estevez (0-3) took the loss after allowing five runs on five hits while walking three across one and two-third innings. 
Copeland (4-0) earned the win with six innings of two-run ball.
"We didn't do a good job with runners in scoring position, but we never quit. We kept putting the pressure on the other team and just couldn't take advatange of it," LeCroy said. "It was a tough homestand, hopefully we can get on track in Richmond and start winning some more series."
The Senators embark on a seven-game road trip, beginning with a four-game series against the Richmond Flying Squirrels which starts Friday night. Logan Darnell starts for the Senators against Richmond starter Cory Taylor. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Diamond. The game can be heard on CBS Sports Harrisburg 96.5 & 95.3 FM and 1400 AM or at www.cbssportsharrisburg.com beginning at 6:50 p.m.