Reading Completes Furious Comeback To Defeat Binghamton

BOX SCORE

(Reading, PA) - The Reading Fightin Phils (30-21: 60-60) defeated the visiting Binghamton Rumble Ponies (27-25; 54-67) in a Baseballtown Classic, 8-6. The Fightins grab the first game of the series and now hold a three-game lead atop the Eastern League Standings.

Reading played as the Iced Coffees for the 23rd annual morning game in Baseballtown.

Binghamton starter Gary Gill Hill set the tone for the visitors by striking out the side in the bottom of the first on only 15 pitches.

Eli Serrano (4) belted a solo home run for the game's first run in the second, giving the Ponies a 1-0 lead.

Jefferson Rojas (20) doubled the guests' lead with another solo home run coming in the top of the fourth.

The Fightins scattered three hits through the first four innings of play but were unable to push across any runs.

Chris Suero (17) swatted a two-run home run in the top of the sixth to extend the Binghamton lead to four, driving Reading starter Adam Seminaris out of the game. Seminaris tossed 5.2 innings allowing four runs while grabbing seven punchouts.

The R-Phils bats finally came alive in the bottom of the sixth. Three singles in a row loaded up the bases for Alex Binelas. Binelas delivered with a two-RBI double off the Redners Event Center to cut the guests lead in half. Carson DeMartini added another run on an RBI single but Reading could not muster another run leaving the score at 4-3.

Gill Hill was removed after the Binelas double. Gill Hill was charged with all three runs in the sixth and finished the day with seven strikeouts.

Back to back home runs from John Bay (1) and Corey Collins (7) boosted the Rumble Ponies lead back to three before an out was ever recorded in the seventh.

Reading fought back in the bottom of the seventh, starting with an Austin Murr leadoff triple. Murr was driven home by a Bryan Rincon RBI single, cutting the Ponies lead down to two.

Jack Dallas tossed two scoreless innings for the Fightins out of the bullpen, grabbing two strikeouts and only allowing one walk.

Reading completed the comeback in the bottom of the eighth. The inning got started with a missile off the bat of DeMartini (7) to make the lead one. A walk and single placed runners on the corners for the Fightins and allowed for Pedro Leon to score on a wild pitch to knot the game up at six. Dante Nori (3), fresh off the injured list, delivered the final blow, a two-run shot into the pool in right field to give Reading a 8-6 lead.

Estibenzon Jimenez was called upon in the ninth to close the game out and he did just that, grabbing his fifth save of the season and giving the Fightins the win.

Dallas (2-1) gets the win for his work. The righty gets his second win of the year and the first since May 5th.

Saul Garcia (1-2) is charged with the loss and a blown save. Garcia allowed four runs on three hits during his lone inning of work in the eighth.

Both teams combined for seven home runs on the day and 21 hits, with Binghamton hitting five long balls.

The Ponies stranded five men on base, while the R-Phils left seven men stranded.

Reading returns to the field on Wednesday against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies at 6:45 p.m. RHP Cody Bowker is scheduled to start for Reading, and he will go opposite RHP Noah Hall for Binghamton. Pregame radio coverage is underway at 6:25 p.m. on the Reading Fightin Phils Radio Network. A video stream is available via MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.

The Fightin Phils remain home through Sunday against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets. Wednesday is a Retro Animation Tribute with "Mickey Mouse" co-branded merchandise available. Thursday and Friday both feature fireworks. Thursday's show is presented by PA Virtual Charter School, Alvernia University, Members 1st Federal Credit Union, Berks Technical Institute, and Firetree Ltd. Saturday is a Post-Game Drone Show (Blue Ridge Remodeling) celebrating 60 Seasons of Phillies Affiliation and Celebrating "Swifties." The series ends Sunday with an appearance by the Phillie Phanatic (Berks County Intermediate Unit).

Tickets to all games are available at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL, or in person at the Customers Bank Ticket Office.

The 2026 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.