Serrano III, Bay Homer in Back-to-Back Games as Binghamton Falls to Reading

READING, Pa. – The Binghamton Rumble Ponies (27-26) recorded their third consecutive multi-home-run game, but surrendered three homers in a 6-2 loss to the Reading Fightin Phils (31-21) on Wednesday night at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The Fightin Phils came out firing against right-hander Noah Hall (L, 1-3) in his fifth Double-A start. Shortstop Bryan Rincon led-off the contest with a solo home run to give Reading a 1-0 lead.

In the second inning, Binghamton tied things up against right-hander Cody Bowker (W, 2-0) who made his second Double-A start. Left fielder Eli Serrano III, who played in his second game since coming off the 60-day injured list, hit a solo home run. Serrano III has homered in back-to-back games in his return to the lineup.

Bowker finished 5.0 innings and allowed one run, across three hits with four strikeouts and did not walk a batter. The Reading offense gave him run support in the third inning to take a 5-1 lead.

Left fielder Bryson Ware reached on a throwing error from shortstop Mitch Voit, as Rincon was hit by a pitch. Center fielder Pedro Leon followed and hammered a three-run home run to make it 4-1 Fightin Phils. Then, with two outs in the frame, second baseman Aroon Escobar clobbered a solo home run to make it 5-1. Two of those four runs were earned to Hall.

In the series there have been 12 home runs between both teams combined. Binghamton homered five times on Tuesday and twice Wednesday as Reading blasted two homers Tuesday and three on Wednesday.

Hall surrendered an unearned run in the fourth inning as Ware delivered a sacrifice fly to score first baseman Raider Tello who singled to lead-off the frame and advanced to third base on a passed ball from Chris Suero.

Hall retired eight of his final nine batters to finish 6.0 innings. He allowed six runs, three earned runs and surrendered seven with six strikeouts and no walks.

After Reading left-hander Mavis Graves tossed a scoreless sixth inning, right-hander Wen-Hui Pan entered and immediately allowed a solo home run to center fielder John Bay in the seventh inning to make it 6-2. Bay has hit his first two Double-A home runs in back-to-back games.

Binghamton right-hander Bryce Conley handed in a scoreless bottom of the seventh inning with a strikeout as right-hander Brendan Girton did the same in the bottom half of the eighth inning.

Reading right-hander Christian McGowan tossed 2.0 perfect frames with two strikeouts to seal the victory for Reading. They hold a 4.5 game lead of first place over Binghamton with 16 games to go in the 2026 regular season.

The Rumble Ponies continue a six-game series with the Reading Fightin Phils (Double-A, Philadelphia Phillies) on Thursday at First Energy Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:45 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on News Radio 1290 AM & 92.1 FM, and on the WNBF News Radio App.

Postgame Notes: Serrano III 4th Double-A home run and homers in back-to-back games (1-for-4, R, HR, RBI)...Bay 2nd Double-A home run comes in back-to-back games (1-for-4, R, HR, RBI)...Voit (1-for-4)...Reimer (1-for-4)...Hall has gone 6.0 innings in three of five Double-A starts (6.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO)...Conley (1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO)...Girton (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO).