BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – Two runs in the top of the ninth proved to be the difference on Saturday night as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats defeated the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, 6-4.
New Hampshire took the game’s first four runs, coming from Forest Wall in the first, Santiago Espinal in the third and Vinny Capra as well as Nash Knight in the sixth.
Meanwhile, Binghamton squandered its early chances, seeing rallies dashed twice by baserunners caught off the bag. The Ponies knocked on the door in the fifth, getting a man on third with one out, but ultimately, they’d have to wait until the sixth before the got on the board. There they collected a pair of consecutive hits from Andres Gimenez and Sam Haggerty, with Haggerty’s double allowing Gimenez to come around from first.
Patrick Mazeika’s three-run homer in the eighth tied things up, setting the stage for New Hampshire’s ninth-inning heroics.
The Fisher Cats regained the lead thanks to Riley Adams’ first Double-A home run, with Danny Young collecting his first save of the year after retiring the side in the bottom of the ninth.
Johnny Cheshire (1-0) got the win despite his first blown save of the season, giving up three hits other than Mazeika’s blast. New Hampshire starting pitcher Zach Logue produced his third quality start of the year in the no decision, lasting the first six innings , allowing six hits while striking out five.
Adonia Uceta (0-2) was the loser of record, pitching the game’s last three innings for the ‘Ponies.
Both teams combined for 21 hits, with Espinal and Adams each contributing three for New Hampshire, while Haggerty grabbed three for Binghamton.
Adams also added an RBI earlier in the contest.
The two teams conclude their series at NYSEG Stadium on Sunday with first pitch scheduled at 2:05 p.m. Yennsy Diaz (2-3, 4.66 ERA) takes the mound for New Hampshire against Anthony Kay (3-2, 1.47 ERA).