MANCHESTER, N.H. – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats sent off the Binghamton Rumble Ponies with a 3-1 loss, concluding the season’s opening series with a split.
Binghamton managed just two hits on the day, both of which came from Barrett Barnes.
Outside of Barnes’ first hit, which came in the second inning, New Hampshire starting pitcher Yennsy Diaz did not allow a single baserunner, ending with five strikeouts over his six-inning performance. Even then, Diaz managed to pick off Barnes three pitches into Binghamton’s next at-bat.
New Hampshire relievers Tyler Saucedo and Kirby Snead also did not walk any Rumble Pony batters, with Barnes’ home run off Saucedo in the eighth preventing the shutout.
Joshua Palacios gave New Hampshire a home run earlier in the contest, a two-run blast to right in the fifth, and Chad Spanberger’s second double of the series brought Vinny Capra home in the seventh.
Forrest Wall also provided two of New Hampshire’s seven hits on the day.
Although not as effective as Diaz, Michael Gibbons put in a respectable start for Binghamton before leaving after the sixth, allowing five hits while walking four and striking out five New Hampshire batters.
The Fisher Cats now welcome the Reading Fightin’ Phils for a three-game set.
Andrew Sopko takes the mound for New Hampshire in the first game, with Reading sending Mauricio Llovera. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.