Rumble Ponies fall short in slugfest; need to win two straight to claim Eastern League title
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The Rumble Ponies continued to grab the momentum with clutch hits throughout the game Monday, but Binghamton couldn't overcome several late runs by the Erie SeaWolves in a 9-6 loss in Game 1 of the Eastern League Championship Series in front of 4,987 fans at Mirabito Stadium.
“We have to refocus and take this one pitch at a time. They believe in one another and it'll take one pitch at a time in Game 2,” said Binghamton manager Reid Brignac. “We have two games to go and we have to give it our best.”
Binghamton must win Game 2 on Tuesday, which is set for 6:35 p.m. at UPMC Park in order to force a third and deciding Game 3 on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. in Erie. A loss in either game would put the Rumble Ponies one win short of a title.
Here are four key moments from Monday:
Early start
Binghamton wasted no time jumping out to a 3-0 lead on the SeaWolves. Luisangel Acuna, the No. 1 prospect for the New York Mets, started the first inning with a base hit and went to second on a bad pickoff throw.
Jett Williams, another young prospect, followed with a walk. Kevin Parada then singled in a run and JT Schwartz beat out a double-play ball to make it 2-0 Ponies in the first inning. Rowdey Jordan and Rhylan Thomas each hit doubles in the second inning to give Binghamton a 3-0 lead as the Ponies seem to take the air out of the SeaWolves early on.
Game-changing home run
The last few SeaWolves playoff wins have featured a big-time home run. It was Jake Holton's turn on Monday as he turned a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 lead by blasting a two-out, two-run home run in the fifth inning. It was the first go-ahead home run while trailing for the SeaWolves since Game 1 of the ELCS in 2022.
Erie trailed Somerset 2-1 when Gage Workman crushed a two-run homer to give the 'Wolves the lead. Erie won the game 6-5 to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The game before that was the second game of the division series in Richmond when he crushed a three-run homer to break a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning. The 'Wolves went on to win the game 6-2 to clinch their first playoff series win.
Game-tying blast
The Ponies went quiet at the plate in the middle innings as the SeaWolves rallied to take a 6-3 lead. With the crowd trying to get Binghamton back in the game, the Ponies rallied in the sixth inning.
After a base hit and a walk put two runners on with two outs, Drew Gilbert hammered a three-run home run down the right-field line to tie the game and send the crowd into a frenzy. The Ponies seemed to have grabbed the momentum, but they didn't score the rest of the game.
Gunning down a runner
Binghamton's last big chance at winning the game came in the bottom of the eighth inning with the SeaWolves clinging to a 7-6 lead.
Speedster Jett Williams was on first base with two outs and Gilbert at the plate.
The crowd came to its feet expecting another Gilbert blast to give the Ponies the lead, but Alfonzo threw out Williams trying to steal second base to end the inning.
Contact Tom Reisenweber at treisenweber@timesnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @ETNreisenweber.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Binghamton needs back-to-back wins to claim Eastern League title
