RUMBLE PONIES GAME NOTES: Game #31 Rumble Ponies (18-12) vs. RubberDucks (14-17) - 7:05 PM

BINGHAMTON RUMBLE PONIES (18-12), T-1st Eastern, --- GA (New York Mets)		AKRON RUBBERDUCKS (14-17), 4th Western, 5.0 GB (Cleveland Indians)
	Friday, May 12, 2017 • 7:05 PM NYSEG Stadium • Binghamton, NY RHP Donovan Hand (1-0, 4.74) vs. RHP Julian Merryweather (2-2, 3.45) NewsRadio 1290 AM WNBF AKRON BLANKS BINGHAMTON IN GAME ONE: Despite both teams receiving outstanding pitching on Thursday night, the RubberDucks found a way to break through with one fourth-inning run. Dorssys Paulino’s two-out single scored Mike Papi for the contest’s lone run. P.J. Conlon lasted a season-high eight innings, striking out six RubberDucks, but a combination of three Akron arms held Binghamton to a season-low two hits. Akron snapped a four-game losing streak to Binghamton with the win. BINGHAMTON  STARTER: RHP Donovan Hand makes his fourth Double-A start of the season. Despite winning one of his first three starts, the Rumble Ponies have been victorious each time Hand has toed the rubber. On May 7, the 31-year-old went seven innings against New Hampshire, giving up three earned runs in a 12-4 Binghamton win. The Hatton, Alabama native has received a team-high seven runs of support per game from the Binghamton bats. In six starts between Double-A and Triple-A, Hand is 2-2 with a 5.86 ERA this season.  AKRON STARTER: RHP Julian Merryweather gets the ball for the seventh time in 2017 and second against Binghamton. Merryweather and the RubberDucks beat the Rumble Ponies on April 24 at NYSEG Stadium, 5-2. The 25-year-old allowed just one earned run over 6.2 innings with six strikeouts. The fifth-round draft pick would win later than week on April 30, eventually garnering Eastern League Pitcher of the Week honors. Merryweather is in his second season with Akron and fourth as a professional. THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM? Despite it being just his fourth Double-A start of the season, Donovan Hand faces Akron for third time. In 12 innings against the RubberDucks, he’s allowed seven earned runs and struck out 12. While Binghamton won both games, and all three of Hand’s starts, Hand has not collected a win against Akron. This is Hand’s first season at the Double-A level since 2011 when he was a member of the Milwaukee Brewers organization playing for the Huntsville Stars.  QUACKING THE SCOREBOARD: The RubberDucks fourth-inning run was their first tally against Binghamton in 15 innings. The Rumble Ponies shut out Akron in their most recent meeting on May 3 at NYSEG Stadium. Prior to yesterday’s win, Akron had lost four consecutive games to Binghamton. CLOSE CALLS: All six games between Binghamton and Akron this season have been decided by three or fewer runs. Binghamton’s 4-1 win at Akron on April 26 is the largest margin of victory for either team in the season series. All six games have required a save. UP NEXT: Binghamton continues its eight-game home stand with a doubleheaderSaturday afternoon against Akron. Rumble Ponies RHP Corey Oswalt opposes RubberDucks LHP Thomas Pannone in game one, while game two’s pitchers are TBA.First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 PM at NYSEG Stadium.