BINGHAMTON, NY – The Rumble Ponies season-long losing skid stretched to seven games Tuesday night at ARM & HAMMER Park, falling to the Thunder 7-3. Despite scoring first for the first time in six games, Binghamton’s offense only plated runs in one other frame the rest of the night. Trenton has won three of four in the 2018 regular-season series.
Batting first and playing in just his fourth affiliated baseball game, Josh Allen started Tuesday’s series opener by roping Trevor Stephan’s second pitch down the left field line and off the foul pole. Allen’s first home run of the season gave the Rumble Ponies just their second lead in the last seven games.
With Scott Copeland making his 175thcareer minor league start, the Rumble Ponies advantage lasted only until the bottom of the second inning. A leadoff double by Gosuke Katoh was followed by a Mandy Alvarez walk, putting two aboard for Devyn Bolasky. His groundout pushed both runners into scoring position. With Jhalan Jackson at the dish, Copeland issued two wild pitches, allowing both Katoh and Alvarez to score, earning Trenton a 2-1 lead.
The Thunder tacked on another tally in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead. Bolasky’s one out triple to deep center field, pushed home Alvarez, who reached on a fielders’ choice.
Copeland (4-2) was knocked out of the game during Trenton’s three-run sixth inning. Singles by Abiatal Avelino and Ryan McBroom eventually set the stage for a costly Binghamton error. With one out, Alvarez hit a groundball that could have been a double play ball, but instead glanced off of Levi Michael’s glove and ricocheted into left field. The blunder allowed one to score and kept the inning alive for the Thunder. After a Bolasky single and Diaz double, it’d be a three-run four-hit inning with eight Trenton batters seeing the plate.
Stephan (2-2), meanwhile, only tossed five innings, but gave up just three hits and one run. He struck out six Rumble Ponies and walked two.
Tim Tebow closed the gap to 6-3 in the seventh inning behind a two-run double into left centerfield. He finished 2-for-4 with two doubles and has three two-baggers in the last two games.
Avelino capped the scoring in the bottom of the seventh, launching his sixth home run of the season off of David Roseboom
POSTGAME NOTES: Binghamton’s longest losing streak since May 2016…First time in Scott Copeland’s career giving up at least 10 hits in back-to-back starts…Copeland eclipsed 1000 career minor league innings pitched in the first inning…Allen’s home run is Binghamton’s 67th this season, surpassing the 2017 Rumble Ponies regular-season total
4 comments:
Three doubles in last 5 at bats for Tim Tebow - just sayin'.
With Jeff and Pete off to the Land of Slot Machines, someone has to step up. Is that someone Tebow?
Around the Mets Diamond
1. Don't count Mr. Tebow out Tom and Mack! This ain't over yet and that elusive Wizard of Oz door may be opening for him later in 2018, my guess.
2. The "BAM BAM Boys" were 3 for 10 at the plate with two RBI's last night. Is was actually a slow night for them, today's another game.
3. Dominic Smith was 3 for 5 at the plate (doubled)and was very close to being four for five but got robbed on a hit by 'Rado infield. Dominic is knocking hard now on that "BAM BAM Boys" door for his entry. He's close and it is great to see happening for him. Dominic is a cool character, unfazed by the media hype, and he has that quick, smooth swing a fan likes to see. Dominic is the perfect all around player for the NYC apple crowd. Very happy that he is here now!
4. I am a big fan of Seth Lugo and the four starters ahead of him right now in the Mets rotation. His start two outings prior to last night spoiled me some I think. That start was one of the top five starts of 2018 by a NY Mets starter and Seth was unbelievable in it. I try to compare that start to his subsequent next two and it is significantly superior. What made that start so unbelievable were three things: 1. Seth had 97/98 mph speed on his fastball versus 92/93 last night 2. Seth was brushing back key opponent batters as if he was Bob Gibson circa 1970 St. Louis Cardinals. Seth kept pretty much all the batters totally off balance in that start. He was absolutely magical in it. 3. Seth really had location going on most all this prior outing.
So What Next McGoo?
Well, I think the bullpen may actually be Seth Lugo's best niche on this NY Mets team. He and Gsellman are too big a part of this team's bullpen and I have some concern about Seth's mph slowdown lately regarding his fastball. The Mets cannot afford to lose Seth to injury and often the fastball slowdown is a lead indicator to this situation.
The NY Mets just called up big righty starter Chris Flexen. It's a good move. I am hoping that Dave and Mickey can tweak Chris a little more and really give him their attention because Chris is close to sticking here I believe, and he could be that perfect number five guy in this rotation.
On Jason Vargas
Might send him down to Vegas with the intention of making him a lefty long reliever. Might bring up one from the list of these relievers: Dave Roseboom, Eric Hanhold, Tyler Bashlor, or Kyle Regnault.
Regarding Jeff McNeil and Peter Alonso
Ain't it great to see these two Mets players doing so well this season. It is no fluke either.
Granny May, the kid core is finally takin' shape in Queens and it is going to be really somethin' glorious once complete!
Gotta' believe!
- Jed C.
Anon -
You should write a weekly 'From The Desk" post here on MMs...
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