Trenton 9 - Binghamton 1

Press Release:

TRENTON, NJ – Thunder infielder Mandy Alvarez blasted a grand slam in Trenton’s seven-run third inning to sink the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, 9-1, on Saturday night at ARM & HAMMER Park.

Yoenis Céspedes appeared in his second game with the Rumble Ponies on his Minor League rehab assignment. The New York Mets outfielder racked up a pair of doubles in two plate appearances before being replaced. Céspedes roped a two-bagger down the left-field line in the first and placed another double close to the same spot in the third.

The Thunder bats roared to life in the third against Binghamton starter Nabil Crismatt. With the bases full, Zack Zehner laced a two-run double off the left-field wall to put Trenton on the board. Following a run-producing groundout and a pair of walks, Alvarez launched a grand slam over the left-field wall. Crismatt allowed another run in the fourth before exiting the game.

Despite the offensive production from Céspedes, the Rumble Ponies could not muster much against Trenton starter Dillon Tate. The righty surrendered back-to-back hits to start the game, but battled back to keep Binghamton off the board in the first. The trio of outs opened a stretch in which Tate retired 14 of 15 batters.

Binghamton’s lone offensive highlight against Tate came in the fifth. Champ Stuart worked a nine-pitch at-bat before launching Tate’s payoff pitch over the left-field wall for this third home run of the season.

Crismatt (7-3) allowed eight runs (six earned) on six hits over four innings, his shortest outing of the season. Corey Taylor tossed a season-high three innings without allowing a run before Austin McGeorge was touched for a run in the eighth.

Tate (4-2) struck out five over six innings to earn the victory.

POSTGAME NOTES: Binghamton’s two losses to open the series secure a series loss, ending a stretch of four straight series wins...the Rumble Ponies have allowed seven home runs in the series…Binghamton has dropped five straight to Trenton, dating back to last year’s Eastern Division Championship Series