Binghamton 5 - New Hampshire 2

MANCHESTER, NH – Barrett Barnes and Jason Krizan each drove in a pair of runs in their Rumble Ponies debuts to guide Binghamton past the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, 5-2, on Thursday night at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. Ponies starter Anthony Kay teamed up with four relievers to keep the Fisher Cats in check in the Opening Night victory.

Barnes contributed at the plate with his bat and his back. With runners at the corners in the second, the Ponies outfielder roped an 0-1 offering from Patrick Murphy into left to give Binghamton an early lead. With the bases full in the third, Murphy hit Barnes in the back with an 0-1 pitch, putting Binghamton up 3-0.

Staked to a three-run advantage, Kay faced his biggest challenge in the third when the Fisher Cats filled the bases on three singles. Kevin Smith, fresh off a 25-home run season last year, struck out to cap a six-pitch battle. The only run New Hampshire pushed across in the inning came home on an error by shortstop Andrew Gimenez.

Kay retired six straight before passing off to Joshua Torres for the final out of the fifth. Torres retired the heart of the Fisher Cats lineup in the sixth before New Hampshire ramped up the pressure in the seventh against Ryder Ryan. The Fisher Cats pulled to within a run on a fielding error at first by Patrick Mazeika. With two aboard, Joe Zanghi entered and retired Josh Palacios to preserve the lead.

Krizan gave Binghamton some breathing room in the eighth. With the bases loaded, he roped a two-run single into left field, bringing home Dario Pizzaro and Barnes.

Zanghi returned for the eighth and escaped a bases-loaded situation before Stephen Villines closed the door with a scoreless ninth to earn his first career Double-A save.

Torres (1-0) earned the official-scorer award win. Kay struck out four over 4-2/3 innings in the no-decision. He retired the final six batters he faced and held the Fisher Cats hitless in their final nine at-bats.

PC - Ed Delany

The Rumble Ponies (1-0) continue their first road series of the season on Friday at 6:35 PM. RHP Chris Mazza toes the rubber against RHP Hector Perez. 

POSTGAME NOTES: Binghamton won their fourth straight Opening Day game…Joshua Torres improved to 10-0 in his Double-A career…Will Toffey walked three times in five plate appearances