RUMBLE PONIES GAME NOTES: Game #1

BINGHAMTON RUMBLE PONIES (0-0), Eastern Division (New York Mets)		New Hampshire Fisher Cats (0-0), Eastern Division (Toronto Blue Jays)
	Thursday, April 4, 2019 • 6:35 PM Northeast Delta Dental Stadium • Manchester, NH LHP Anthony Kay (‘18: 7-11, 4.26) vs. RHP Patrick Murphy (‘18: 10-5, 2.65) Broadcast: NewsRadio 1290 AM WNBF, MiLB.TV

OPENING DAY: Binghamton is set to open its 28^th season in franchise history. The Binghamton Mets won the first Opening Day game in team history on April 9, 1992, beating the Harrisburg Senators 4-1 on the road. This year marks the third season in which the Double-A Mets will play as the Rumble Ponies.

BINGHAMTON STARTER: LHP Anthony Kay will make his Double-A debut in an Opening Day start. The lefty from Long Island split last season between Columbia (Low-A) and St. Lucie (High-A), making 23 starts. After being drafted in the first round in 2016 out of UConn, he did not make his pro debut until 2018 due to Tommy John surgery.

FAMILIAR STARTING POINT: The Rumble Ponies open the season in Manchester, New Hampshire for the second time in the last three seasons. Binghamton kicked off the 2017 season at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium by sweeping a doubleheader from the Fisher Cats following consecutive postponements. Binghamton plays New Hampshire on Opening Day for the third in four seasons (2016, 2017 & 2019).

AT THE HELM: Kevin Boles is set for his first season as Rumble Ponies manager. He spent the last five years managing the Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA), a tenure that included a Governor’s Cup championship in 2014. Boles managed in the Eastern League with the Portland Sea Dogs from 2011 through 2013.

A FEEL FOR THE ROSTER: Excluding players starting on the Injured List, nine pitchers on the Opening Day roster have appeared with the Rumble Ponies before. Only four position players have logged previous time with Binghamton: Andres Gimenez, Kevin Kaczmarski, Patrick Mazeika, and Will Toffey.

WELCOME TO THE METS: Excluding players starting the season on the Injured List, nine players on their Rumble Ponies Opening Day are playing in their first season in the Mets organization.

DOUBLE-A DEBUTS: Only four players on the Rumble Ponies active roster enter the season without previous Double-A experience. Starting pitchers Anthony Kay and David Peterson and position players Mike Paez and Ali Sanchez prepare for their first career Double-A games. All four have spent their pro careers entirely with the Mets.

MAJOR LEAGUE TIME: Three Rumble Ponies bring Major League experience to the clubhouse. Arismendy Alcantara has played 167 MLB games over four seasons with the Cubs (‘14-’15), A’s (‘16) and Reds (‘17). In 2018, Kevin Kaczmarski logged four games with the Mets and Braxton Lee appeared in eight games with the Marlins.

AGAINST THE FISHER CATS: The Rumble Ponies went 11-10 versus the Fisher Cats last season, including a 5-6 mark at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. The teams meet 20 times this year.

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