RUMBLE PONIES GAME NOTES: Game #16 - Rumble Ponies (9-5) vs. Sea Dogs (4-11) - 6:35 PM

Binghamton Rumble Ponies (9-5), 1st Eastern Division, 0.5 GA (New York Mets)		Portland Sea Dogs (4-11), 6th Eastern Division, 5.5 GB (Boston Red Sox)
	Thursday, April 25, 2019 • 6:35 PM NYSEG Stadium • Binghamton, NY RHP Mike Gibbons (2-1, 2.81) vs. LHP Kyle Hart (0-3, 3.86) Broadcast: NewsRadio 1290 AM WNBF, MiLB.TV

PREVIEW: Fresh off a 5-1 road trip, the Rumble Ponies return home for a week-long home stand. They start a four-game series against the Portland Sea Dogs on Thursday night.

BINGHAMTON STARTERS: RHP Mike Gibbons takes the mound for his fourth start of the season. The righty beat the SeaWolves during the road trip and has won each of his last two starts. He prepares for his first career start against the Sea Dogs.

LET’S TRY THIS AGAIN: The Rumble Ponies and Sea Dogs were scheduled to meet for a three-game series in the first week of the season, but snow and unplayable field conditions forced each game to be postponed. Thursday’s game marks their first meeting of the season.

SANCHEZ STILL STREAKING: Ali Sanchez collected one of Binghamton’s two hits in Wednesday’s loss to Akron. The second-inning single extended his hitting streak to a team-best eight games. Andres Gimenez, Braxton Lee and Mike Paez all had their seven-game hitting streaks snapped with hitless performances on Wednesday.

TAKING ON THE DOGS: The Ponies are slated to play 22 games against the Sea Dogs this season spread out over five series. The Ponies went 12-11 against the Sea Dogs in 2018, including a 6-5 mark at NYSEG Stadium. Binghamton has had a winning season record versus Portland in the last four seasons, amassing a 49-35 record during the span.

WELCOME BACK, BOLESY: Rumble Ponies manager Kevin Boles spent three seasons in Portland, managing the Sea Dogs from 2011 through 2013. Boles went 195- 229 in his time with Portland. Current Red Sox Jackie Bradley Jr., Xander Bogaerts and Brandon Workman all played for Boles while with Portland

BACK ON TOP: Despite Wednesday’s loss, Binghamton remains in sole possession of first place in the Eastern Division. Prior to taking the spot on Tuesday, Binghamton had not owned sole possession of first since August 7, 2015. Binghamton has not won a regular season division title since 2013 when they went 86-55.

OFF ON THE RIGHT NOTE: Binghamton has won the first game in each of their first five series of the season. The Rumble Ponies went 23-19 in series openers in 2018.

HAGGERTY LEADING UP TOP: Sam Haggerty has hit in the leadoff position 11 times in Binghamton’s first 14 games. He leads the team with 18 hits and seven multiple-hit games, and has logged time at three different defensive positions.

BIRTHDAYS IN BUNCHES: The Rumble Ponies have three players celebrating birthdays this week. Binghamton starter Mike Gibbons turned 26 on Wednesday. Infielder Dario Pizzano turns 28 on Thursday. Reliever Joshua Torres turns 25 on Friday.