RUMBLE PONIES GAME NOTES: Game #2 - Rumble Ponies (1-0) at Fisher Cats (0-1)

BINGHAMTON RUMBLE PONIES (1-0), T-1st Eastern Division, 0.0 GA (New York Mets)		New Hampshire Fisher Cats (0-1), T-4th Eastern Division, 1.0 GB (Toronto Blue Jays)
	Friday, April 5, 2019 • 6:35 PM Northeast Delta Dental Stadium • Manchester, NH RHP Chris Mazza (0-0, ---) vs. RHP Hector Perez (0-0, ---) Broadcast: NewsRadio 1290 AM WNBF, MiLB.TV

LAST GAME: Barrett Barnes and Jason Krizan drove in two runs apiece to guide the Rumble Ponies to a 5-2 Opening Night win over the Fisher Cats. Joe Zanghi stranded five total runners over two innings to set the table for Stephen Villines’ first career Double-A save.

BINGHAMTON STARTER: RHP Chris Mazza is set to make his Mets organizational debut. Owning 44 career Double-A starts, Mazza opens the season as Binghamton’s most experienced starting pitcher. He capped last season with the Arkansas Travelers (SEA: AA), posting a 1.33 ERA in his last four starts.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU: The Rumble Ponies grabbed the first meeting of 20 scheduled against the Fisher Cats in 2019. The teams are slated to cross paths for six series this season. Last year, the Ponies went 11-10 versus the Fisher Cats. Binghamton has not had a losing record in a season against New Hampshire since 2011.

BIDDING FOR WIN #2: A win tonight for the Rumble Ponies would give them back-to-back victories to start a season for the third straight year. The Ponies opened 2018 with three straight wins. Binghamton’s best start ever came in 2000 when they won their first five games.

WALKING, AGAIN: Will Toffey walked three times last night, one shy of a career-high set with the Rumble Ponies last season. He has walked three or more times in a game six times in his career.

AT THE HELM: Kevin Boles 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. Pitchers Anthony Kay and David Peterson and position players Mike Paez and Ali Sanchez prepare for their first career Double-A games.