The Binghamton Rumble Ponies beat the Trenton Thunder in Game 1 of their Eastern League Championship Series, 4-1. Box Score

Pitching

The Rumble Ponies sent their ace and arguably the best pitcher in the Eastern League, Corey Oswalt, to the mound. Oswalt had a 2.28 ERA in 134.1 innings pitched after spending the whole year in Binghamton. The 24-year-old has made himself heard throughout the organization.

Oswalt had been dominant his final 10 appearances in the regular season with a 1.56 ERA in 57.2 innings and only 56 baserunners. Tonight was no different for him. He gave up a run in the first on a wild pitch but really settled in after the Rumble Ponies gave him two runs.

Oswalt neutralized the Trenton Thunder and shut down Clint Frazier, who went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts. The final line on the ace read: 7 IP, 5 H, ER, BB, 7 K. A really dominant performance in every which way.

He handed it off to the dominant Binghamton bullpen who gave Tim Peterson the first go of it. Peterson had a 1.14 ERA in 55.1 innings in Binghamton this year and he carried his regular season into this one. He struck out two in a 1-2-3 inning.

Tyler Bashlor came in for the save in the ninth. Bashlor did not give up a run in his 14.2 innings with Binghamton with 23 strikeouts in those innings. He had an astounding 84 strikeouts in 49.2 innings for the whole season.

In the ninth, he got into some trouble after a leadoff walk and ensuing double. The Yankees brought the tying run up three times and Bashlor struck out the tying run each time.

A truly great pitching performance by the Ponies who fanned a combined 12 hitters and only gave up eight baserunners.

Offense

The Rumble Ponies cashed in on their early chances and that would be all the pitchers needed.

In the first, the Ponies got the first two on for the mighty Peter Alonso. Alonso drove them both home with a double to center field. The Thunder learned their lesson and pitched carefully to Alonso, who walked two times after that at-bat.

In the third, another big hitter and first baseman, Matt Oberste, had his own two-run double. This gave the Rumble Ponies a 4-1 lead which would hold the rest of the game.

The Rumble Ponies had more chances to blow this game open but 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

Luis Guillorme had a nice defensive play to save a run and got on base two times in four plate appearances at the top of the order.

Up Next

Game 2 will be tomorrow night with right-hander Ricky Knapp on the mound for Binghamton.