Mirabito Stadium/John Sheridan-MMN
The Binghamton Rumble Ponies season is over after a 10-0 lifeless performance against the Erie SeaWolves in Game 2 of the Eastern League Championship Tuesday night at UPMC Park.
Erie starter Brant Hurter pitched a gem to claim the Wolves’ first-ever League Championship title. The lefty hurler tossed seven scoreless innings to shut down the Ponies’ potent offense. He permitted three hits and three walks while fanning seven batters in the clincher.
New York Mets 2023 Minor League Pitcher of the Year Christian Scott took the mound to try and stave off elimination for the Ponies. Before the game, the 24-year-old righty was named to the 2023 Double-A All-Star Team.
Scott’s night began promising as he fired a 1-2-3 bottom of the first inning, striking out Jace Jung on a 96 MPH heater to end the frame for his lone punchout in the contest. He ran into some trouble in the second inning as the Wolves pushed across three runs. Jake Holton got Erie on the scoreboard, swatting a solo blast over the left-field fence. Ben Malgeri followed with a triple down the right-field line, and after a walk, Eliezer Alfonzo smacked an RBI base hit up the middle. Gage Workman capped off the inning by hitting a sacrifice fly to drive in the final run of the frame.
Scott exited in the second inning after tossing 40 pitches and was relieved by Jordan Geber. Geber pitched outstanding out of the pen and kept Binghamton in the game. The 24-year-old right-hander hurled 2 2/3 hitless innings and struck out a pair.
Binghamton’s offense managed four hits, and only two runners reached second base in the ball game. Their only threats of the contest came in the second and sixth innings. In the second, Jeremiah Jackson worked a two-out walk and advanced to second base on a wild pitch but was stranded there after Rowdey Jordan struck out looking to end the inning.
With the Ponies down 6-0 and one out in the sixth inning, 2023 Mets minor league outfield Gold Glove recipient Rhylan Thomas ripped a double into left field, and Luisangel Acuña followed with a walk. Mets Minor League Player of the Year Jett Williams stepped to the plate looking to get a big hit to get the Rumble Ponies back into the game but hit into an inning-ending double play.
Erie tacked on three runs in the fifth and two in the seventh to put the game away. Holton smashed his second homer of the night, a two-run shot in the seventh, and Workman cranked a two-run dinger in the eighth, making it 10-0.
The Mets 2023 minor league season is officially over.
