Starling Marte, Photo by Steve Woj of Metsmerized
The last time the Binghamton Rumble Ponies concluded a series at TD Bank Ballpark, they celebrated a championship berth to clinch a spot in 2023’s Eastern League Championship Series. Sunday’s series finale featured another significant accomplishment worth celebrating: the return of Mets’ outfielder Starling Marte.
On the field, Marte’s replacement, Matt Rudick, played the hero in the 10th inning, depositing a three-run homer over the scoreboard to help the Ponies earn a 6-4 victory.
Regardless of the final score, Marte’s return to the playing field was considered victory enough for the organization, who has been missing their right fielder since he suffered a bone bruise in his right knee in mid-June. Given Marte’s .278/.328/.416 slash line, his return is crucial as the club works through their offensive woes.
Sunday’s nightcap was the third rehab appearance for Marte, who had previously homered in a two-game cameo with the St.Lucie Mets.
In his first game with Binghamton, the outfielder went 0-for-2 in his seven innings, working a walk in the second inning. Coupled with the Patriots’ rehabbing Major-League catcher, Jose Trevino, the two Double-A lineups consisted of three MLB All-Star appearances. Given Marte’s .278/.328/.416 2024 MLB slash line, his return is coming at an opportune time as the club works through offensive woes.
The Ponies faced no such offensive qualms during Marte’s first appearance at the dish. They pounded Somerset southpaw Ben Shields for three runs in the first, highlighted by Jeremiah Jackson‘s two-run single.
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Jackson’s single drove in Alex Ramirez and Ryan Clifford, who had collected a single apiece and executed a successful double-steal. The stolen base was Ramirez’s 32nd of the season, which ranks first in the Eastern League.
Clifford went 1-for-3 in his 67th game since a mid-May promotion to Binghamton. Since escaping Maimonides Stadium’s difficult dimensions, Clifford has posted .216/.352/.464 line with 13 home runs.
After a troublesome first, Shields settled in, retiring the next ten of his final twelve hitters. Marte’s and Wyatt Young‘s walks represented the only other blemishes on his record.
Meanwhile, Luis Moreno continued his strong season. Despite the first pitch of his outing winding up over the left-field wall, courtesy of Yankees’ top prospect Spencer Jones, the 5’8″ right-hander settled in to allow three runs over six and two-thirds innings. He permitted only five hits through his outing, contributing a positive 9.6 Win Probability Added.
The start continued a strong stretch for the right-hander, who has posted a 2.66 ERA and .619 OPS against over the last two months. Overall, Binghamton’s rotation combined for a 1.69 ERA over their last three games versus Somerset.
Relieving Moreno with two outs in the seventh, Daniel Juarez retired the only batter he faced, striking out Jones on a questionable pitch that dotted the outside part of the plate. Joshua Cornielly and Cam Robinson took care of the final three frames. In his two-inning stint, Robinson showcased a mid-90s fastball with north-south action on his curveball.
To kick off extra innings, Alex Ramirez hustled to reach first on a single to the third baseman, which put runners on the corner for Rudick. Despite entering the game in the 7th inning, Rudick wasted no time, blasting Eric Reyzelman‘s delivery well over the right-field wall. The blast was Rudick’s fifth of the season, the second most he’s hit in his career.
The Ponies are off Monday before heading to Binghamton to play the Sea Dogs twice on Tuesday. Game 1 is at 5:35 p.m., and Game 2 is scheduled to commence 40 minutes after Game 1 ends. Neither starting pitcher for either squad has been announced.
