Jett Williams, Photo by Bronson Harris of Binghamton Rumble Ponies
Behind the bat of Jett Williams and the arm of Christian Scott, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies defeated the Somerset Patriots 9-2 in Game 1 of the 2023 Eastern League Division Series, giving themselves a 1-0 lead in a best-of-three series.
Scott started game one for Binghamton, marking his second start since returning from the injured list. Scott went three innings, dominating every Patriot batter aside from Trey Sweeney. Scott allowed two hits, both to Sweeney. The Patriots’ shortstop doubled to lead off the game and then took Scott deep in his third and final inning of work.
To Patriots’ not named Sweeney, Scott did not allow a baserunner and struck out five. Overall, one run allowed by Scott with five strikeouts to go along, all while throwing 47 pitches during his three frames. Scott had been outdueled by Patriots’ starter Blane Abeyta, who had the Ponies scoreless entering the fourth. Luis Moreno followed Scott in relief as Binghamton’s bulk man.
Christian Scott, Photo by Bronson Harris of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies
Binghamton 8, Somerset 2 Box Score
- SS Jett Williams: 1-for-4, HR (1), 3 RBI
- 3B-2B Jeremiah Jackson: 2-for-5, HR (1), RBI
- RF Rowdey Jordan: 3-for-4, 2B (1), RBI
- RHP Christian Scott: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 5 K
- RHP Luis Moreno: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K
The Ponies trailed 1-0 when Scott exited, but that changed quickly.
With one out in the fourth, third baseman Jeremiah Jackson took Abeyta deep out to left field, tying the game at one. After Jackson, Rowdey Jordan singled up the middle, Augustin Ruiz picked up a single of his own, and Hayden Senger singled into left, scoring Jordan as the Ponies’ 2nd run. After claiming the lead, Rhylan Thomas singled in Ruiz, making the Binghamton lead 3-1. With two on, Luisangel Acuña struck out, setting up two on and two out in the fourth.
After taking a called strike one, Jett Williams demolished a 0-1 pitch for his first Double-A homer, giving the Ponies a 6-1 lead. Williams’ shot into left field capped a six-run fourth by Binghamton, an inning that propelled them to a lead that they never looked back from.
However, things took a much different turn for the Ponies and the Mets in the bottom of the sixth. Top prospect Luisangel Acuña was hit in the face by a pitch from Somerset reliever Zach Messinger. Acuña left the field with trainers and was replaced by Mateo Gil. Gil played third for the Ponies, with Jackson moving to second.
However, the seventh inning proved to be a big one for Binghamton. Drew Gilbert walked, stole second, and scored on a JT Schwartz single. Schwartz moved to second on a Jackson single and then scored on a Jordan double to right-center field, making the Ponies’ lead 8-2. Ruiz and Senger both struck out with runners on second and third, leaving the inning up to Thomas with two outs, but he grounded out to second to end the inning.
Moreno still had cruise control going into the eighth, but he hit a bit out of trouble in the inning. However, he escaped the inning when he struck out the Yankees’ top prospect Spencer Jones looking to end the inning with runners on the corner.
In the ninth, Mateo Gil doubled to lead off, and with two outs, JT Schwartz tripled in the team’s ninth run of the night, putting a loud and effective cap on an offensive explosion for the Rumble Ponies. Schwartz tallied a pair of RBI on the night.
Moreno provided length and stability for the Ponies, giving them five innings of work in which he allowed just one run and struck out five. Scott and Moreno combined to turn in eight innings, five hits, two runs, and ten strikeouts.
Moreno was relieved Matt Minnick, who, despite giving up two singles, authored a 3-6-1 double play to end the game and finish off a 9-2 Rumble Ponies win. The Ponies now lead the Northeast Division Series 1-0, with their next win sending them to the Eastern League Championship Series. The two teams will be back in action on Thursday in New Jersey. Right-hander Dominic Hamel gets the start for Binghamton.
