Reading and Binghamton To Open Six-Game Series Tuesday
(Reading, PA) - The Fightin Phils (17-22) will open a six-game set against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, (20-17) the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets at FirstEnergy Stadium on Tuesday. This will be the Fightins second matchup of the season against the Rumble Ponies, after a six game series
(Reading, PA) - The Fightin Phils (17-22) will open a six-game set against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, (20-17) the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets at FirstEnergy Stadium on Tuesday. This will be the Fightins second matchup of the season against the Rumble Ponies, after a six game series split on the road in April.
The Fightins return to FirstEnergy stadium after dropping five of six games to the Richmond Flying Squirrels on the road last week. Reading avoided a sweep on Sunday, thanks to a strong performance by No 13. Phillies prospect, Carlos De La Cruz. He went 3-for-4 with two doubles and 3 RBI in the Fightins 6-2 win. Another standout player as of late is Jose Rodriguez. After hitting just .176 in April, Rodriguez is slashing .229/.306/.373, with a .679 OPS. He’s added 11 runs, four doubles, one triple, one home run and nine RBI in 13 games in May.
On the mound, RHP Noah Skirrow had another bounce back outing in Tuesday's loss against Richmond. In two May starts, Skirrow has a 0.82 ERA and 1.09 WHIP through 11 innings, allowing one earned run on five strikeouts. Fightins reliever, Eury Ramos was also called up to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday.
The Rumble Ponies come to Reading three games over .500, first place in the Eastern League Northeast. They won Sunday's contest against the Bowie Baysox, but dropped the series as Bowie took four out of six games. Jaylen Palmer hit a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 3-3 tie and drive Binghamton to a 5-3 win over the Baysox in Sunday's series finale.
Binghamton announced Monday that two-way player (RHP/DH) Nolan McLean has been promoted to Double-A Binghamton. He will make his Double-A pitching debut on Wednesday night. McLean, was drafted by the Mets in the third round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Oklahoma State University. He ranks as the Mets No. 19 prospect by MLB Pipeline. He was 2-2 with a 2.57 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 36 strikeouts over 28 innings through seven starts as a pitcher for High-A Brooklyn Cyclones this season. He also played in 25 games as the Cyclones’ designated hitter and hit .224 with an .849 OPS, seven doubles, five home runs, and 13 runs batted in.
RHP Efrain Contreras gets the start for Reading on Tuesday, and he will go opposite RHP Brandon Sproat for Binghamton. Reading's starter has yet to be announced for Wednesday, and Nolan McLean will start for the Rumble Ponies. Thursday LHP Matt Osterberg will face RHP Luis Moreno, and lefty Lachlan Wells takes the mound Friday against RHP Tyler Stuart. On Saturday, Robinson Pina will look for a bounce back outing against RHP Joander Suarez. In Sunday's series finale, Binghamton starter Cameron Foster will face Reading starter which is yet to be announced.
Tuesday is a School Kid Education Day, thanks to Rip It Baseballtown Charities and MLB Play Ball. On Wednesday, Capital Blue Cross Hard Work in School Tickets are accepted. Friday night features fireworks, presented by Feesers. Saturday is the first Carpenter MEGA Blast Fireworks show of the season, thanks to Penn State Health St. Joseph. The series concludes on Sunday with an appearance from Ed's Dinosaurs Live, presented by Pepsi. To buy tickets, call 610-370-BALL, go to rphils.com/tickets, or in person at the Customers Bank Ticket Office. The Fightin Phils Brentwood Industries Team Store is open both in-person and online 24/7 at rphils.com/shop.
The 2024 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.