Tidwell Leads Ponies to Win at Somerset, Move into Tie for First Place
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – New York Mets top pitching prospect Blade Tidwell led the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (18-16, 53-50) to a 4-2 win over the Somerset Patriots on Wednesday at TD Bank Ballpark. With the win, the Ponies moved into a three-way tie for first place in the Northeast Division with
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – New York Mets top pitching prospect Blade Tidwell led the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (18-16, 53-50) to a 4-2 win over the Somerset Patriots on Wednesday at TD Bank Ballpark.
With the win, the Ponies moved into a three-way tie for first place in the Northeast Division with Somerset and Portland.
Tidwell (1-1) struck out seven batters over a career-high 7.2 innings. He allowed just two runs on two solo homers and did not issue a walk. Tidwell earned the first win of his Double-A career in dominant fashion. He threw 16 pitches or fewer in every frame.
In 14 starts since earning his first win with High-A Brooklyn on May 17, Tidwell leads all qualified pitchers in Minor League Baseball with a 1.92 ERA.
Somerset (18-16, 60-42) got on the board first with Anthony Seigler’s solo home run in the second inning.
In the top of the fourth, JT Schwartz scorched a two-out double down the right field line on the 11th pitch of the at bat. The next batter, Jeremiah Jackson clobbered a go-ahead two-run homer. It was Jackson’s first home run with the Mets’ organization and 16th of the season at Double-A (15 with Double-A Rocket City).
Up 2-1 in the fifth, Hayden Senger ripped a one-out single and stole second base. Mateo Gil was the next batter, and he clubbed a two-run homer to left field to give Binghamton a 4-1 lead. Senger had a multi-hit game with a double in the third and single in the fifth.
Josh Breaux cut into the Ponies’ lead with a solo homer in the fifth that made it 4-2. The Patriots had the potential tying run in scoring position and potential winning run on first in the ninth inning, but Trey McLoughlin earned the save by rolling a ground ball that Jackson turned into a 4-4-3 double play to end the game.
The Rumble Ponies will continue their series with the Patriots at TD Bank Ballpark on Thursday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and pregame coverage will begin at 6:50 p.m. on the WNBF Rumble Ponies Radio Network.
Postgame Notes: Senger threw two runners out that were trying to steal second base, strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out double play in the fifth after Breaux’s homer…Gil hit his second Double-A homer and 12th overall this season…Schwartz extended his on-base streak to nine games…Binghamton has won 10 of its last 12 games to move into a tie for first place in the Northeast Division.