by Jacob Wilkins, Rumble Ponies’ Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations

BINGHAMTON – New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer made a rehab start Tuesday night for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies in front of a record-setting crowd of 7,491 at Mirabito Stadium against the Reading Fightin Phils. Scherzer, throwing to Mets’ Catcher James McCann, went three and a third innings, allowing three hits and two runs, with one walk and six strikeouts on 65 pitches. The Ponies fell to the Fightins 7-6 in the opening game of the series.

Binghamton (24-40) fell behind 1-0 in the third but roared back scoring six runs in the bottom of the frame with a three-run homer from Francisco Alvarez which put the Ponies ahead 3-1. It was Alvarez’s 16th homer of the season and he now leads the team in RBI with 44. Later in the frame, Zach Ashford’s three-run double scored Carlos Cortes, Brandon McIlwain and Jeremy Vasquez to increase the Binghamton lead to 6-1.

Down 6-2 in the fifth, Reading (28-36) clawed back as Ali Castillo’s RBI single and Josh Ockimey’s RBI triple cut the Ponies lead to 6-4.

The Fightins equaled the score at six in the sixth with a two-run blast from Wendell Rijo to left centerfield. On the very next pitch, Jonathan Guzman hit the go-ahead homer off Ponies pitcher Jose Butto (4-5) to give Reading a 7-6 lead.

McCann was 1-4 with a run scored and a walk in his fourth game with the Rumble Ponies on a rehab assignment.

The Ponies will continue their six-game homestand against Reading on Wednesday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM with pregame coverage beginning at 6:20 PM on NewsRadio 1290 WNBF and 92.1 FM.

Postgame Notes: Scherzer struck out all three batters he retired in the first inning…Alvarez has hit eight home runs in the month of June and has now reached base safely in 16 straight games…Brett Baty extended his hitting streak to 12 games.