Erie SeaWolves 14, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 5 (box)
A relentless assault from the SeaWolves’ offense carried them to a comfortable victory in Game 1 of the Eastern League championship in Binghamton, New York on Sunday. They now have a Game 2 on Tuesday night, and a potential Game 3 if needed, at home to take home their third consecutive Eastern League title.
They jumped out to an early lead against Mets pitching prospect R.J. Gordon. John Peck singled with one out in the top of the first, and Kevin McGonigle stepped in and crushed a two-run shot to left
centerfield for a quick 2-0 lead. Josue Briceño followed with a single, but Jake Holton struck out and Briceño got backpicked and run down to end the top of the inning.
Max Alba kept Binghamton in check in the early innings, and the SeaWolves kept it going in the top of the third. With two outs, Peck hit a monster solo shot to center field and McGonigle followed by drilling a fly ball to the right field wall and racing around for a triple. Briceño scalded a drive to right for a single and it was 4-0.
In the fourth, Chris Meyers lined a single to right with one out and Ben Malgeri smoked a line drive to center field that got to the wall for an RBI triple. A Carlos Mendoza ground out to first brought in Malgeri to make it 6-0.
Alba got in a little trouble in the third, but McGonigle and Mendoza turned an inning ending double play. In the bottom of the fourth, Alba allowed a D’Andre Smith solo shot but wrapped up four innings of one-run ball to give the SeaWolves all they needed.
McGonigle got hit to lead off the fifth and Briceño grounded into a double play. Eric Silva took over from Alba but a one-out double and single made it 6-1. In the sixth, Silva struck out Chris Suero with a wild pitch, and he was able to reach first base ahead of the third. A JT Schwartz tripled him in to make it 6-3.
With the score narrowing, the heart of the SeaWolves got back to business. McGonigle lined a single to left to lead off. The Ponies’ Brian Metoyer was wild, walking Briceño and then hitting Holton to load the bases. Thayron Liranzo made them pay with an RBI single, and Chris Meyers lifted a sacrifice fly for an 8-3 lead.
Silva gave up two more singles in the bottom half to complete a rough outing. Trevin Michael took over with two outs, allowing an RBI single before collecting an inning ending strikeout.
At that point it was 8-4, and the Ponies’ Joshua Cornielly took over and retired Clark, Peck, and McGonigle for their first success against that group in any inning. Andrew Magno returned serve for Erie, allowing a one-out single before a strikeout and a ground out sent the game to the ninth.
The SeaWolves then proceeded to turn this into a laugher with a six-run top of the ninth. Ponies’ pitching fell apart, and it was already 10-4 before a two-run single from Max Clark and then Peck’s second home run of the game made it 14-4.
Huge performance from the SeaWolves big bats. Peck is going to deserve more interest next season.
Ryan Boyer gave up a run in the ninth before wrapping this one up.
Peck: 3-6, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 HR, 2 K
McGonigle: 3-5, 3 R, 2 RBI, 3B, HR
Malgeri: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, 3B, SB
Briceno: 2-4, R, RBI, BB, K, CS
Clark: 2-5, R, RBI, BB
Liranzo: 1-4, RBI, BB, 2 K
Meyers: 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI
Alba: 4.0 IP, ER, 3 H, BB, K
Silva (W, 1-0): 2.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 2 K
Toledo Mud Hens 7, Iowa Cubs 2 (box)
A bullpen game that was a compendium of Tigers pitchers who didn’t stick was enough for the Mud Hens to close out their 2025 season with a victory.
Brenan Hanifee, who holds a 3.00 ERA/3.26 FIP across 60 innings of major league work, but is regarded as an afterthought by the Tigers due to his low strikeout rate, tossed a clean first inning with a strikeout. Tyler Mattison took the second, striking out three for a scoreless inning despite allowing two hits. Jose Urquidy was next, tossing two scoreless with just one hit allowed and two strikeouts.
In the top of the third, Andrew Navigato led off with a double, and Austin Murr, back up from West Michigan, singled him in. Justyn-Henry Malloy followed with a two run blast and it was a 3-0 game.
In the top of the fourth, Trei Cruz singled and Riley Unroe drew a walk to start the inning. Navigato flew out, but Murr reached on an error to load the bases. This time Malloy struck out, but Hao-Yu Lee spanked a single back up the middle Center fielder Parker Chavers let it get by him, and all three baserunners scored as Lee held at second base. 6-0 Hens.
Next up out of the Hens pen were Chase Lee in the fifth and Dylan Smith in the sixth. Both were perfect. Drew Sommers gave up two runs in the seventh, but Gage Workman doubled in Malloy in the eighth to complete the scoring in this one.
Randy Dobnak closed things out with two perfect frames with two strikeouts.
The Mud Hens finish with a 7-3 run over their last ten to post a 45-30 record in the second half, showcasing very good managerial work again from Gabe Alvarez. Overall they were 84-66 despite the chaos of the Tigers pitching staff this season.
Malloy: 2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR, K
Valencia: 2-4, 2 2B, BB, K
Navigato: 3-5, R
