Binghamton Rumble Ponies (NYM) @ Reading Fightin Phils (PHI)
May 24, 2024
S: Paul Gervase
HR: Wyatt Young (BNG), Bryce Ball (REA)
Attendance: 7,723
Time of Game: 2 hours, 45 minutes
Stadium Facts
Location: Reading, PA
Opened: 1951
Capacity: 10,000
Level: Double A
League: Eastern
Attendance: 7,723
Time of Game: 2 hours, 45 minutes
Stadium Facts
Location: Reading, PA
Opened: 1951
Capacity: 10,000
Level: Double A
League: Eastern
I got my Memorial Day holiday weekend off to an early start by driving up to Reading, PA for a Friday night game at one of the oldest professional ballparks in the country. Originally opened in 1951 as Reading Municipal-Memorial Stadium, FirstEnergy Stadium has been the home of the Phillies Eastern League affiliate since 1967. It is located on the outskirts of Reading, which I am coming to discover is fairly common for minor league parks, as opposed to most MLB stadiums which are usually situated downtown or in busy neighborhoods.
This ballpark has a charming classic look to it with its red brick exterior. Inside, it is an interesting mix of old and new with a narrow concourse underneath the main grandstand that was quite congested on this night with a very good sized crowd. It gives off a nostalgic feel with old photos and other tributes to past Reading players throughout and short tunnels leading out to the seating area like most bygone ballparks had. But there are also many modern amenities that have no doubt been added as the years have gone by. The main entrance leads into an open area with a wide assortment of concessions and a stage area for pregame entertainment. On this night, it was what I assume was a local high school band performing various recognizable hits. Like the Class A stadiums I visited on my first trip, this stadium has just one level of seating. But it is able to accommodate far bigger crowds as that seating area extends all the way down each baseline and the main grandstand is much larger.
Coincidentally, this was my second straight game featuring a Mets affiliate visiting a Phillies affiliate. In the month that passed between those two games, Ryan Clifford was promoted from Brooklyn to Binghamton and was in the lineup again in this game, but played first base this time. This was a pitching dominated game. Binghamton starter Tyler Stuart threw five strong innings, striking out nine. Reading starter Lachlan Wells was equally impressive, going six innings with five strikeouts. Both pitchers allowed just three hits and one run, with the runs coming on solo home runs. Those homers were hit by players of much different stature. Reading's 6'6" first baseman Bryce Ball got the scoring started with a solo shot in the bottom of the 4th. In the top of the 6th, Binghamton's 5'6" shortstop Wyatt Young tied the game with a homer. As a quick aside, Ball wasn't the tallest player in the Reading lineup. That was Carlos De La Cruz. At 6'8", he might be the tallest position player I've ever seen in person. He had a rough night, taking the golden sombrero with four strikeouts. Anyway, after those solo home runs, neither team would score again in regulation, though Binghamton did have runners thrown out at the plate in both the 7th and 8th innings. With all the whiffing going on by hitters on both teams, this was a rare instance where I was happy about the free runner at second to start extra innings. Young came up big again for the Rumble Ponies with a RBI single in the top of the 10th. The Fightin Phils failed to convert in the bottom half, handing Binghamton a 2-1 victory. In total, Reading hitters struck out 16 times, with four different players striking out at least three times. Binghamton batters were only better by comparison, recording 11 strikeouts as well.
I really enjoyed this throwback stadium with a great crowd on a Friday night. My weekend was just getting started though with another game in Lehigh Valley the next night, and a lacrosse game thrown in between.
Next ballpark: Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, PA
No comments:
Post a Comment