BINGHAMTON, NY – The Portland Sea Dogs jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, and were able to go on and take game one over the Binghamton Rumble Ponies 9-4 at Marabito Stadium on Tuesday night. The Sea Dogs improve to 21-16, while the Rumble Ponies drop to 11-25. Portland remains 2.5 games out of first place behind the Somerset Patriots.
The Sea Dogs started the scoring in the first inning. Jeisson Rosario reached on a lead off single then scored on an RBI double by Joey Meneses. Portland plated four more runs in the top of the second inning. Ryan Fitzgerald drew a walk then it was back-to-back singles by Jhonny Pereda and Grant Williams to load the bases. Rosario then hit a two-run double into the right field corner, and Tate Matheny deposited a two-run single to centerfield extending the lead to 5-0.
Binghamton scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning. Hayden Senger drove Jake Mangum home with an RBI single. The Rumble Ponies plated another run in the fourth inning. After a leadoff walk by Quinn Brodey, Luis Carpio drove him home with a single to cut it to 5-2. Williams led off the seventh inning with a triple to right centerfield then scored on another RBI single by Rosario to make it 6-2 Portland, before two bases loaded walks in the bottom of the seventh inning moved two more runs across for Binghamton made it 6-4. In the top of the ninth inning, Fitzgerald reached second base on a fielding error and came around to score on an RBI single by Pereda. Matheny then drew a walk. With two runners on base, Triston Casas hit a two-run triple to the left centerfield wall to finish the scoring on the night. Portland starter Frank German (2-3) was awarded the win tossing 5.0 innings allowing two runs on six hits while walking two and striking out five. Josh Walker (2-1) took the loss for the hosts pitching 5.2 innings allowing five runs on six hits while walking two and striking out seven.
The Sea Dogs and Rumble Ponies meet again in game two Wednesday night at 6:35 p.m. Portland will send RHP Josh WInckowski (2-1, 2.39 ERA) to the mound. RHP Adam Oller (1-3, 5.18) will start for Binghamton.
