Sea Dog wrap-up home schedule with 5-game win streak

Portland, Maine – David Hamilton went 3-for-4, scoring two runs, falling a home run shy of the cycle, as the Portland Sea Dogs (71-61, 41-22) secured a win in a back-and-forth game, taking down the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (51-79, 23-38) on Sunday at Hadlock Field.

The Hartford Yard Goats beat the Somerset Patriots on Sunday, extending Portland's lead in the Northeast Division of the Eastern League to 3.0 games entering the final six games of the regular season, which will be played against the Patriots at Somerset.

Binghamton brought in the first two runs of the game against Portland starter Sterling Sharp. Wyatt Young singled and Carlos Cortes hit a base hit to right, and a throwing error allowed Young to score and Cortes to reach third. One out later, Luke Ritter lifted a sacrifice fly to right, giving the Rumble Ponies a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the first, the Sea Dogs fought back against Rumble Ponies starter Jose Chacin. David Hamilton led off with a triple and Wilyer Abreu walked. Abreu stole second, and later in the at-bat, Ceddanne Rafaela hit a sacrifice fly to right, making it 2-1. Abreu came in to score on a wild pitch, tying the game 2-2.

Two more runs came around to score in the top of the second inning for Binghamton. With one out, Nic Gaddis and Matt Winaker singled. Young reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Gaddis, regaining the lead 3-2. Ronny Mauricio singled later in the inning to score Winaker, taking a two-run lead, 4-2.

The Sea Dogs tied the game again in the bottom of the second. Ricardo Cubillan walked with one out. Hamilton Doubled, putting runners at second and third. Abreu walked to load the bases and Ceddanne Rafaela singled, scoring Cubillan and Hamilton, tying the game 4-4.

Portland was able to take their first lead of the game in the bottom of the third. Stephen Scott singled with one out. One batter later, Dearden doubled to center, scoring Scott, and giving the Sea Dogs a 5-4 lead. Binghamton added a run in the top fourth inning. Winaker walked and stole second base. Young singled him in to tie the game 5-5.

The offense continued to go to work, bringing in two more runs and giving the Sea Dogs another lead. Hudson Potts singled and was replaced by Christian Koss as a pinch runner. Koss advanced to third on an errant pickoff attempt from Grant Hartwig. Scott singled, scoring Koss, giving the Sea Dogs a 6-5 lead. Scott stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Gregory Leal. Dearden singled, scoring Scott, and putting the Sea Dogs ahead 7-5.

The Sea Dogs brought in one more insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Elih Marrero singled and stole second. Hamilton Walked and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Rafaela drove in Marrero with a sacrifice fly, bringing the lead to 8-5. Michael Gettys pitched a perfect ninth inning, picking up the save to lock down an 8-5 Sea Dogs win.

Jacob Wallace (7-2, 3.95 ERA) tossed 1.2 perfect innings, logging three strikeouts in his seventh win of the season. Grant Hartwig (0-2, 1.27 ERA) pitched 1.1 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits while striking out three in his second loss of the season.

The Sea Dogs enjoy a league-wide off day on Monday before traveling to Somerset to start a six-game series on Tuesday at 6:35 PM.