Rumble Ponies trot past Sea Dogs 9-6

Portland, Maine - The Portland Sea Dogs (16-13) dropped their fourth straight with a 9-6 loss to the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (17-12) on Friday night in front of a sellout crowd at Hadlock Field. Binghamton has won seven straight games and leads Portland by one game in the Eastern League Northeast Division standings.

Marcelo Myer went two-for-five with his league-leading 13th double of the season while Nick Yorke and Eddinson Paulino both went three-for-five. Paulino finished a homer shy of the cycle.

Binghamton took an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first after an RBI single from Kevin Parada along with a sacrifice fly from JT Schwartz would plate two. Two more runs came home to score on a pair of bases-loaded walks to cap off the inning.

Paulino put Portland on the board with an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning. He drove in Mayer who reached with a single of his own.

In the bottom of the second, Alex Binelas hit a double (2) before a sacrifice fly to center field from Roman Anthony would bring him home and cut the lead in half.

In the bottom of the third, back-to-back singles would put Teel and Yorke aboard before a triple from Paulino (1) would score them both and tie the game at four. Mickey Gasper would give Portland the lead with a single to center field to drive in Paulino.

In the top of the fourth, Jaylen Palmer hit a solo homer to tie the game again at five apiece.

The scoring continued in the top of the seventh when Parada hit a two-run homer to left field to put the Rumble Ponies on top. Another bases-loaded walk generated by Matt Rudick would drive in a run and Binghamton led, 8-5.

Jeremiah Jackson hit a solo shot to center field to lead off the ninth inning to extend a four-run lead.

In the bottom of the ninth, Mayer reached with a leadoff double (13) to put one in scoring position. Yorke drove him in with his third single of the day but with the tying run at the plate, Binghamton held on to take game four 9-6.

LHP Daniel Juarez (1-1, 3.86 ERA) earned the win after pitching 3.0 scoreless and hitless innings allowing two walks while striking out one. Wilkin Ramos (6) earned the save with the final out in the ninth. LHP Brendan Cellucci (1-1, 6.43 ERA) was issued the loss after pitching 0.2 innings allowing three runs on one hit while walking five and striking out one.

The Sea Dogs return to Hadlock Field on Saturday, May 11th, 2024 for game five of a six-game series with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. First pitch for game five is slated for 1:00 pm. RHP Isaac Coffey (0-1, 3.66 ERA) will get the ball for Portland while Binghamton will give the ball to RHP Luis Moreno (1-1, 5.63 ERA).