Thunder Sweep the Sea Dogs
The Sea Dogs battled Thursday night rallying from an early 4-0 deficit to tie the game at four in the fifth inning. Portland again fell behind 7-4 and again rallied back to tie the game at seven in the eighth inning. In the end, the Trenton offense proved too much for the Sea Dogs.
Ronnier Mustelier and Cody Johnson hit back-to-back home runs off Josh Fields (0-1) in the ninth inning to secure the victory for Trenton. It was the third home run of the series for Mustelier. All four home runs he has hit this season have come off Portland pitching.
The Yankees affiliate scored four runs off Portland starter Stolmy Pimentel. Abraham Almonte turned a lead-off single into a run after a stolen base and two grounds out as Trenton took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st. Mustelier, 1-for-4, 3 RBI, picked-up his first RBI of the game with a ground out to third base to score Almonte.
In the second inning Kevin Mahoney delivered a RBI single to score Melky Mesa. Trenton added two more runs in the top of the fifth. Pimentel issued a bases loaded walk to Dan Brewer to score Mahoney and reliever Jeremy Kehrt hit Mustelier with the bags full allowing Gustavo Molina to score.
The Sea Dogs rallied from a 4-0 deficit in the fifth to tie the game. Matt Spring, 2-for-4, led-off the inning with a double and Ryan Dent singled. Kolbrin Vitek, 2-for-4, singled to right to score Spring. Juan Carlos Linares, 2-for-3, followed with a three run blast, his fifth of the season, to left-center field off Trenton starter Shaeffer Hall.
The Thunder plated three runs in the sixth inning to break the 4-4 tie. Molina doubled to score Luke Murton to give the Thunder a 5-4 lead. Addison Maruszak added a two run single to extend the lead to 7-4.
Matt Spring ripped a three run homer just inside the left field foul pole to tie the game at seven in the eighth inning off Michael Dubee. The home run was Spring's second of the season.
Despite surrendering the home run to Spring, Dubee (1-0) is credited with the win. Ryan Flannery picked-up his fourth save.
The Portland Sea Dogs will travel to New Britain, Connecticut for a brief three game series against the Rock Cats starting with a 6:35 PM contest Friday Night. Righty Chris Martin (1-2, 4.13) will get the start for the Sea Dogs. Lefty Logan Darnell (3-0, 4.56) will take the hill for New Britain. The Sea Dogs return to Portland on Monday, May 7th for a three game set against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.