Betts, Sea Dogs Walk-Off with 6-5 Win

PORTLAND, Maine - The Portland Sea Dogs (31-15) led early, gave up five runs over the final four innings, but bounced back for two in the ninth and walked-off over the Binghamton Mets (24-21) 6-5 in the finale of the six-game series, Thursday night at Hadlock Field. The win brought the Sea Dogs record to 8-1 on the nine-game homestand.

Mickey Pena held the B-Mets scoreless over the first five innings before they bounced back to within one in the sixth. Kyle Johnson singled with one out and came around to score on a two-run shot, over the Maine Monster, off the bat of Kevin Plawecki. The homer was the catcher's second of the year and made it 3-2 Sea Dogs.

Pena was sent back out for the seventh and the Mets loaded the bases against the southpaw before he was lifted for Miguel Celestino. The righty came on and gave up a two-run single to Wilfredo Tovar, which gave 4-3 lead to Binghamton.

The Portland deficit didn't last long as Peter Hissey led of the bottom of the frame with a triple down the line in right. With one out Mookie Betts drew his fourth walk of the night and Derrik Gibson singled to short, which plated Hissey and tied the game at 4-4.

The seesaw battle continued in the eighth as the Mets plated another against Miguel Celestino and re-gained the lead at 5-4. Jayce Boyd doubled with one out and was lifted for the pinch runner Rylan Sandoval. Dustin Lawley drove home Sandoval with an RBI single to shallow right for the lead. 

Portland had no answer in the eighth, but rallied in final frame. Hissey walked to lead off the inning and Shannon Wilkerson reached on a bunt single, which put the winning run at first for Betts. The second baseman took a 94 MPH fastball from Cody Satterwhite (2-1) to the right field corner for a bases clearing, walk-off triple that sent the 3,035 fans in attendance home happy. 

Aaron Kurcz (1-1) was the benefactor for the Sea Dogs and earned the win on the mound with a scoreless ninth.

The two teams began their sixth tilt of the week with two and a half scoreless innings, before the Sea Dogs struck first against Rainy Lara and the Mets. Wilkerson and Betts began the inning with back-to-back walks and remained at first and second with one out in the frame. 

Travis Shaw followed and took a high off-speed pitch from Lara and crushed it four rows deep into the U.S. Cellular Pavilion in right and put the 'Dogs in front 4-3. The home run was the fourth of the homestand and 10th of the season for the first baseman Shaw. 

Betts finished the game reaching base a season high five times with four walks and the game-winning triple. The win for Portland lifts its home record to 18-6 through the first 24 home games in 2014. 

The Sea Dogs hit the road for the first time in a week and make their first trip to Northeast Delta Dental Stadium where the New Hampshire Fisher Cats await. The four-game series is set to kick off Friday night at 7:05 PM. The Sea Dogs will send RHP Mike Augliera (3-4, 4.01) to the hill against RHP Casey Lawrence (2-4, 4.04) of the Fisher Cats. Radio coverage begins at 6:40 PM on the WPEI U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network and www.seadogs.com.