Career day for Benintendi, 'Dogs beat Mets 8-1
Binghamton, NY - Andrew Benintendi went 4-for-5 with 2 homers and a career-high 5 RBI, as the Portland Sea Dogs (40-67) beat the Binghamton Mets (49-57), 8-1 on Sunday afternoon at NYSEG Stadium. Portland took 3 of 4 games from the Mets, clinching their second road-series win of the season.
Benintendi put the 'Dogs on the board with a two-run homer in the first. He added a two-run shot in the fourth and a run-scoring double in the sixth. Benintendi is hitting .295, tied for the team lead with 8 homers, but leads the club with 44 RBI.
Keith Couch (7-4) returned to Portland after three starts in Triple-A Pawtucket and earned the win for the Sea Dogs. Couch worked six innings on four hits, one run, four walks and five strikeouts. The lone run came in the first inning on a bases-loaded walk by Dominic Smith.
Portland had nine of their 10 hits from the first 3 in the lineup. Leadoff batter Yoan Moncada went 3-for-4 with 4 runs scored, finishing a homer shy of the cycle. No. 2 batter Mauricio Dubon clobbered his first Double-A homer in the third and Benintendi went 4-for-5.
Taylor Grover worked two scoreless innings of relief for Portland. Ben Taylor closed out the game with a scoreless ninth. The Sea Dogs finished 13-16 in July, picking up a franchise record 16 triples.
Portland is off on Monday and opens up a 6-game homestand against the Erie SeaWolves (Tigers affiliate) on Tuesday night at Hadlock Field. RHP Teddy Stankiewicz (3-7, 5.24) makes his team-leading 20th start of the year. Tickets are available at seadogs.com or 207-879-9500.