Meidroth delivers game-winning hit in Double-A debut

Portland, Maine- Chase Meidroth went 3-for-6 and delivered the game-winning hit in the 10^th inning in his Double-A debut giving the Portland Sea Dogs (20-9) a 6-5 win over the Somerset Patriots (18-10) on Wednesday night at Hadlock Field. With the win the Sea Dogs extend their lead in the Eastern League Northeast Division to 1.5 games over the Patriots.

Portland wasted no time at the plate in the top of the first inning after Nick Yorke launched a lead off solo blast to left center field. The team leader in home runs recorded his fourth on the season and nineteenth for Portland collectively. Portland was on the board first, 1-0.

The Sea Dogs continued the power at the plate in the bottom of the second, bringing three runs across to score. A lead off single off the bat of Nathan Hickey recorded his first hit at the Double-A level and Portland was aboard. Then, Alex Binelas came to the plate and crushed a two-run home run to right field to record his second home run of the season. Portland continued to lead over Somerset, 3-0. Tyler McDonough hit a single to left field before stealing his eighth base of the season to put Portland in scoring position. Back-to-back walks drawn by Corey Rosier and Nick Yorke loaded the bases before an RBI single by Meidroth brought McDonough home to score. Meidroth recorded his first Double-A hit in his debut and Portland extended the lead, 4-0.

The scoring was silent until the top of the fifth inning. Then, a solo home run by Tyler Hardman would put Somerset on the board but Portland continued to lead, 4-1. TJ Rumfield worked a walk before stealing second base. An RBI single by Max Burt would bring Rumfield in to score but Portland still led, 4-2. Burt stole second before advancing to third on a wild pitch. A walk drawn by Trey Sweeney put two on before a single by Jasson Dominguez brought Burt home to score. Portland led by one, 4-3.

In the top of the sixth inning, LHP Joely Rodriguez came in and retired three of the four Patriots he faced with a strikeout and a pair of groundouts.

In the bottom of the sixth, Yorke worked a lead off walk before a single by Meidroth stationed two. A wild pitch would advance both runners before another wild pitch would bring Yorke in to score and Portland extended the lead, 5-3.

In the top of the seventh, Max Burt launched a solo home run to right center to bring Somerset within one but Portland led, 5-4.

In the top of the eighth, Wells and Pereira worked back-to-back walks before a fly out to right field off the bat of Rosario advanced Wells to third. A sacrifice fly to center field by Hardman would bring Wells in to score and tie the ballgame, 5-5.

With the game tied through the ninth inning, the Sea Dogs played into extra innings for the fourth time of the season.

Ryan Fernandez went on to retire the side in the top of the tenth with a pair of strikeouts to keep the Patriots at bay.

Christian Koss represented the runner at second base in the bottom of the tenth inning before a single by McDonough singled to the pitcher to advance Koss to third. With two outs on the board, Meidroth came to the plate and hit an RBI single to right field to walk it off over the Somerset Patriots in the tenth inning.

Tyler McDonough, Nick Yorke, and Chase Meidroth all recorded multi-hit games for Portland. McDonough went two-for-five with a pair of singles while Yorke went two-for-three with a home run and a single.

Portland reliever RHP Ryan Fernandez (2-0, 3.52 ERA) earned the win after pitching 2.0 scoreless innings allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out two. Somerset reliever RHP Indigo Diaz (0-1, 1.38) was issued the loss after tossing 1.1 innings allowing one run on two hits while striking out three. He did not issue a walk.

The Sea Dogs return to Hadlock Field tomorrow, May 11, 2023 for game three of a six-game series against the Somerset Patriots. First pitch for game three is slated for 6:00pm. RHP CJ Liu (3-1, 3.65 ERA) will take the mound for Portland while Somerset will send RHP Will Warren (2-0, 3.09 ERA) to the mound.