Spring Hits Walk-Off Grand Slam; 'Dogs Win 10-7

(Portland, Maine) - Matt Spring crushed a walk-off grand slam off the Citgo Sign above the Maine Monster with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, leading the Portland Sea Dogs (24-16) past the Binghamton Mets (23-19), 10-7 on Saturday afternoon at Hadlock Field. Spring finished with two homers and six RBI.

Binghamton closer Jeff Walters (0-1) entered the game 11-for-11 in save opportunities, but yielded the game-winning slam and took the loss. Portland's ninth inning started with back-to-back singles from Xander Bogaerts and Tony Thomas. Walters fanned Travis Shaw and Michael Almanzar, but walked Shannon Wilkerson to load the bases. Spring's grand slam was the team's first and his fifth homer of the season.

Brock Huntzinger (3-0) battled through two innings of relief to earn the win. Huntzinger blew his first save (was 8-for-8) of the season in the eighth inning with the Sea Dogs leading 6-5. The Mets started the frame with three soft-hit singles to load the bases. After a strikeout, a wild pitch brought Binghamton within one. Huntzinger retired Alonzo Harris for the second out, but Wilfredo Tovar's grounder to SS Derrik Gibson was bobbled, allowing the tying and go-ahead runs to score.

Spring's first homer of the day came off starter Mark Cohoon in the fourth, giving Portland a 4-2 lead. Cohoon lasted five innings on eight hits, four runs, two walks, whiling fanning five.

Anthony Ranaudo took a no-decision in his eighth start of the season, working a season-low four innings on three hits and two runs. Ranaudo threw 85 pitches over four innings, walking three and fanning five.

Mets took a 1-0 lead in the first on a two-out RBI single by Cory Vaughn. In the second, Tovar gave the B-Mets a 2-0 advantage, dropping a run-scoring single down the left-field line.

Portland tied the game at two in the second. Heiker Meneses laced a run-scoring triple to center and scored on a wild pitch.

Binghamton tied the game at four with a two-spot off Jeremy Kehrt (3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, ER, 2 BB, SO) in the fifth. The Sea Dogs responded with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings off reliever Chase Huchingson. Peter Hissey gave the hometown team the lead with an RBI triple down the right-field line and Tony Thomas extended the lead to 6-4 with a solo-homer to start the seventh.

The Sea Dogs have four walk-off wins this season and can win the series on Sunday afternoon with Drake Britton on the mound.

Prime Motor Group Player of the Game: Matt Spring

The Sea Dogs conclude their three-game series with the Binghamton Mets on Sunday afternoon beginning at 1:00 PM from Hadlock Field. Lefty Drake Britton (3-3, 4.35) makes his ninth appearance of the season for the 'Dogs. Cory Mazzoni (1-1, 1.98) toes the rubber for the Mets.

Radio coverage begins at 12:40 PM on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network and via the Tune-In Radio app for smartphones and tablets. Sunday Kids Run the Bases presented by Prime Motor Group. Tickets are available by calling 207-879-9500 or at seadogs.com.