Portland Wins in Extras; Winning Streak Extends to Six
September 2, 2022 – Eastern League (EL) – Portland Sea Dogs News Release
Manchester, New Hampshire – Thaddeus Ward tied a career-high with 10 strikeouts as the Portland Sea Dogs 64-60, 34-21) won an extra-innings thriller over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (52-72, 21-34) by a score of 5-4 on Friday at Delta Dental Stadium.
New Hampshire drove in the first run of the game in the bottom of the first against Portland starter Thaddeus Ward. Davis Schneider led off with a single. He stole second base, and Elih Marrero made a throwing error, allowing Schneider to reach third. Luis De Los Santos drove in Schneider with a groundout, giving the Fisher Cats a 1-0 lead.
The Sea Dogs responded with two runs in the top of the second against Fisher Cats starter Paxton Schultz. Niko Kavadas led off with a walk, and one out later, Izzy Wilson reached on a free pass of his own. Tyler Dearden singled to right field but Fisher Cats right fielder, Sebastian Espino, was able to catch Kavadas at home plate. Elih Marrero plated Wilson with a base hit and David Hamilton made it back-to-back RBI singles, scoring Dearden, giving Portland a 2-1 lead.
The Fisher Cats tied the game in the bottom of the second inning with Ward still on the mound. With one out, Sebastian Espino launched a solo home run to left center. It was his 13th home run of the year and tied the game 2-2.
Portland regained the lead in the top of the fourth with Schultz still pitching. Wilson led off with a single and stole second base. Dearden walked and Elih Marrero grounded into a double play, moving Wilson to third. Wilson came home on a wild pitch, giving the Sea Dogs a 3-2 lead.
New Hampshire tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Karl Ellison, Cam Eden, and Schneider walked to load the bases. Luis De Los Santos grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Ellison to tie the game 3-3.
Both teams were scoreless through the ninth, forcing extra innings. The Sea Dogs scored two runs in the top of the 10th. Christian Koss was the extra-innings runner at second base and came home to score on a single from Stephen Scott, giving the Sea Dogs a 4-3 lead. Later in the inning, Wilson tripled home Scott, putting Portland up 5-3. The Fisher Cats scored one more run in the bottom of the 10th on a De Los Santos RBI single, but Brett Kennedy shut the door on a 5-4 win.
Taylor Broadway (1-0, 0.00 ERA) tossed 2.0 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out three in his first win with the Sea Dogs. Jol Concepcion (0-2, 7.94 ERA) tossed 3.0 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
The Sea Dogs and Fisher Cats play the penultimate game of the series on Saturday with a 7:05 PM first pitch. Portland sends RHP Brian Van Belle (5-4, 4.15 ERA) to the mound against New Hampshire RHP Sam Robberse (0-2, 5.40 ERA).
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