Sea Dogs Win Thriller In Extras, 10-9 Over Somerset
September 13, 2022 – Eastern League (EL) – Portland Sea Dogs News Release
Bridgewater Township, New Jersey – Ceddanne Rafaela drove in three RBI and scored another two runs himself in the Portland Sea Dogs (72-61, 42-22) extra-innings thriller, taking down the Somerset Patriots (81-50, 37-25) by a score of 10-9 on Tuesday at TD Bank Ballpark.
The win for the Sea Dogs moves their magic number to one, needing one more win against the Patriots this week to secure their spot in the Eastern League Playoffs. If Portland clinches, they would play Somerset in the first round next week.
David Hamilton put himself in Portland’s record books again with his 69th stolen base of the season. He now holds the franchise record for most career steals in Sea Dogs’ history.
The Sea Dogs jumped out to a lead in the top of the first inning against Patriots starter Yoendrys Gomez. David Hamilton led off with a double and Wilyer Abreu walked. Both advanced on a double steal, with Hamilton stealing his 68th bag of the season. Ceddanne Rafaela singled to right, scoring Hamilton and moving Abreu to third, giving Portland a 1-0 lead. Two outs later, Niko Kavadas singled to right, driving in Abreu and Rafaela, increasing the lead to 3-0.
Tyler Dearden added to the Sea Dogs lead in the top of the second inning with Gomez still on the mound. Dearden sent a solo homer to right, his seventh of the season, expanding Portland’s lead to 4-0. Somerset fought back in the bottom of the second with a solo home run by Andres Chaparro, making it a 4-1 game.
Four runs came around to score for the Patriots in the bottom of the third inning. MLB Rehabber Harrison Bader reached on an error, Austin Wells walked, and Trey Sweeney singled to load the bases. Elijah Dunham grounded into a fielder’s choice, bringing in Bader, and cutting into the lead 4-2. Chaparro cleared the bases with his second home run of the night, putting Somerset ahead, 5-4.
Portland tied the game again in the top of the fourth. Hamilton singled and stole second base. Rafaela singled, bringing around Hamilton, tying the game 5-5. The tie didn’t last long, with Somerset breaking it in the bottom of the fifth on an Austin Wells solo long ball, giving the Patriots a 6-5 lead.
The game was knotted up again in the top of the seventh inning, with the Sea Dogs tying the game against Patriots reliever Steven Jennings. Alex Binelas collected a one-out double to get the inning going. Dearden singled on a groundball to center, scoring Binelas, and tying the game 6-6.
Portland powered their way to another lead in the top of the eighth inning. With two outs, Stephen Scott hit a solo bomb to right. It was his seventh home run of the season and gave the Sea Dogs a 7-6 lead. The Patriots were able to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth inning on a Brandon Lockridge solo home run, forcing extra innings.
In the top of the 10th, Izzy Wilson started as the runner at second base for Portland. Hamilton moved him over with a sacrifice bunt and Abreu walked. Rafaela hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Wilson, taking an 8-7 lead. Somerset tied the game in the bottom of the 10th, driving in Jasson Dominguez who started at second base, on a single from Oliver Dunn, tying the game 8-8.
The Sea Dogs plated two runs in the top of the 11th inning. Rafaela was the runner at second base and advanced to third on a groundout from Christian Koss. Scott followed with a single, scoring Rafaela, giving Portland a 9-8 lead. Scott stole second base and Binelas singled to center, driving in Scott, taking a 10-8 lead. Somerset mustered one run in the bottom of the inning, but Portland held strong for the 10-9 win.
Brendan Nail (3-1, 3.63 ERA) tossed 1.0 innings, allowing one unearned run on one hit while striking out one in the win. Tanner Myatt (3-2, 4.39 ERA) hurled 2.0 innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits with one walk in his second loss of the season.
The Sea Dogs and Patriots play the second game of a six-game series on Wednesday with a 6:35 PM first pitch at TD Bank Ballpark. Portland sends RHP Brian Van Belle (6-4, 4.58 ERA) to the mound against Somerset RHP Randy Vazquez (2-6, 3.75 ERA).
• Discuss this story on the Eastern League message board…
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
