Almanzar with an inside-the-park homer, Natoli 5-for-5Binghamton, New York - The Portland Sea Dogs (28-18) had leads of 5-0 and 7-2, but needed two runs in the top of the ninth inning to beat the Binghamton Mets (26-22), 10-9 on Friday night at NYSEG Stadium. Portland has won four straight and holds a three-game lead over the B-Mets for the top spot in the Eastern Division.
With the game tied at eight, Portland scored twice off losing pitcher Jeff Walters in the ninth (0-2). Walters has both losses and all runs allowed this season to Portland. Michael Almanzar led off the rally with a triple and scored on a wild pitch. Nick Natoli capped off a career night, going 5-for-5 with a run-scoring double to right.
Brock Huntzinger gave up an RBI double to Josh Rodriguez in the ninth, but retired Cesar Puello to earn his 11th save of the season. Friday night's game took 3 hours and 57 minutes to play.
Almanzar hit an inside-the-park grand slam in the first inning off Cory Mazzoni. On April 15th Heiker Meneses hit the franchise's sixth inside-the-park homer, ironically in Binghamton. Almanzar and current Red Sox Roving Instructor George Lombard are the two players in franchise history to hit an inside-the-park grand slam. Lombard hit his on June 24, 2004 at Erie.
Portland grabbed a two-out run in the second off Mazzoni. Natoli, who was assigned to the Sea Dogs earlier in the day, started the rally with a single to center. After a sacrifice bunt by Matt Johnson and a single by Shannon Wilkerson, Tony Thomas nailed a two-out, run-scoring single to right field.
Binghamton got on the board in the fifth inning, knocking Anthony Ranaudo out of the game after 4.2 innings pitched (4 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 4 SO). Ranaudo threw 96 pitches (59 strikes) and left the game after Cesar Puello's fielder's choice. Miguel Celestino relieved Ranaudo, and allowed back-to-back RBI doubles (Allan Dykstra and Cory Vaughn).
Xander Bogaerts extended Portland's lead to 7-2, delivering a two-run single in the sixth off Dylan Owen. The Mets responded with a run on a passed ball by Christian Vazquez.
The two teams would exchange runs again in the seventh, but Binghamton scored four times. Natoli delivered a run scoring, bloop-single to right, extending Portland's advantage to 8-3. Binghamton cut the
lead to 8-4 on a lead-off homer by Puello, his seventh of the season. Blake Forsythe crushed a two-run homer to left-center field, making it 8-6 Portland.
Miguel Celestino gave up five runs (four earned) on five hits, three walks, two strikeouts and two homers over 2+ innings of work. Keith Couch relieved Celestino, and yielded run-scoring double to Wilfredo Tovar, making it a one run game.
Binghamton tied the game in the eighth on Darrell Ceciliani's infield single, scoring Josh Rodriguez. Despite allowing two runs, Couch earned his third win of the season.
Both dugouts would empty in the eighth inning after Thomas hit-by-a-pitch for the second time. Nobody was ejected.
Portland is 10 games over .500 for the second time this season.
Prime Motor Group Player of the Game: Nick Natoli (5-for-5, 2 RBI)
The Sea Dogs and Binghamton Mets continue their four-game series on Saturday night at NYSEG Stadium with a 7:05 first pitch. Lefty Drake Britton (3-4, 4.79) makes his 10th appearance of the season for Portland. Binghamton sends right-hander Logan Verrett (6-1, 3.28) to the hill.
Radio coverage begins at 6:45 PM on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network and via the Tune-In Radio app for smartphones and tablets. The Sea Dogs return home to Hadlock Field on May 28th against New Hampshire. Tickets are available by calling 207-879-9500 or at seadogs.com.
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