Power Play: 'Dogs Hit Four Homers En Route to 7-0 Win in Game Two‏

Welch hits two homers, Haley goes six scoreless in Game Two win

Binghamton, New York - The Portland Sea Dogs (1-1) powered up and tied the series with a 7-0 win over the Binghamton Mets (1-1) in Game Two of the Eastern League's Eastern Division Championship Series at NYSEG Stadium. The win for Portland not only ties the series, but also insures that there will be a Game Four Saturday night at Hadlock Field.

The Sea Dogs quickly shook off the walk-off loss from the night prior and broke out in a huge way against Greg Peavey and the B-Mets. The 'Dogs picked up two base runners and had them at the corners, but could not score in the first.

The second inning was a different story. Stefan Welch charged up and powered a 1-1 pitch from his former teammate Peavey over the right field wall for a solo shot, which put Portland in front 1-0. The next two batters were retired before Mike Brenly stepped in.

The catcher hit a three-hopper to short that Wilfredo Tovar booted and the inning continued on the E6
. Shannon Wilkerson followed and connected for a triple to right, which plated Brenly; the throw to get the batter strayed away from third and Wilkerson scored making it 3-0 Sea Dogs.

Mike Miller kept the inning alive with an opposite field single in front of Sean Coyle. The second baseman powered up for the second night in a row and crushed another homer, his second in as many nights, and Portland held the 5-0 lead.

Justin Haley was on the hill for the visitors and he picked up where his Double-A season left off. The righty worked the first in perfect fashion, pitched around two base runners in the second and held Binghamton at bay.

Peavey (0-1) returned to the mound for the third and threw three pitches to Welch before his night came to an end. The first baseman took the third up and out of NYSEG Stadium for a mammoth solo home run, his second of the night and upped the Portland lead to 6-0.

Haley (1-0) cruised with the huge lead and faced the minimum in the third and retired the side in order in the fourth.

Keury De La Cruz jumped in on the offensive attack in the fifth with an opposite-field solo home run against Matt Koch, the fourth of the night for Portland, and gave the 'Dogs the 7-0 lead.

From there it was all pitching for the 'Dogs. Haley polished off his outing working the fifth and sixth in scoreless fashion. He did allow four Mets to reach over those two innings, but struck out a pair and picked up a 3-6-3 double play to wrap up his night.

Haley went the first six shutout innings and allowed five hits, a walk, a hit batter and eight strikeouts. It marked his seventh start in Double-A and all seven have now been quality starts.

Wilfredo Boscan took over in the seventh and closed the game out on the mound with three scoreless frames. He earned the first save of the postseason for the Sea Dogs.

Peavey took the loss and lasted just two-plus innings. He gave up six runs, two earned on eight hits, three homers; he walked one and struck out two. Koch gave up just the one run on the solo shot by De La Cruz over three innings and three more arms combined to pitch four scoreless.

Thursday night marked the third time on the season that the Sea Dogs tallied four home runs in one game and also the third time four double plays were turned in one match.

The Sea Dogs and Mets hit the road and get set to play game three of the five game series, Friday night at 6:00 PM from Hadlock Field. LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (6-8, 3.60) is slated to go for the 'Dogs and the Mets are scheduled to send LHP Steven Matz (6-5, 2.27) to the mound in Game 3 of the Eastern League Eastern Division Championship Series. Radio coverage begins at 5:40 PM on the WPEI U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network and 5:55 PM on MiLB.TV.