Sea Dogs Double Up Mets 6-3 in Game Three Win

Castillo goes 2-3 w/2B, RBI, 2 R - Rodriguez goes five hitless - Kurcz earns Win

Portland, Maine - The Portland Sea Dogs (2-1) broke a tie with three in the seventh and held on to win 6-3 over the Binghamton Mets (1-2) in Game Three of the Eastern League's Eastern Division Championship Series Friday night at Hadlock Field. The win puts Portland in front by a game in the series, which can be clinched in Saturday's Game Four that now begins at 12:00 PM due to impending inclement weather.

Portland held a 3-2 lead heading to the final three innings, but Binghamton bounced back to tie it in the seventh against Eduardo Rodriguez.  The lefty retired the first two hitters to begin the inning, but walked Darrell Ceciliani to extend the frame.

Travis Taijeron followed and ripped a double to left that snuck by both the third baseman and Keury De La Cruz in left for a run scoring double, which tied the game at 3-3 and ended Rodriguez's night on the mound.

Portland picked up their starter and came back with three runs scored in the bottom half of the inning.
Rusney Castillo continued his big night with a one-out single to center against Paul Sewald and fired up the rally. Mike Miller followed with a single to center and Sean Coyle connected for another to left, on which Castillo scored from second, and gave the 'Dogs the 4-3 lead.

Portland was not done, as two batters later Carson Blair picked up an infield RBI single to short that scored Miller with ease. Coyle also trotted home as Wilfredo Tovar threw the ball away and Portland held the 6-3 lead.

Aaron Kurcz came on in relief with two down in the seventh and retired the first four men he faced in order, to begin his outing.  The Mets certainly made things interesting in the ninth and did not go quietly against the righty.

Kurcz retired the first man he faced, but walked Brian Burgamy and gave up a single to Jayce Boyd, bringing the tying run to the plate. Ceciliani flied to harmlessly flied to center for the second out and Taijeron gave a 2-0 fastball a ride to the warning track in left-center, a mile-high, which eventually settled into the glove of Shannon Wilkerson for the final out of the game.

Kurcz (1-0) brought home the win with two and one-third scoreless innings, in which he allowed just the hit and walk, while recording two strikeouts. Sewald (0-1) took the loss allowing three runs, one earned, on three hits, a walk and a strikeout.

Game Three began with a scoreless frame on each side, before the home team jumped in front with a run in the second against Steven Matz. Keury De La Cruz began the inning with a single and with one out David Chester and Stefan Welch each had base hits to load the bases for Heiker Meneses.

The shortstop swung at the first pitch he saw from the southpaw and lofted into right-center for a sacrifice fly, which scored De La Cruz and Portland held the 1-0 lead.

Rodriguez motored through the first five innings with relative ease, facing the minimum, allowing just one walk to the Binghamton lineup.

Portland tacked on another two runs on three hits in the fifth. Menses started the inning with a double on the first pitch from Matz and scored two batters later on Castillo's opposite field double to right, giving the home team the 2-0 lead. Miller followed with another single and Castillo scored to up the lead to 3-0.

Binghamton began its comeback with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. Xorge Carrillo doubled with one out, marking the first hit of the night for the Mets, and scored on Brandon Nimmo's two-out double to right. He then moved to third on an error in right, and scored on a wild pitch from Rodriguez, cutting the Sea Dogs' lead to 3-2.

The lefty went six and two-thirds, and allowed the three runs, two earned, on three hits, two walks, six strikeouts, and picked up the no-decision. Binghamton's starter, Matz went five-plus and allowed three earned on six hits, two walks and five strikeouts.

The Sea Dogs and Mets get ready for game four of the Eastern League's Eastern Division Championship Series Saturday afternoon at 12:00 PM from Hadlock Field. The Sea Dogs will send RHP Mike Augliera (8-10, 4.56) to the hill against Rainy Lara (6-4, 4.31) of the Mets. Radio coverage begins at 11:40 AM on the WPEI U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network and 11:55 AM on MiLB.TV.