Trenton tops Portland 3-2 in 10 innings

Trenton, New Jersey - The Trenton Thunder (4-3) celebrated Opening Night at Arm & Hammer Park with a 3-2 win over the Portland Sea Dogs (3-4) in 10-innings. Aaron Judge delivered the drama, blasting a two-out walk-off homer. Portland had their two-game winning streak snapped; the Thunder ended a three-game losing streak.

Cesar Vargas (1-0) pitched a perfect 10th to earn his first Double-A win. Madison Younginer (0-1) suffered the loss.

The night featured an inside-the-park homer in the seventh inning by Keury De La Cruz to tie the game at one. De La Cruz hit a line drive down the left-field line off Mason Williams' glove into foul territory.  De La Cruz is the 7th player in franchise history to hit an inside-the-park homer, the third as a Red Sox affiliate. Ironically, Heiker Meneses hit one exactly two years ago in Binghamton

Portland took a 2-1 lead in the eighth inning on a run-scoring single from Carlos Asuaje. Asuaje's hit would be Portland's final baserunner.  Trenton tied the game in the ninth inning on a two-out single from Williams. They scored their first run with two outs in the fifth on a double from Cito Culver.

Both starters were excellent. Luis Diaz worked into the sixth, giving up just one run on 5 hits and 6 strikeouts over 5.1 IP. Trenton's Miguel Sulbaran fired 5.2 scoreless on 2 hits, one walk and one strikeout.

Simon Mercedes had his finest Double-A outing, working 2.2 scoreless and 3 strikeouts for Portland.

The Sea Dogs and Thunder play game two of their series tonight at Arm & Hammer Park. RHP Mike Augliera (0-1, 4.91) takes on Trenton's RHP Taylor Garrison. Coverage on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network begins at 6:40. MiLB.TV starts at 6:55 PM.

The Sea Dogs return home to Hadlock Field on April 23rd.  For tickets, visit the Sea Dogs website at www.seadogs.com or call the ticket office at 207-879-9500.