Sea Dogs open up the trip in style, 8-2 in Binghamton

Roof & Tekotte hit back-to-back homers, Witte 3 RBI

Binghamton, New York - The Sea Dogs (20-26) scored 5 runs in the seventh inning for the second straight game, and held on for an 8-5 win over the Binghamton Mets (24-21) on Tuesday night at NYSEG Stadium in the opener of a three-game set.

Portland has won four straight road games, improving to 10-9 away from Hadlock Field. The Sea Dogs scored their runs in just two innings, and need one more win on the trip to clinch a winning-road record for May.

Right-hander Joe Gunkel (2-0) has wins in both Double-A starts for the Sea Dogs. Gunkel worked 5+ innings, giving up 9 hits, 2 runs, one walk and 3 strikeouts. B-Mets righty Gabriel Ynoa (2-3) suffered the loss on his 22nd birthday. Ynoa yielded 7 hits and 5 runs over 6.1 IP.Pat Light worked the final 1.1 innings, earning his second Double-A save. Light has not allowed an earned run in 13 of 16 outings. The righty put two on in the ninth inning, but the 'Dogs turned a 5-4-3 double play to end the game. Portland turned a season-high 3 double plays.

Jantzen Witte went 2-for-4 with 3 RBI, picking up his team-leading 10 th multi-RBI game. Blake
Tekotte finished with 2 RBI, adding a solo-homer and a run-scoring single. The Sea Dogs couldn't figure out Ynoa until the third inning. With one out, Jonathan Roof and Tekotte hit back-to-back homers and Witte delivered a two-out RBI single, giving Portland a 3-0 lead.

Binghamton would knock Gunkel out of the game in the sixth inning, scoring two runs, and cutting the deficit to 3-2 Portland. Josh Rodriguez led off with a solo-homer to left field. Kraus relieved Gunkel with nobody out, but allowed a run-scoring double to Aderlin Rodriguez, who also hit a two-run homer off of Kraus in the eighth inning.

Portland would respond in the seventh inning, sending 10 men to the plate, scoring 5 runs to take an 8-2 lead. Tekotte, Carlos Asuaje and Keury De La Cruz had RBI singles. Witte nailed a two-run double.

The Sea Dogs scored in just two innings and had their 12 hits sprinkled over four frames. Binghamton had back-to-back Major League Rehab Assignments. Vic Black pitched a scoreless eighth and Bobby Parnell allowed a walk during a scoreless ninth.

The Sea Dogs and Binghamton Mets play game two of their series tonight, first pitch comes at 6:35 PM. Pre-Game coverage begins live on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network at 6:15 PM. William Cuevas (5-2, 3.24) makes the start for Portland. Binghamton counters with Dillon Gee, who makes a Major League Rehab Assignment.

Portland's next homestand begins June 2nd - tickets are still available for all Sea Dogs remaining home games as well as the Sullivan Tire Eastern League All-Star Classic on July 15th. Call the ticket office at 207-879-9500 or buy tickets online at seadogs.com.