TRENTON, New Jersey — The Trenton Thunder scored five times in the second and beat the Portland Sea Dogs 5-1 on Sunday afternoon at Arm & Hammer Park. Trenton took three of four, winning their first series from Portland in New Jersey since June 21-23, 2013.
Yankees top pitching prospect Luis Severino (1-0) earned his first win of the season for the Thunder (6-4). Severino gave up just one run, a fifth-inning RBI single to Jantzen Witte (2-for-5).
William Cuevas (1-1) took his first loss of the season for Portland (4-6), giving up all five runs with two outs in the third. Cuevas lasted three innings, giving up 4 hits, 5 runs, 4 walks and one strikeout. Portland received three scoreless innings from Jonathan Aro and two scoreless from Dayan Diaz.
Trenton took advantage of three walks in the third inning off Cuevas. Eric Jagielo cleared the bases with a triple and Dante Bichette Jr. followed with a run-scoring double. Mason Williams knocked in the fifth run with a bloop single.
The Thunder bullpen closed out the game with four scoreless innings from Johnny Barbato (1⅔), Kyle Haynes (1⅓) and Mark Montgomery.
Tim Roberson was activated from the disabled list before Sunday’s game and went 1-for-4, scoring the ‘Dogs lone run in the fifth inning on Witte’s single.
Portland had 13 baserunners (5 hits and 8 walks), but finished 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
Sea Dogs roll on Saturday
The Portland Sea Dogs scored five times in the second inning and pounded out a season-high 16 hits en route to a 10-1 victory over the Trenton Thunder in an Eastern League game at Arm & Hammer Park.
The win snapped a two-game losing streak in the series for Portland (5-4), which will look for the split on Sunday afternoon.
Right-hander Mike McCarthy (1-1) was outstanding for Portland, earning his first win of the season. McCarthy yielded just two hits and fanned three over five scoreless inning.
Trenton’s first two batters singled off McCarthy in the first inning, but he induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Mike Brenly (3-for-5, 3 RBI), Mike Miller (4-for-6, 3 RBI) and Jantzen Witte (2-for-4, 3 RBI) went a combined 9-for-15 (.600) with 9 RBI to power the Sea Dogs.
Portland put together its best inning of the season in the second against losing pitcher Caleb Smith (0-2). With one out, Brenly put the ‘Dogs on the board with a two-run single.
Miller, Witte and Keury De La Cruz added two-out RBIs. The Sea Dogs sent 11 men to the plate, knocking Smith out of the game after 1⅔ innings.
Witte added icing on the cake in the sixth inning, nailing a two-out, two-run single to right field, extending the lead to 7-0.
In the ninth, Portland scored three runs off Cesar Vargas. Brenly provided an RBI groundout and Miller added a two-run single.
Pat Light relieved McCarthy in the sixth, working two scoreless innings with three strikeouts and one unearned run. Madison Younginer closed out the game with two innings.