PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland Sea Dogs scored two unearned runs — one in the seventh inning and one in the eighth — to defeat the Trenton Thunder 2-1 on Monday night to take the opener of the three-game Eastern League series.
The win ends a four-game losing streak for Portland (12-19), which had lost seven straight at Hadlock Field. It was the Sea Dogs’ first home win since April 25 against Trenton.
The game got off to a scary start in the bottom of the first when Jantzen Witte hit a line drive off the side of the jaw of Thunder pitcher Brady Lail. Lail would exit the game, but was alert and walked off the field under his own power.
Trenton (14-17) got on the board in the top of the sixth. A single by Aaron Judge, Eric Jagielo’s double and a sacrifice fly by Dante Bichette Jr. produced the run.
The Sea Dogs answered in the bottom of the seventh. With runners on first and second and nobody out, Reed Gragnani laid down a sacrifice bunt that Trenton pitcher Kyle Haynes threw past the first baseman, allowing Keury De La Cruz to score.
Portland took the lead in the eighth on a sac fly by De La Cruz that scored Carlos Asuaje, who had singled, advanced to second on an error and took third on a wild pitch.
Trenton finished the game 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
Kyle Martin (1-0) picked up the win for Portland, throwing three perfect innings in relief and striking out five. William Cuevas delivered his second straight quality start for the Sea Dogs, going six innings and allowing one run on five hits, while walking three and striking out six.
The series continues Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Hadlock Field.