PORTLAND, Maine — The Trenton Thunder scored once in the eighth inning and three times in the ninth to shock the Portland Sea Dogs 9-8 and take the rubber match of their three-game Eastern League series at Hadlock Field on Wednesday afternoon.
Portland (12-21) led 7-5 after seven innings and 8-6 after eight before Trenton (16-17) rallied in the top of the ninth off of Madison Younginer.
After Eric Jagielo’s leadoff double, Gary Sanchez hammered a home run off of the Sullivan Tire sign above the Maine Monster to tie the game at 8-8. Later in the ninth, Dan Fiorito hit a sinking line drive to left field with two outs that got past Keury De La Cruz, who made an attempt at a sliding catch. Taylor Dugas scored from first on the play.
The eight runs for the Sea Dogs were the most they’d scored since a 10-1 win over Trenton on April 24. Oscar Tejeda provided the majority of the Portland offense, delivering a two-out, two-run, bases-loaded double in the third and a two-out, two-run, bases-loaded single in the fourth.
Tejeda finished 4-for-6 with three doubles, four RBIs and a run scored. It was his first four-hit game of 2015.
Trenton used six pitchers in the game. Caleb Cotham (3-2) earned the win while Mark Montgomery picked up his fifth save of the season.
Portland starter Luis Diaz allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits in five innings, walking three and striking out four. Eric Wooten started for Trenton and allowed six earned runs on five hits in 3⅓ innings.
Portland begins a four-game road trip Thursday at 6:35 p.m. against the New Britain Rock Cats, who have won 12 games in a row. Mike Augliera (1-5, 5.59) will face off against Yohan Flande (5-0, 1.36).