Game Recap: Portland’s Four Homers Defeat Ponies on Friday Night

 

For Immediate Release

Date: July 7, 2023 by Matt Levine

BoxScore

PORTLAND, ME – The Binghamton Rumble Ponies (3-6, 38-40) fell to the Portland Sea Dogs 6-1 on Friday night at Hadlock Field. The Sea Dogs have won three of the first four games in the series.

Binghamton scored its only run in the first inning. Rowdey Jordan drew a walk with two outs and Brandon McIlwain came up next. McIlwain faced a 3-2 count with two outs, which sent Jordan running from first on the pitch. McIlwain then hit an RBI bloop double that drove in Jordan to make it 1-0.

Portland (8-2, 43-36) took the lead in the third inning and never looked back. The Sea Dogs belted two of their four homers in the third frame. Tyler McDonough and Corey Rosier both hit solo shots to make it 2-1.

With Portland up 3-1 in the fifth, Phillip Sikes and Niko Kavadas belted solo homers to make it 5-1. Portland added another run on an RBI fielder’s choice from McDonough in the sixth to make it 6-1.

Portland’s starter CJ Liu shined and tied career highs with 10 strikeouts over seven innings.

The Rumble Ponies will continue their series with the Sea Dogs on Saturday night. First pitch is set for 6:00 PM and pregame coverage gets underway at 5:45 PM on the WNBF Rumble Ponies Radio Network.

Postgame Notes: McIlwain had a multi-hit game with a double and single…Sammy Tavarez faced the minimum over one inning of work...Jordan extended his hitting streak to four games with a single in the third…Jordan stole two bases in the game and now has 15 this year…Branden Fryman snapped his 12-game hitting streak.