The story early on was a pitchers duel between Portland starter Alex Wilson and New Britain's Liam Hendriks. No batter got past 2nd base until the third inning, when Mitch Dening scored on a bloop single by Alex Hassan. Through 5 innings, the two starters combined to give up 1 run on 9 hits, with 8 strikeouts and only 2 walks.
It all unraveled for Wilson in the sixth, as his pitch count was mounting. After getting two quick outs, Wilson gave up a walk, a double, and another walk to load the bases. He drew a full count on Romero, but walked him to bring home the tying run. It was the 106th and final pitch for Wilson, ending a strong outing on a down note.
Portland had a chance to retake the lead in the bottom of the sixth, but a couple mishaps doomed them. Alex Hassan led off the inning by hitting a dribbler down the 3rd base line. Hassan held up thinking it was a foul, but it stayed fair and New Britain got an easy out. Chih-Hsien Chiang then singled to left-center, and instead of two on, none out, it was one on, one out. Vladimir Frias came on to pinch-run for a hobbled Chiang, and had a blunder of his own. Tony Thomas doubled to the right field corner, a play which Frias should have easily scored on, but he paused at 2nd before making it to 3rd. Tim Federowicz was intentionally walked to load the bases, with only one out. Oscar Tejeda popped out in foul territory and Jorge Padron grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning, and the score stayed tied.
In the bottom of the seventh, with a chance to walk off with a win, Ryan Khoury struck out looking on a borderline pitch to send the game to extra innings. New Britain reliever Deoils Guerra would strand Frias at 2nd with back-to-back strikeouts to end the eighth, setting the stage for Romero's heroics.
Fernandes first pitch of the ninth was crushed over the Monster by Romero, breaking the tie and killing the Sea Dogs spirit. Jeremy Hazelbaker grounded out with a man on to end the game.
Wilson's final line: 5 2/3 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 5 walks, 5 strikeouts. He lowered his ERA to 2.82 and did not factor into the decision.
Hendriks lasted 6 innings, giving up 1 run on 7 hits, striking out 4, and only walking Federowicz intentionally.
Brian Dozier led New Britain with 3 hits, and Romero drove in both runs.
The Sea Dogs #9 spot had 3 hits, as Dening went 2 for 3, and Reynaldo Rodriguez had a pinch hit in the 9th.
Fernandes pitched 3 1/3 innings and picked up the loss, his 3rd of the year.
Guerra picked up the win, his 5th of the year, striking out 4 in 2 innings.
Tyler Robertson picked up his 9th save of the year, allowing just Rodriguez's single in 1 inning of work.
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