Matt Harvey frustrated Sea Dogs hitters for 5 innings, tallying 9 strikeouts while only giving up 2 runs. The Sea Dogs let that frustration out on the Mets' relievers, as they scored 5 runs in the seventh inning en route to a 7-4 victory over Binghamton.
The Sea Dogs got their licks in on Harvey in the first inning. After Jeremy Hazelbaker struck out to lead off the inning, Ryan Khoury walked, and Chih-Hsien Chiang doubled to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. Will Middlebrooks then doubled to center to drive in a pair. Middlebrooks was then left stranded as Harvey settled down, and settled in.
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Harvey gave up two walks and a single to load the bases in the second inning, but struck out Chiang looking to end the threat. He would strand runners at 2nd base in both the third and fourth innings. In the fifth inning he would get his only 1-2-3 inning of the outing, but he finished strong, getting Middlebrooks and Tim Federowicz to strike out looking. Six of his nine strikeouts were on called strikes, as he mastered umpire Shaun Lampe's strike zone.
Alex Wilson was not as sharp as Harvey, but was just as effective at preventing runs. Wilson lasted 5 2/3 innings, while allowing a season-high 9 hits, but giving up just 2 runs. He struck out 6 and walked none, and finished off his outing by striking out Raul Reyes.
With Harvey out of the picture the Portland offense was able to wake up in the game-changing seventh inning. Heiker Meneses led off with a double high off the wall in right field that just barely stayed under the yellow home run line. Hazelbaker then dropped a sacrifice bunt down the 3rd base line, and reached safely when Jordany Valdespin couldn't handle the throw to first base. Menses scored on the error. Ryan Khoury then had quite the at-bat, as he fouled off numerous pitches before connecting on the 13th pitch for an RBI double. After Chiang flew out to right, Middlebrooks stepped to the plate and showed some muscle. He blasted a 2-run home run into the batters eye to straight center, a landmark that few can reach. It was Middlebrooks' 11th home run for the Sea Dogs, and gave him 4 RBIs on the night.
Two batters later Oscar Tejeda lined a 3-2 pitch past the shortstop to keep the inning alive. After stealing 2nd, he would score when Mitch Dening's grounder was misplayed by Valdespin and dribbled into shallow center field.
The Mets would make it interesting in the ninth inning, as they weren't content with giving the Sea Dogs an easy victory. After reliever Charle Rosario induced two fly outs to get two quick outs, Valdespin got some redemption with a single. He would then make it to third when Middlebrooks let a Josh Satin grounder roll under his glove. Allan Dykstra would then get his own redemption, knocking an RBI single into center field after striking out in each of his first 4 at-bats. Dusty Ryan would drive in two more with a single after a wild pitch advanced the runners. Sea Dogs manager Kevin Boles decided he'd seen enough, and brought in closer Blake Maxwell to get the final out. Maxwell needed just one pitch, as Salomom Manriquez hit a slow bouncer to 3rd that Middlebrooks gloved and fired to first for the final out.
Cesar Cabral picked up the win, his 2nd of the season, after pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Brad Holt took the loss, his 7th of the year, after giving up 3 runs on 2 hits in 1+ innings.
Middlebrooks went 2 for 4, with 4 RBIs and a run scored as he showed again why he is considered one of the top prospects in all of baseball. His play to get the final out of the game showed that he can also shine defensively.
Maxwell's one pitch earned him his 9th save of the year, as he has become a key cog in the Sea Dogs bullpen.
Michael Lee will take the mound tomorrow for Portland in the 2nd game of the 3-game series against Binghamton. He is just 1-4 with a 5.33 ERA this season.
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Sea Dogs Manager Kevin Boles
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