Portland, Maine - The Portland Sea Dogs (11-8)(46-41) fell 7-2 against the Somerset Patriots (8-11)(46-43) on Friday night in front of a sold-out crowd, the Sea Dogs’ 12th sellout of the season.
Brooks Brannon hit an opposite-field home run, his fifteenth of the season. Reigning Eastern League Player of the Week Ronald Rosario doubled and scored, while third baseman Jack Winnay extended his hit streak to ten games.
Somerset jumped on LHP Dalton Rogers early, loading the bases in the first inning on a double and two free passes. A two-RBI single from Connor McGinnis put Somerset on the board before Rogers bounced back with a strikeout to record the final out of the inning.
McGinnis launched a solo shot in the third to extend the lead to 3-0.
Somerset exploded again in the fourth, with four straight hits to start the inning. They eventually brought four runs across on five hits and a walk, and the Sea Dogs trailed 7-0.
Brannon’s home run ignited the crowd in Portland in the sixth inning. The Sea Dogs scored another run on a bases loaded balk, but stranded two in scoring position.
RHP Michael Arias (2-0, 5.13 ERA) earned the win, holding Portland hitless and scoreless in 1.2 innings of work with a pair of strikeouts. LHP Dalton Rogers (1-3, 5.20 ERA) shouldered the loss, allowing seven runs on seven hits in 3.0 innings pitched with two walks, two hit batters, and four strikeouts.
Tomorrow night, RHP Anthony Eyanson (3-0, 1.78 ERA) will face off against RHP Chase Hampton (0-2, 7.27 ERA) as the Sea Dogs celebrate Christmas in July. First pitch is set for 6:00 pm at Delta Dental Park.