Sea Dogs rally, but lose in 10th to Flying Squirrels
Portland fell 8‑7 to Richmond in a late‑innings rollercoaster that left the Sea Dogs’ four‑game win streak snapped and pushed them 4½ games back from Reading in the Northeast Division’s second‑half standings.
The game was played Sunday evening in Richmond, Virginia, with the Sea Dogs (29‑28) hoping to keep the momentum from a hot stretch that saw them win their last four outings. Instead, the Flying Squirrels (who led the division with a 7‑2 record) out‑scored the visitors in key moments, earning the victory and extending their own winning run.
Richmond’s dominance began early. Lisbel Diaz launched a three‑run homer in the first inning, giving the Flying Squirrels a 3‑0 cushion. The advantage was amplified in the second when Trevor Cohen delivered a solo home run that pushed the lead to 5‑1. The first two innings, therefore, set the stage for a Richmond‑run out.
Portland answered in the third. Garcia belted a home run, and the Sea Dogs’ offense tightened up in the fourth with Nelly Taylor’s RBI single, trimming the deficit to 5‑3. However, the teams traded runs and the game remained tied in the sixth when Portland managed a run of their own. By the seventh, Richmond had pulled ahead again, but the score was still a one‑run difference.
The decisive surge came in the ninth inning. With the score tied 6‑6, Portland’s Cade Rose drew a walk to lead off the top of the frame. Tyler McDonough followed with a two‑run home run to bring the Sea Dogs into the lead, 6‑5. After a single by Johanfran Garcia, Yoeilin Cespedes doubled and scored, sealing a three‑run rally that put Portland in front for the first time in the game.
The lead proved temporary. In the bottom of the ninth, Lisbel Diaz grounded out for an RBI, tying the game at 7‑7. The tension carried into the tenth, where automatic runner Ahbram Liendo scored on a groundout by McDonough, giving Portland a 8‑7 advantage.
The Flying Squirrels answered swiftly. With the bases loaded after a walk by Zane Zielinski, Trevor Cohen stepped to the plate. He hit a single that brought in the winning run, and Richmond emerged victorious, 8‑7.
The loss not only halted Portland’s four‑game streak but also deepened the gap between the Sea Dogs and division leader Reading. The Sea Dogs will look to regroup in their next outing, while the Flying Squirrels will celebrate another hard‑earned win in their quest to maintain the division’s top spot.
