Sea Dogs ride 7-run inning to win over Rumble Ponies
Sea Dogs’ Fourth‑Inning Power Surge Sparks 8‑4 Victory Over Rumble Ponies
PORTLAND, ME — The Portland Sea Dogs out‑scored the Binghamton Rumble Ponies 8‑4 on Friday night in a high‑energy Eastern League contest at Hadlock Field. A blistering second inning that produced seven runs sealed the win, and the game also featured two notable rehab appearances for Boston Red Sox affiliates.
The Sea Dogs’ offense exploded early, as Will Turner and Brooks Brannon each belted a two‑run homer. Their blasts came in a single inning, giving Portland an 8‑0 lead before Binghamton even answered. “We’ve been working hard all week, and it’s great to see it translate into big hits,” Turner said after the game. Brannon’s home run followed a long, slow‑motion drive that crossed the left‑field fence, adding a second two‑run blast to the inning’s tally.
Portland’s third‑run homer came from Ronald Rosario, who added a single‑handed blast to the inning’s haul. “We’re just trying to keep the momentum going,” Rosario said. His homer contributed to a total of 11 hits for the Sea Dogs, who also recorded five doubles and three triples over the course of the game.
The Rumble Ponies were unable to match the Sea Dogs’ power surge. They managed only four runs, all coming in the early innings before the Sea Dogs’ bullpen took over. Binghamton’s starting pitcher, Yordanny Monegro, went three innings and allowed four runs on eight hits. He was relieved by rookie pitcher Tanner Houck, who made a rehab appearance for the Red Sox. Houck was credited with the win, striking out four and walking one as he allowed just one hit and a single run over three innings of relief. He threw 48 pitches before being lifted for the rest of the night.
The game also served as a rehab stop for Boston’s first baseman Willson Contreras. Contreras, who had been sidelined with a left‑hand injury earlier in the season, appeared as the designated hitter in the Sea Dogs’ lineup. He finished 2‑for‑4, driving in two runs with a single that sent a runner home. The two RBIs came from a single off the left‑field fence that rattled the Rumble Ponies’ defense in the second inning.
Portland’s victory was a boost for the Sea Dogs as they chase playoff contention in the Eastern League. The 8‑4 win improves their record to 20‑18, keeping them within a half game of the second‑place spot. The Rumble Ponies now sit at 16‑22, falling behind the division leaders by five games.
“Playing with the big clubs on a rehab basis is always exciting,” Sea Dogs manager Matt Giles said after the game. “It’s good to see our players get back in action against solid competition.”
The game, played Friday night at Hadlock Field, drew a crowd of 2,500 fans, many of whom came to see the Sea Dogs’ power hitters in action. The stadium’s intimate setting amplified the roar of the crowd whenever a long ball was hit, especially during the second‑inning flurry.
With the Sea Dogs’ offense firing on all cylinders and a bullpen that kept the Rumble Ponies from mounting a comeback, Portland takes the confidence back to the field for their next matchup on Saturday night. The Rumble Ponies will look to regroup and adjust after a night that saw their pitching staff struggle against an explosive Sea Dogs lineup.
