Sea Dogs Lose First Series of Season With Yankees' Affiliate

(Photo Source: Yawkey Way Report)

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After winning their first series of the season against the New Britain Rock Cats, the Portland Sea Dogs dropped three of four games to the New York Yankees' Double-A affiliate, Trenton Thunder, in their first match-up of the season.

Portland opened the four-game series with a 3-2 loss in extra innings on Thursday night at Arm & Hammer Park in Trenton, NJ, in front of a crowd of 6,495. The Sea Dogs trailed 1-0 until the top of the seventh, when left fielder Keury De La Cruz hit an inside-the-park-home run on a ball to left field. Trenton scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game at two runs a piece, and before the Thunder's right fielder, Aaron Judge, drilled the first pitch he saw for a walk off home run in the bottom of the 10th.

Sea Dogs' starter Mike Augliera earned his second loss of the season in the 7-0 loss on Friday night, tossing 6 1/3 innings while allowing three earned runs on six hits, bringing his ERA to 4.50 on the season. The Thunder tagged Portland reliever Kyle Martin for four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, putting the contest out of reach.

Mike McCarthy was able to earn the first and only win of the series for the Sea Dogs in Saturday's contest, allowing no runs on two hits and two walks over five innings. Portland scored five times in the second inning to bust the game open, and added runs in the sixth and ninth innings to complete the 10-1 victory.

The Thunder tagged Sea Dogs' starter William Cuevas for five runs over three innings on Sunday afternoon, bringing his record to 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA on the season. Portland relievers Jonathan Aro and Dyan Diaz continued their impressive start to the season, however, tossing a combined five innings of scoreless relief, bringing their ERA's to 1.00 and 1.69, respectively.

The Sea Dogs open their next series on the road today, taking on the New Britain Rock Cats for a three-game set.