Sea Dogs Make History in Series Opener

BINGHAMTON, NY – Portland pitchers Kyle Hart, Daniel McGrath, and Adam Lau combined for a no-hitter in the Sea Dogs’ 2-0 victory over the Binghamton Rumble Ponies on Thursday night at NYSEG Stadium. Only four Rumble Ponies reached base as Binghamton suffered their first no-hitter since September 2017.

Hart dazzled in his fourth start of the season, keeping the Rumble Ponies out of the hit column for 6-2/3 innings. The southpaw retired eleven straight hitters from the first through the fifth. The only marks on his tab were two hit batters and one walk. After retiring Patrick Mazeika in the seventh with his 96^th pitch, Hart handed off to McGrath. The Sea Dogs first reliever coaxed a fly out from Will Toffey, stranding the potential tying run on third base.

McGrath struck out two in a perfect eighth before Lau entered in the ninth. The righty set down pinch-hitter Braxton Lee, but walked Sam Haggerty. Representing the potential tying run, Gimenez struck out. Lau capped Portland’s historic game by getting Mike Paez to fly out to right fielder Aneury Tavarez.

Portland’s bats backed their pitchers’ historic effort with just enough offense. Luke Tendler dumped an RBI single into right in the seventh inning to break a scoreless game and added a sacrifice fly in the ninth.

Binghamton starter Mike Gibbons (2-2) took the hard-luck loss, despite striking out a career-high nine hitters. The righty held Portland to three hits in his first six scoreless innings, but exited after allowing back-to-back singles to start the seventh.

Hart (1-3) struck out six and walked one over 6-2/3 innings. Lau claimed his first save of the season.

The Rumble Ponies were no-hit for the first time since September 8, 2017, when they failed to register a hit against Justus Sheffield and Taylor Widener in Game 3 of the Eastern Division Championship Series against the Trenton Thunder. It was the first opponent no-hitter at NYSEG Stadium since May 9, 2013 when the Harrisburg Senators achieved the feat.

Binghamton (9-6) continues their series with Portland on Friday at 7:05 PM. RHP Harol Gonzalez takes the mound against RHP Denyi Reyes. The Horizons Federal Credit Union pregame show starts at 6:50 PM and can be heard on NewsRadio 1290 AM WNBF and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies channel on TuneIn.

POSTGAME NOTES: Portland’s no-hitter was the third posted by an Eastern League team this season…Binghamton has gone 2-for-53 at the plate in their last two games…Binghamton suffered their second straight shutout loss