Dogs Rally Falls Short

1B Ike Davis blasted a game-winning, 2-run homer in the 7th inning off losing pitcher LHP Tommy Hottovy (0-2) as the Binghamton Mets (49-79) defeated the Portland Sea Dogs (61-67) 3-2 on Wednesday night at NYSEG Stadium.

Mets starter LHP Mike Antonini (7-3) tossed seven strong innings on seven hits and two runs to earn the win. The lefty fanned three, walked three and beat Portland for the second time this season.

In the ninth inning, C Luis Exposito lined a one-out single to right field, knocking reliever LHP Roydrick Merritt out of the game. RHP Jose De La Torre issued back-to-back walks but retired 3B Iggy Suarez (strikeout) and LF Daniel Nava (ground out) to end the game. De La Torre picked up his first save in four opportunities.

Hottovy worked a perfect sixth inning but allowed a single to 3B Shawn Bowman and the homer to Davis to start the seventh. RHP Chris Province closed out the game with 1.1 scoreless innings.

RHP Ryne Miller made his professional start and fired five strong innings on two hits, one unearned run, one free-pass but fanned eight. Miller recorded a strikeout to end all five innings he pitched, retiring the final seven batters faced.

The B-Mets grabbed a 1-0 lead with an unearned run off Miller in the second inning. LF DJ Wabick reached on an infield single and advanced to second base on a passed ball. DH Salvador Paniagua hit a slow roller towards the middle which was fielding by SS Yamaico Navarro but a throwing error enabled Paniagua to reach. SS Jose Coronado laced the first pitch to left field for a sac-fly, scoring Wabick.

Portland tied the game in the next half inning off Antonini. Nava singled and move to third base on a double by RF Ryan Kalish. 3B Jorge Jimenez tied the game with a sacrifice fly to left field. 2B Ryan Khoury snapped a 1-1 tie with a run-scoring single to left-center field in sixth inning, scoring Kalish, who doubled with one out.

Wabick left the game with an injury but Jonathan Malo made three outstanding catches in left field, including a leaping grab over the wall in the fifth inning to rob Navarro of a homer.

Portland and Binghamton meet for the final time in 2009 on Thursday night beginning at 6:30 PM from NYSEG Stadium. Catch all the action on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network beginning at 6:00 PM with the Pre-Game Show built by CorrectDeck.

Notes…Miller made his first professional start in his 79th appearance of his career...Nava went 2-for-5 and has 3 consecutive multi-hit games…The Sea Dogs need to win their final six road games to finish .500 overall for the season…Kalish had two doubles after going 0-for-5 in the series opener…Portland and Binghamton will play a rubber game tomorrow night – the ‘Dogs are 2-7 in rubber games.