PORTLAND, Maine – At least it wasn’t a walk.
For the third time this week, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats allowed a walk-off victory, this time ending in a 3-2 victory for the Portland Sea Dogs.
Unlike the dual walk-off walks allowed during Saturday’s doubleheader in Trenton, this walk-off came courtesy of a Danny Mars suicide squeeze, tapped just short of the midpoint between third base, home plate and the pitcher’s mound.
Mars eventually ended up on second thanks to a throwing error from Cavan Biggio, New Hampshire’s third error of the night, allowing Chris Madera to come across the plate in the process.
The throw negated a two-RBI double Biggio created in the sixth, giving New Hampshire a lead that was negated half an inning later by a Michael Chavis homer.
As one would expect in a game decided by a bunt, pitchers on both sides held things in check for much of the night, with New Hampshire Starting Pitcher TJ Zeuch limiting the Sea Dogs to just two hits during his five-inning appearance.
Biggio’s double was the last hit of the night for New Hampshire. Portland Reliever Adam Lau immediately entered the contest after that hit and retired 12 of the next 14 New Hampshire batters.
Lau made way for Jordan Weems in the ninth, and Weems continued to stymie the ‘Cat bats, putting him in position for the win.
Weems rose to 4-3 on the year while Zach Jackson fell to 2-3. Jackson did not record an out, facing only two batters: Mars and Madera, who reached one at-bat earlier on another error, that one by Bo Bichette.
Biggio and Max Pentecost each collected two hits for New Hampshire.
The teams meet again with a new venue on Wednesday as the rivalry continues in Manchester with a doubleheader starting at 5:35 p.m.
