When Portland Sea Dogs starter William Cuevas faced the Trenton Thunder in New Jersey last week, he couldn’t locate his pitches and the result was predictable: a lot of baserunners and five runs in three innings.

Saturday was all about location. Cuevas (2-1) gave up one run on five hits over 5 1/3 innings in the Portland Sea Dogs’ 7-3 victory against Trenton at Hadlock Field.

The Sea Dogs broke out for five runs in the fifth inning to back Cuevas. Jantzen Witte and Dave Chester drove in two runs apiece.

“Just executed my pitches,” said Cuevas (2-1), who mixed his fastball, change-up and slider, striking out four and walking two.

The one run off Cuevas came in the fifth. Cito Culver doubled when right fielder Kevin Heller lost a fly ball in the sun. Dan Fiorito doubled Culver in for a 1-0 lead.

Trenton starter Brady Lail (0-2) handcuffed the Sea Dogs on one hit through four innings. But seven of the first eight batters then reached base in the fifth.

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Run-scoring singles by Carlos Asuaje and Witte gave Portland a 2-1 lead. Lail was replaced by Cesar Vargas with one out and the bases loaded.

Chester, the designated hitter, greeted Vargas with a two-run double down the left-field line. Luis Martinez followed with an RBI single to give Portland a 5-1 lead.

Trenton got a run off reliever Simon Mercedes in the seventh, but the Sea Dogs got it right back in the bottom of the inning.

Chester doubled again and eventually scored on Blake Tekotte’s grounder.

Witte then completed the scoring with an RBI double in the eighth.

It was the second straight win for the Sea Dogs (7-9), who have totaled 22 hits in the past two games.

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“We grind out (at-bats),” Witte said. “We’re showing we can do that.”

Witte continued his hot start, going 2 for 5 to boost his average to .365. His 16 RBI is tied for the Eastern League lead.

Left-handed reliever Robby Scott pitched the eighth and ninth for Portland, allowing one unearned run.

The announced paid attendance was 5,236.


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