Outfielder Cole Sturgeon not only pitched three scoreless innings in relief, but scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the 16th inning Thursday night in the Portland Sea Dogs’ 6-5 victory over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats before 4,602 at Hadlock.

Sturgeon, who was also an outfielder/reliever at the University of Louisville, allowed one hit and one walk over three innings. He led off the 16th with a single and went to third on Marco Hernandez’s single. After a walk to load the bases, New Hampshire reliever Cory Burns threw a wild pitch.

Sturgeon raced home to end it.

Before extra innings, Portland rallied from two deficits. Manuel Margot’s two-run double tied the game in the sixth.

Then, down 4-3 in the seventh, Jantzen Witte lined a two-out, two-run single to center.

Madison Younginer, who didn’t allow an earned run in June, pitched a scoreless eighth but began the ninth by walking Jorge Flores.

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Flores was sacrificed to second, bringing up outfielder Dalton Pompey, who began this season in Toronto. Pompey got his fourth hit of the night, singling to left to score Flores and make it 5-5.

Younginer gave up another single and left after a strikeout. Robby Scott relieved and issued a walk to load the bases.

Scott then struck out K.C. Hobson, keeping the score tied.

And it remained tied until the 16th.

New Hampshire got three runs off Portland starter Mike Augliera with seven hits, including a solo home run to right-center from Pompey.

Portland tied it with three-runs in the sixth, a rally started with two outs. Witte, who had been in a 15-for-85 slump (.174), doubled off the left-field wall. Sam Travis singled to left with Witte stopping at third. Carlos Asuaje greeted reliever Luis Perez with an RBI single to center.

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Margot followed with his double to left-center, tying the game.

New Hampshire got one in the seventh on a single, stolen base and Pompey’s RBI single to center.

Jake Romanski and Hernandez singed in the bottom of the seventh, and Witte came through with a two-run single.

But New Hampshire tied it, making for a long night.

NOTES: Friday’s 6 p.m. game is a sellout. … Reliever Jonathan Aro, who started this season in Portland and reached the majors, was sent back to Triple-A to make room for catcher Ryan Hanigan. … Shane Victorino, who was on a rehab assignment with the Sea Dogs on Tuesday and Wednesday, could be activated with Boston on Friday. … The top-rated prospect named to the Eastern League All-Star Game dropped out. Reading shortstop J.P. Crawford, the Phillies’ No.1 prospect, withdrew because of a prior commitment. Three other players have also withdrawn – Trenton infielder Eric Jagielo (injury), Reading pitcher Zach Eflin and New Britain catcher Tom Murphy. Eflin and Murphy are playing in the Pan-Am Games July 10-19. … Those four were replaced by Binghamton shortstop Gavin Cecchini (the Mets’ No. 10 shortstop, and younger brother of Red Sox prospect Garin Cecchini), Reading pitcher Stephen Shackleford and two New Hampshire players, catcher Jack Murphy and first baseman K.C. Hobson. … The All-Star Game is in Portland on July 15. A limited number of tickets are available. … Former Sea Dogs pitcher Brian Johnson was named to the International League squad for Triple-A All-Star Game on July 15 in Omaha, Nebraska. Johnson is 8-5 with a 2.68 ERA in Pawtucket. His manager, former Sea Dogs manager Kevin Boles, is a coach.

 


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