Aaron Judge, the top power-hitting prospect in the New York Yankees’ farm system, kept coming up with runners on base Tuesday night.

His first three chances, he grounded out or flew out. He didn’t miss his fourth chance.

Portland’s Jantzen Witte applies the tag a split second too late to get Trenton baserunner Mason Williams on a pickoff attempt by Portland catcher Luis Martinez during the Sea Dogs’ 6-3 loss Tuesday at Hadlock Field. Gabe Souza/Staff Photographer

Judge delivered a two-out, two-run double on a full-count pitch in the seventh inning to break open a close game and lead Trenton to a 6-3 victory over the Portland Sea Dogs at Hadlock Field.

“The guys ahead of me just got on base and gave me an opportunity to come up big for the team,” said Judge, referring to Jake Cave and Mason Williams, each of whom had three hits.

The loss was the fifth in six games for the Sea Dogs, who fell to 1-4 on a homestand that ends Wednesday with an 11 o’clock matinee against Trenton.

After falling behind 4-0 early, the Dogs battled back to make it 4-3 in the sixth. Oscar Tejeda’s two-run triple was the big hit. He scored on an infield grounder by Keury De La Cruz.

Sea Dogs pitcher Kyle Kraus, in relief of starter Justin Haley (0-4), got two quick outs in the seventh before Cave and Williams singled up the middle, and Judge followed with his grounder into the left-field corner.

“They kind of took momentum,” said Judge, who stands 6-foot-7 and tips the scales at 275, “but we were able to snag it back with those two runs.”

The Sea Dogs brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth thanks to a single by Reed Gragnani and a walk from Luis Martinez, but Jonathan Roof grounded sharply to short for a game-ending fielder’s choice.

“That’s kind of the story of our season,” said Sea Dogs Manager Billy McMillon. “It was nice to see us get back in the game. Then that (double by Judge) kind of took some air out of us.”

Trenton left-hander Miguel Sulbaran (3-1, 2.80) held the Sea Dogs to three harmless singles through five innings, although several solid line drives died in Thunder mitts. Gragnani had two of Portland’s six hits.

Justin Haley (0-4, 7.78) settled down after allowing five hits in the first two innings and retired eight of the last nine batters he faced. Two of Trenton’s three runs in the third were unearned because of a two-out error.

“I got comfortable in the third and felt better about the outing once those first two (innings) were done,” said Haley, who had been on the disabled list since May 3 because of a strained groin. “I felt like I was maybe a little more downhill, throwing with a better angle. The first couple innings, the ball was up a little bit.”

NOTES: Sea Dogs second baseman Carlos Asuaje extended his on-base streak to 21 games with a sixth-inning single to center. … Third baseman Mike Miller made the defensive play of the game in the third, catching a foul pop near the Trenton bullpen after first slipping and falling, then clambering up. He also made a diving stop on a sharp grounder by Jose Rosario and threw him out. … The announced paid attendance was 3,294. … Trenton pitcher Brady Lail, struck in the head Monday night by a drive off the bat of Portland’s Jantzen Witte, sported a nasty-looking bruise but reported no other adverse effects. “He rode the (stationary) bike for a little bit and didn’t feel dizzy,” Trenton Manager Al Pedrique said. “No headaches. Thank God he’s feeling well. When he got hit I thought it was going to be worse.”

Glenn Jordan can be contacted at 791-6425 or

Gjordan@pressherald.com

Twitter: GlennJordanPPH

Related Stories