It only seemed appropriate on Harry Potter Night at Hadlock Field that a bit of wizardry overshadowed all the offensive pyrotechnics of a 15-4 victory by the Trenton Thunder over the Sea Dogs.

Forget the 27 hits and four home runs. The play of the night ended the fifth inning when Trenton second baseman Cito Culver turned a double play without using his glove.

With the score tied at 1 and a runner on first base, Thunder shortstop Tyler Wade ranged to his right to field a hard grounder in the hole. He quickly zinged a throw toward second with Culver covering.

“I went to reach for it with my glove,” said Culver, a 2010 first-round pick of the Yankees. “Well, with both hands, because I usually turn double plays with my hands together, but I kind of ran out of glove. My (right) hand was a little bit further, so it just went right into my hand.”

Potter could not have done better corralling a golden snitch.

Without hesitating, Culver relayed the baseball to first to complete the double play, then ran off the field into an electric Trenton dugout.

“I threw that hard,” Wade said. “It was a little wide. I thought he was going to take it with his glove. Then I saw him barehand it. That was an amazing play. I felt like that sparked a rally for us the next inning, gave us a little life and things went on from there.”

Portland’s Nate Freiman slides into third base ahead of a tag attempt by Trenton third baseman Miguel Andujar for a triple. John Ewing/Staff Photographer

A little life? The next six Trenton batters hit safely. Culver himself delivered a two-run double to put the Thunder ahead for good 3-1 and came up again later in the inning to drive in two more runs with a single. In all, Trenton scored eight runs and sent 13 men to the plate in the sixth against Sea Dogs relievers Taylor Grover (1-3) and Williams Jerez.

“I don’t know how he caught it,” Sea Dogs Manager Carlos Febles said of Culver’s wizardry. “That’s something I’ve never seen before. It was kind of fun to watch.”

The Sea Dogs had their moments. Andrew Benintendi, starting in left field for only the third time, produced two outfield assists and made a tough catch in what little foul territory there is adjacent to the visiting bullpen.

Benintendi first cut down Trenton’s Kyle Higashioka trying to stretch a leadoff single. After Mike Ford singled to center, Mark Payton hit a shallow fly in the gap. Benintendi raced over, reached across his body and gloved the ball at his shoe tops.

Looking up, Benintendi saw Ford remaining at second base, believing the ball had struck turf before leather. A long, easy throw to first base completed the double play, and brought Trenton Manager Bobby Mitchell out to argue in vain.

Benintendi also had two of Portland’s nine hits, raising his average to .281. The other top Red Sox prospect, Yoan Moncada, hit his eighth home run. Cole Sturgeon also homered for the Sea Dogs and Nate Freiman contributed a triple and a run-scoring single.

Coming off the disabled list and pitching for the first time in more than a month, Mike McCarthy started the game and delivered four scoreless innings. He faced only three batters over the minimum and had considerable help in the field.

In addition to Benintendi, catcher Danny Bethea threw out a would-be base stealer. But after Culver’s defense turned the game around, it was all Thunder.

Dante Bichette Jr. and Payton each homered. Wade, Ford and Lane Adams each had three hits as Trenton feasted on four Portland relievers for 14 of the team’s 18 hits. Portland pitchers also walked nine.

“It was definitely a lifter for us,” Culver said. “That’s all I try to do, is help my team as much as I can, make plays when I can, get hits when I can.”

So, did it sting?

Culver shook his head.

“I was pumped,” he said with a grin. “I didn’t feel anything.”

NOTES: The announced paid attendance was 6,364. … To make room for McCarthy, the Sea Dogs placed right-hander Jacob Dahlstrand on the disabled list, retroactive to July 22. “He’s coming back from Tommy John surgery,” said pitching coach Kevin Walker. “It’s been a long road for him. This is a thing we do for all our starters, give them a little break during the season.”

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