Koss' Grand Slam Not Enough in Extra Innings Loss
Published on May 31, 2022 under Eastern League (EL)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release
Manchester, New Hampshire - Christian Koss' eighth-inning grand slam and 10th inning RBI base hit wasn't enough for the Portland Sea Dogs (23-23) as they lost the series opener 6-5 in extra innings to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (19-26) on Tuesday at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.
The Fisher Cats entered the scoring column first, driving in a run against Sea Dogs starter Victor Santos in the bottom of the third inning. Will Robertson led off the inning with a solo homer to right field. It was his sixth home run of the season and gave New Hampshire a 1-0 lead.
Robertson's homer was the only run scored until Portland reached the plate in the top of the eighth inning against New Hampshire reliever Nick Fraze. With one out, Devlin Granberg and Pedro Castellanos collected back-to-back singles. Izzy Wilson had a base hit of his own, loading the bases. Koss stepped up to the plate and cleared the bases with a grand slam to left. It was Koss' fifth homer of the year, and it gave the Sea Dogs a late 4-1 lead.
New Hampshire responded by tying the game in the bottom of the eighth against Portland reliever Jacob Wallace. Sebastian Espino singled and Ryan Gold walked. Rafael Lantigua grounded into a force out at second and a throwing error to first brought in Espino, cutting the lead down to 4-2. Tanner Morris followed with a walk and Orelvis Martinez doubled to left, scoring both runners, and tying the game, 4-4.
Both teams went scoreless in the ninth, forcing extra innings. The Sea Dogs started the 10th with Devlin Granberg as the placed runner at second base for extra innings. After the first two batters went down in order, Koss singled to right, driving in Granberg and giving Portland a 5-4 lead.
The Fisher Cats came roaring back in the bottom of the tenth with Robertson starting as the extra-innings runner at second base. Espino reached on a fielding error by Hamilton while Robertson moved to third. Ryan Gold grounded out to first and Robertson scored, tying the game 5-5. In the next at-bat, Lantigua singled to center, driving in Espino, and walking off the Sea Dogs with a 6-5 win.
Sean Rackoski (2-0) tossed 2.0 innings, allowing one unearned run on one hit, and walked one in his second win of the season. Chase Shugart (2-1) pitched 0.1 innings while giving up two unearned runs on one hit in his first loss of the year. Portland's starter Victor Santos tossed a season-high 7.0 innings allowing one run on four hits while striking out five. He did not issue a walk.
The Sea Dogs and Fisher Cats play the second game of a six-game series on Wednesday with a 6:35 PM first pitch. Portland sends RHP Brett Kennedy (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound against New Hampshire RHP Luis Quinones (0-1, 135.00 ERA).
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