Reimer’s Blast Propels Mainers to 2-1 Opening Night Win

Sanford, ME – Behind Kevin Reimer’s towering late inning homer, the Sanford Mainers defeated the Lowell All-Americans 2-1 in the season opener Saturday night at Goodall Park. Mainers’s pitchers were nearly untouchable, combining to allow just four hits and one unearned run.

Neither offense posed any serious threat until the Lowell half of the sixth. Michael Baillargeon reached on a throwing error by Kyle Groth to lead off the inning. He moved to third on Kevin Rivers’ scorching double down the right field line. The double signaled the end of the night for Mainers’s starter Pat Lehman. Tony Chisman came on in relief and induced a deep fly ball to right field off the bat of Chris Rouches, plating Baillargeon and giving the All-Americans a 1-0 lead.

It didn’t stay 1-0 for long. Mark Micowski led off the Mainers’ half of the sixth with an infield single and stole second. After a Matt Nandin fly out to center, Reimer blasted a two-run shot to right-center to give Sanford a 2-1 edge, which turned out to be all the Mainers needed.

Lehman pitched five solid innings for the Sanford club allowing just one unearned run on four hits, walking two and striking out six. Chisman picked up the win for the Mainers. The right-hander fired four flawless innings in relief, retiring all 12 batters he faced. Lowell starter Conor Fahey matched Lehman pitch-by-pitch. He lasted five innings and gave up just three hits. Mark Gormley suffered the loss after giving up the homer to Reimer.

***Box scores available at necbl.com

Notes… Mainers are now 5-2 all-time on Opening Night, including a one-run win over Lowell last year as well… Sanford has won six of its last seven against the All-Americans…. Attendance tonight at Goodall Park was 713… The Mainers travel to Danbury Sunday night to take on the Westerners. First pitch is slated for 7:00 pm.