Mainers win 2-1
 

Sanford, ME – Behind another strong start by Pat Lehman, the Sanford Mainers squeaked out their eighth straight win 2-1 over the Newport Gulls Friday night at Goodall Park. The Gulls had the tying run on third and the go-ahead run at second with two away in the ninth, but Ryan Cole struck out Joey Manning to earn his second save and preserve the Mainers’ eighth consecutive victory.

The Mainers would turn a one-run deficit into a one-run advantage in the fourth. Matt Nandin singled on a soft liner to right and reached second on the same play on a fielding error by rightfielder Nick Santomauro. He then moved to third on some heads up baserunning when third base was completely vacated. After a Kyle Groth foulout, Devin Harris walked. Gulls’ starter Sean Hoelscher threw an errant pickoff throw to first and Nandin came in to score, with Harris moving all the way to third. Kevin Reimer hit a towering fly ball to deep right-center caught by Santomauro, but Harris came into score to give the Mainers a 2-1 lead.

Newport got their lone run in the first. Taylor Meehan singled to lead off the game. Ryan Wiegand singled with one away, and Mike Mellilo cracked a single to left to plate Meehan and give the Gulls a temporary one-run advantage.

Pat Lehman improved to 2-0 on the season. Despite surrendering his first earned run of the season, the right-hander fired seven strong innings allowing five hits, walking none and striking out six. Phil Negus made his 2008 Mainers’ debut and hurled a flawless eighth. Cole gave up a leadoff single and a walk but finished it off in the ninth. Hoelscher suffered the loss in his first appearance of the year. He went six innings and gave up two runs, however none earned, on four hits.

***Box scores available at necbl.com


Notes…Lehman has not allowed just one earned run in 27 and two thirds innings this season…The Mainers are 6-1 at Goodall Park…Sanford is a perfect 7-0 against Southern Division opponents so far this year…The Mainers are back home again on Saturday night to host Lowell. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30. Audio and video streaming are both available at sanfordmainers.com