Mainers Down All-Americans on Road, 4-1
Sanford now 3-1 against Lowell on season

Lowell, MA – Phil Negus was stellar in his first-ever start for the Sanford Mainers as they defeated the Lowell All-Americans 4-1 Tuesday night at Stoklosa Alumni Field. Negus, exclusively used as a reliever for Sanford in 2007, fired six shutout innings and allowed just four hits in his second appearance of the year.

With the game scoreless, the Mainers would get solo tallies in each of the third, fifth and seventh innings. Brian Harris was hit by a pitch and A.J. Casario walked to start the third. After a Steve Brooks sacrifice bunt, Corey Hunt lifted a fly ball to left just deep enough for Brian Harris to score and give the Mainers a 1-0 lead.

Moving to the fifth, Harris doubled with one away. With Casario flying out to left, Brooks came to the plate with two down. The Wake Forest product came through with a clutch, two-out RBI single to left to plate Harris.

Harris singled to lead off the seventh and moved to second on Casario’s sharp groundball single to right. Brooks walked to load the bases. After a Hunt strikeout, Branson Joseph hit a high chopper off the plate to short. Pat McKenna got the out at second base, but Joseph beat the return throw to first, allowing Harris to score and extending the Mainers’ advantage to three.

Lowell would get their lone tally in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs and one on, Alex Del Valle ripped a double down the left-field line to bring home Dan Godefroi. Sanford would get that run right back however in the top half of the eighth. Pinch-hitter Anthony D’Alfonso walked. Kevin Reimer bunted him over to second. Greg Hopkins singled through the hole on the left side, and D’Alfonso slid in ahead of the tag at the plate to make it a 4-1 score.

Negus has held the opposition scoreless in two appearances now. He struck out six in his six innings of work. Kyle Davis allowed one run in one inning. And coming out of the bullpen for the first time this season, Jason Bowman pitched one scoreless frame in picking up his first save of the season. All-Americans’ starter Mark Gormley lost his second decision of the season to the Mainers. The southpaw gave up three runs on six hits.

***Box scores available at necbl.com


Notes… Brian Harris reached base in all seven of his plate appearances over the last two nights…Sanford has won 11 of 12… There was a 44-minute weather delay with one out in the top of the ninth…Lowell reliever Jeremy Neustifter suffered a freak injury when he was struck in the face on a return throw by catcher Dan Coury in between innings…The Mainers are now 13-1 when they hold opponents to four or less runs…The Mainers continue their road trip Wednesday night at Keene. First pitch is slated for 7:00. Audio and video streaming are both available at sanfordmainers.com