Mainers Fall Short to Gulls in 3-2 Defensive Battle

By Cole Purvis

Director of Broadcasting and Media

NEWPORT, Rhode Island - The Newport Gulls bested the Sanford Mainers 3-2 on Monday night, riding a season-high 20 strikeouts to a win over the NECBL's North Division leader.

Gulls starter Maddox Miller relied on his blistering velocity as well as his changeup to mow down Mainers hitters early. He threw an efficient four innings, allowing just two hits, and, more impressively, striking out 10 hitters. Balls in play were a rarity for Sanford early in the game.

But Mainers starter Charlie Hale kept pace with Miller. The UConn product also went four innings, striking out five, and – just like Miller – giving up two hits. It was an old-fashioned pitchers duel through four, with the Moose and Gulls scoreless.

"Charlie, every single outing this summer, has looked sharper and sharper, and tonight that's just filthy," said Sanford manager Nic Lops. "He's in the starting rotation for a reason; it's nice to finally get a little length out of him."

Ben Griffith came in to relieve Hale in the fifth. The Binghamton righty immediately got into trouble, loading the bases. He then plunked Newport catcher Adam Broski to walk in the first run of the game for either side.

In the sixth, Jasper Nadel became the third Mainers pitcher to take the hill. He dished out three walks to load the bases with one out. Gulls shortstop Caeden Cloud hit a grounder to first that forced Brooks Perez to range over. Perez went racing back to the bag and tagged Cloud out, but it was enough time for two Newport runs to score. The two-RBI groundout made it 3-0.

With two runners on in the seventh, the Mainers finally struck. Steven Kraus made a pinch-hit appearance and blooped a two-RBI double to left field, scoring Jack Tate and Brennan Staubley.

But that would be all the scoring. Newport relievers Parker Jennings and Braden Booth combined to throw the final four innings, and tacked on another 10 punchouts, bringing the Gulls' total up to 20 on the evening, and Newport won 3-2.

"They certainly had our number," said Lops. "Can't be striking out 20 times and be expecting to win a baseball game."

The Mainers fall to 13-6 on the campaign, and split the regular season series with the Gulls, who they won't see again, unless they match up in the postseason.

Sanford welcomes the Bristol Blues to Goodall Park for a doubleheader tomorrow. The first game begins at 4:00 and can be streamed on NECBL+. The following game starts approximately 30 minutes after game one and is televised on ESPN+.