Mainers’ Seven-Game Win Streak Ends in 7-4 Loss to Navigators

Written By Cole Purvis

Director of Broadcasting and Media

SANFORD, Maine - The Sanford Mainers saw a seven-game win streak come to a close on Sunday evening, falling to the North Shore Navigators 7-4 at Goodall Park.

The Navigators sent Gian Gamelli to the mound to start things off. The recently-named All-Star Game starter was solid through two innings, but Sanford hurler Bryson Thacker matched him, keeping it scoreless.

Both offenses woke up in the third inning. With the bases loaded, Navs center fielder Hunter Kingsbury hit an RBI groundout to put the visitors up. Then, North Shore scored in a rather unconventional way, as Thacker was called for a balk, allowing Aidan Sengenberger to score. Shortstop Hudson Ellis, another newly-named all-star starter, doubled to make it 3-0, before Tyler Shulman hit an RBI lineout to make it a fourth.

The Mainers cut the 4-0 deficit in half in the bottom of the third, as Brendan Sencaj's grounder to third took a tricky hop and got through to score Sam Miller. Then, Nater Wachter hit a high fly to deep left-center that clanked off the fence. Sencaj scored and Wachter sprinted into third with a standup triple.

In the very next frame, Sanford shortstop Jackson Sirois hit a ball up the middle, and reached on a fielder's choice to second, with Brian Connolly scoring to make it 4-3.

Navigators right fielder Grant Hunter gave his squad an insurance run in the sixth, blasting a solo homer to left that made it 5-3. It's Hunter's second homer at Goodall Park this year, with the previous one coming on June 6th.

The Mainers got that run back on Albert De La Rosa's RBI single that scored Sam Miller.

North Shore separated once more in the seventh by way of the long-ball. Aidan Sengenberger homered over the short porch in right field – the two-run blast made it 7-4, and that score would hold up the rest of the way.

"It stinks to lose, because, the first thing I told the guys is man I'm not used to that," said manager Nic Lops. When discussing Bryson Thacker's six-inning outing, he said, "You want, in the playoffs, a top arm like Thacker to give you a little bit of depth, especially in these playoff series."

The Mainers can rebound Monday night with a home contest against the Ocean State Waves – Sanford won the previous contest between the two 15-9. That game is streaming on ESPN+.