Mason White lifts Sea Dogs past Fisher Cats
Sea Dogs Clinch 9‑6 Win Over Fisher Cats in Manchester
Portland, N.H. – The Portland Sea Dogs secured a 9‑6 victory over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Sunday afternoon in Manchester, snapping the Rangers’ winning streak in the Eastern League and forcing the six‑game series into a tie.
Mason White was the star of the day for Portland. The 24‑year‑old catcher homered twice, once in the second inning and a three‑run blast in the fifth, going 3‑for‑4 with four RBIs and three runs scored. His power surge helped the Sea Dogs add the three runs that ultimately proved decisive.
The game got off to a slow start. The Fisher Cats took a 1‑0 lead when Carter Cunningham belted a solo homer in the top of the third. The Sea Dogs answered in the bottom of that same inning, with Max Ferguson leaping off the plate with a triple, and Ahbram Liendo driving him in on an RBI single. The score was then 2‑1 in favor of Portland.
Portland’s momentum built quickly in the third. Miguel Bleis added a single, and Will Turner delivered a three‑run homer to the right‑field corner, giving the Sea Dogs a 5‑1 cushion. The Rangers fired back with Cunningham’s solo shot of his own, trimming the deficit to 5‑2, but Ferguson’s RBI double in the top of the fourth pushed Portland back to 6‑2.
White’s second homer in the fifth inning was a 411‑foot three‑run shot that pushed the score to 9‑2. New Hampshire was not finished, however. Victor Arias hit a two‑run homer in the bottom of the same inning, cutting the lead to 9‑4. Cunningham walked in the seventh and scored on a passed ball, narrowing the margin to 9‑5 before Portland’s defense sealed the game.
The Sea Dogs now sit at 22‑17 in the second half and 57‑50 overall for the season. The win salvages a split of the current six‑game series with New Hampshire. Portland will host the Binghamton Rumble Ponies on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. at Hadlock Field, where they will pursue a winning record in their next series.
This was the 17th game for the Sea Dogs this season, and the 22nd for the Fisher Cats. Portland’s offense, powered by White’s hot hitting, proved too potent for the Rangers’ pitching staff. The game was a showcase of clutch hitting, timely baserunning, and solid defensive play, giving Maine fans a thrilling Sunday night in the minor leagues.
