BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (BVM) — The Portland Sea Dogs defeated the Somerset Patriots 8-7 at TD Bank Ballpark on Thursday night, thanks to a seven-run second inning. The Sea Dogs are still stuck in a tie for third place in the Double-A Northeast League, two games behind first. 

Two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber returned to the mound but struggled to find his command. He pitched 45 pitches in 1.1 innings, allowing five runs on two hits with four walks and a strikeout.

Portland’s Matthew Kent earned the win after pitching 5.1 innings and allowing two runs on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Joan Martinez recorded his second save of the season for the Sea Dogs, pitching 2.0 hitless innings with one walk and two strikeouts.

Pedro Castellanos got things started by hitting a single to left-center in the top of the first inning, then scored on an RBI single to right field, putting Portland up 1-0. 

In the bottom of the first inning, the Patriots seized the lead right back. Chris Gittens’ RBI single drove home Brandon Lockridge, who led off with a double to right field. Gittens then advanced to second after Oswaldo Cabrera singled to left field. The Patriots went up 2-1 when Josh Breaux doubled home, Gittens.  Somerset’s lead in the first inning was extended even further to 5-1 on a three-run homer from Michael Beltre.

The whole game shifted in the top of the second inning as Kluber walked three batters to load the bases. Kluber walked three batters in the top of the second inning, loading the bases. Then Castellanos drew a bases-loaded walk, bringing Jeisson Rosario home. After that, Kluber hit Triston Casas with a pitch, bringing Cameron Cannon home. 

Before you could even blink, the game was knotted at 5-5 after Devlin Granberg hit a two-run double to left field. Then, in his first game back from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, bronze medalist Roldani Baldwin hit a three-run home run to center-field to give the Sea Dogs an 8-5 lead. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Chris Gittens hit a two-run homer to left field to bring the score to 8-7, but the Patriots were unable to overcome the deficit.  

The Sea Dogs and Patriots will play again on Aug. 13.  Clint Frazier has begun a rehab assignment with the Patriots. On Aug. 13, he is slated to make his first start for the team against the Portland Sea Dogs. As the eighth Yankee to join the Patriots on a Major League rehab assignment this season, Frazier joins Zack Britton, Luke Voit, Wandy Peralta, Luis Severino, Clarke Schmidt, Chris Gittens and Corey Kluber.