(Portland, ME) - The Portland Sea Dogs played their longest game in franchise history, defeating the Connecticut Defenders, 8-7 in 17 innings on Wednesday night at Hadlock Field. Jay Johnson became the first position player in team history to pick up a win. Johnson worked two scoreless innings and ended the game with a run-scoring double down the left field line. Third baseman Simon Klink came on to pitch the bottom of the 17th and suffered the loss, issuing a walk to Jeff Corsaletti and the game-winner to Johnson.

Johnson pitched a perfect 16th inning, picking up two strikeouts and a groundout. In the 17th inning, Connecticut loaded the bases but Kyle Haines hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

The previous longest game in team history came in their first year of existence – July 8, 1994 against the Binghamton Mets, a 4-3 loss in 16 innings at Hadlock Field. The game took 5 hours and 41 minutes, the longest game in franchise history, beating the previous mark by eleven minutes (5:30 on July 2, 2006 against the Trenton Thunder at Hadlock Field). Portland established franchise records in walks received (17) and left on base (22).

The long night was extended in the ninth inning when Adam Witter blasted a lead-off homer off Jose Vaquedano, tying the game at seven. The run was the first allowed by Vaquedano this season.

The Sea Dogs grabbed a 3-0 lead in the first inning off starter Dave McKae. Andrew Pinckney reached on an error by the first baseman, scoring two runs. John Otness followed with an RBI single to right field, extending his hitting streak to six games.

Michael Bowden lasted only 4 and 2/3 innings, yielding two runs on four hits and striking out four. Connecticut scored twice in the second inning and knocked out the right-hander in the fourth inning after he loaded the bases with two walks and a triple.

Portland added a run in the sixth inning when Otness doubled to right field, scoring Jay Johnson. The Defenders took their first lead of the night in the seventh inning, scoring four runs off Beau Vaughan. Vaughan walked two batters in the inning and yielded three hits.

In the last of the seventh inning, the Sea Dogs stormed right back, tagging Ronnie Ray for four hits, two walks and four runs. Pinckney tied the game with a 2-run triple and Otness made it 7-6 with a run-scoring single to right field.

The Sea Dogs swept the Defenders and finished the homestand at 4-2. Portland is now an Eastern League-best 9-3 on the season. On Thursday night, the Sea Dogs take on the B-Mets at NYSEG Stadium in Binghamton.