enlarge Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

Portland third baseman Jorge Jimenez awaits the relay throw from second baseman Ryan Khoury before tagging out Trenton’s Kyle Anson trying to stretch a double into a triple.

TODAY'S GAME

WHO: Trenton Thunder (Zach McAllister 6-5) at Sea Dogs (Kris Johnson 0-2)

WHEN: 6 p.m.

WHERE: Hadlock Field

TICKETS: 1,500 available

PORTLAND — No longer contenders, the Portland Sea Dogs have taken on a new role:

Spoilers.

The Sea Dogs hindered Trenton's pursuit of an Eastern League playoff spot with a 5-3 victory Wednesday night at Hadlock Field.

Ryan Kalish tied the game with a two-run triple in the sixth, and then scored the winner on Jorge Jimenez's single.

The Sea Dogs, who were eliminated from playoff contention Tuesday night, improved to 64-72.

"After (Tuesday) night, it would have been easy to ride and hide and finish it up," Sea Dogs Manager Arnie Beyeler said. "But the guys are working hard and getting after it."

Trenton (67-69) fell two games behind New Britain (69-67) in the battle for the final playoff berth in the Northern Division. The Rock Cats beat Reading 11-6 Wednesday night.

Trenton, a New York Yankees affiliate, has five games to play – tonight at Hadlock and then four games at New Britain.

Portland gets one more night to be a spoiler.

"Why not?" Kalish said. "We'd like to take two (against Trenton) and knock them out. They are the Yankees."

Blake Maxwell (6-8) got the victory, recovering from a shaky first inning when he allowed Trenton's runs.

After the Thunder loaded the bases with a single, walk and hit batsman, Kyle Anson scored all three with a two-out double. Anson tried to stretch the hit into a triple and was thrown out – right fielder Jason Place to second baseman Ryan Khoury to third baseman Jimenez.

Maxwell followed with five shutout innings, allowing two more hits, including a double by Marcos Vechionacci, who also was also thrown out trying to make it a triple – Kalish in center to shortstop Yamaico Navarro to Jimenez.

"Early on my slider wasn't that good, but it came around," Maxwell said. "And the defense was outstanding, especially throwing two guys out at third."

The Sea Dogs made no errors after committing four on Tuesday.

"A little different team than the one we threw out (Tuesday) night," Beyeler said.

Portland got one run off Josh Schmidt on a double by Navarro and a two-out RBI single by Place. Schmidt left after five innings and the Sea Dogs pounced.

Reliever Philip Bartleski (0-1), called up from Class A on Wednesday, gave up a single to Khoury, a walk to Daniel Nava and Kalish's triple to deep right-center, tying the game.

Lefty reliever Wilkins Arias came in to face the left-handed Jimenez. With the infield drawn in, Jimenez grounded a single up the middle for a 4-3 lead. It was Jimenez's 83rd RBI.

Jimenez later scored on Juan Apodaca's groundout.

Richie Lentz, Tommy Hottovy and Bryce Cox (12th save) each pitched one shutout inning for Portland.

NOTES: The last fireworks show of the season will follow tonight's game. ... Boston's short-season Class A affiliate, the Lowell Spinners, qualified for their playoffs with a 13-0 win over Oneonta on Wednesday.

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com