Newport Gulls Blast Laconia 12-7 on the Road

Outfielder Yale Rosen hit a pair of home runs and catcher Jeff Melillo belted a two-run homer in his first game back from an injury as the Newport Gulls defeated the Laconia Muskrats 12-7 on the road on Tuesday, June 26.

Rosen went 3-for-5 with his fourth and fifth home runs of the season and drove in five runs in the win. Melillo, playing in his first game since suffering an injury on June 15, went 3-for-4 with three RBI. Third baseman Brett Winger and second baseman Conor Keniry also homered for Newport as the Gulls offense exploded for 12 runs on 13 hits in the win 

Newport remains in first place in the Eastern Division and improves to 8-3 overall this season with the victory, while Laconia falls to 6-8 overall on the year with the loss.

Newport starter Daniel Wright went seven innings to pick up the win, improving to (3-0) on the season. Wright allowed six runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts and just three walks. Laconia did most of their damage against Wright with the long ball, as five of the six runs he gave up came on a trio of home runs.

Wright gave up a three-run homer to catcher Ethan Bennett in the first inning and a pair of solo home runs to first baseman Tyler Jackson and designated hitter Dylan Kelly in the sixth inning.

Newport reliever Peter Kelich threw the final three innings, allowing just one run on two hits with six strikeouts and zero walks, to pick up his second save of the season.

Laconia starter Matt Aldrich allowed 10 runs (eight earned) on 10 hits in just four innings, taking the loss and falling to (0-2) this season. Both of his losses have come against the Gulls this summer.

The Gulls struck for three runs in the top of the first inning on a three-run homer by Winger, his second home run of the season. Keniry led off the second inning with a solo home run, his first of the season, to put Newport ahead 4-3. Keniry hit just one home run all of last season with Newport. Melillo added an RBI single in the fourth inning bringing home outfielder Rob Ort, who went 2-for-4 with a walk and a pair of runs scored, continues to crush Laconia pitching this season.

The Gulls extended their lead to 10-4 in the top of the fourth inning thanks to a three-run homer by Rosen and a two-run shot by Melillo, his first home run of the season. Rosen homered for the second consecutive inning, belting a two-run homer in the top of the fifth inning to close out the scoring.

Newport will be back in action taking on the Mystic Schooners at home on Wednesday, June 27. Adam Ravenelle (0-1, 6.00 ERA) will make his first start of the season.