With plenty of promotions at Hadlock Field, like 'Youth Baseball Day", "Halloween Day", and "Play Catch on the Field Day", plus a very sunny day, the Portland Sea Dogs drew a sellout crowd on Sunday afternoon. 

Mitch Atkins, a 30-year old journeyman, carried a perfect game into the sixth inning, a no-hitter into the seventh, and left to a big ovation in the seventh inning, leading the Sea Dogs to a 7-1 win over the Richmond Flying Squirrels. The Sea Dogs were led by three hits from Aneury Tavarez.

Portland jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a home run in the second, added two runs in the fourth, and slapped a four-spot on the board in the seventh to put the game away. Rainel Rosario (RBI triple), Ryan Court (2 RBI single), Andrew Benintendi (RBI single), and Cole Sturgeon(RBI HBP) chipped in RBI for the Sea Dogs. 

Richmond scored their lone run in the seventh, on a double from Christian Arroyo and an ensuing single from Ricky Oropesa, their lone hits of the day. Besides that brief flash of offense, the Flying Squirrels were contained by Atkins, Luis Ysla, and Chandler Shepherd. 

Tavarez Leads Sea Dogs Offensively

For the second time this series, the Sea Dogs had an outfielder finish just a triple shy of the cycle. After Andrew Benintendi came close on Friday, Tavarez produced a three-hit performance, walking in his final at-bat to nullify his chance at the rare feat. However, Tavarez's home run, double, and single, plus 2 RBI sparked the Sea Dogs. His home run in the second inning was a bullet, sizzling off the bat at 101 mph and soaring on a straight line over the right field fence.

The powerful wind that knocked down fly balls all afternoon had no chance at the line drive that got out of the ballpark in just a couple of seconds. He got some help from that wind in the fourth inning, when he hit a towering pop fly that was blown around, ultimately glancing off the glove of a Richmond infielder, leaving Tavarez standing on second on a play scored as an RBI double. Tavarez also hit a sizzling line drive single to begin a four-run seventh inning, ending the night of Richmond starter Andrew Suarez, the twelfth ranked prospect in the San Francisco Giants' organization. 

The Sea Dogs got plenty of offense outside of Tavarez though, as Ryan Court picked up 2 RBI on two hits and Benintendi smacked two hits and knocked in one run. 

Spectacular Bounce Back Showing For Atkins

Mitch Atkins was making his second start as a member of the permanent Sea Dogs' rotation. His first start had been a disaster, as he was tagged for six runs over just three innings, assigned the loss in an 11-5 defeat to the Bowie Baysox. 

He went from that trainwreck, to close to baseball immortality. 

Atkins carried a perfect game into the sixth inning, before surrendering a one-out walk. His no-hitter remained secure until a seventh-inning double, which resulted in Atkins' departure from the game. After an unceremonious departure from Tuesday's game, Atkins walked off the mound to a roaring ovation from a large crowd at Hadlock Field.

His final line was sparkling: Six innings, one hit, one run, one walk, and seven strikeouts. Reliever Luis Ysla allowed the inherited runner to score, marking Atkins' scorecard with its lone blemish. Atkins kept his pitch count low through five innings, inducing weak contact, high pop outs, and scattering a handful of strikeouts throughout the game. However, Atkins had to labor through the sixth inning, which saw him reach full counts on the first three batters, including the walk that broke up his bid at perfection. He escaped the inning unscathed, but his pitch count jumped from 53 pitches to 76. The leadoff double in the seventh ended his night, but it was a spectacular bounce-back performance for Atkins nonetheless. 

The Sea Dogs conclude their six game homestand with a 2-4 record, their two wins coming against the Squirrels. They get a day off before embarking on a six-game road trip, at Bowie and Richmond, the same squads they just hosted. They'll be back at Hadlock on June 21.