BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Luis Diaz went an entire year without registering a pitching win.
He made certain not to wait a single day more.
Diaz and the Portland Sea Dogs ended long dry spells Monday night with a 5-4 victory over the Binghamton Mets.
It was the first win for Diaz since July 5, 2014. He was winless for 10 decisions and 24 starts before improving to 1-7 this season by allowing two earned runs in six-plus innings.
The last-place Sea Dogs (31-53) never trailed on the way to consecutive wins for the first time since they won May 26 and 27, also in Binghamton against the defending Eastern League champion.
Diaz allowed 10 hits but didn’t walk anyone, striking out four.
“Luis has been pitching real well the last couple starts when I’ve caught him,” said catcher Jake Romanski, who went 3 for 4 with a homer and two RBI for his best offensive game in a Double-A career that’s less than two weeks old.
“Each and every time I’ve caught him he’s done very well, and he did a better job tonight. He’s doing a very good job of mixing his pitches.”
Diaz was 0-5 with a 7.04 earned- run average through 12 starts. He’s put up better numbers in the four starts since, keeping opponents to three or fewer runs each time for a combined 4.35 ERA.
Romanski is also improving his performance.
Romanski, 24, who was a 14th-round draft pick two years ago out of San Diego State, didn’t get his first Double-A RBI until his eighth game, which was Sunday. He followed that up Monday night with his first home run with the Sea Dogs, taking the first pitch he saw with two outs in the sixth inning over the left-field fence.
Romanski also singled to drive in a run as part of a three-run fourth that put the Sea Dogs ahead to stay 4-1, and reached on an infield single to start the ninth.
“All I’m trying to do is contribute to the team as much as I possibly can,” Romanski said. “It’s all about winning and trying to help everybody get a (win) every single night.”
Wins have been hard to come by for the Sea Dogs.
Between their pair of back-to-back wins at NYSEG Stadium, they went 8-27 from May 28 through July 4.
Although the Sea Dogs gave up an unearned run for the fifth straight game, they got enough offense and relief pitching to support Diaz and put together another win.
Leadoff-hitting shortstop Marco Hernandez, who is in the top five in the league with a .313 batting average, had a triple to start the game. He scored on a Reed Gragnani groundout and later added a second hit.
Jantzen Witte also had two hits and scored a run.
Robby Scott followed Diaz and allowed one run in two innings before John Cornely worked a hitless ninth for his first win in Portland.
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