BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — William Cuevas and Jorge Marban needed longer than most of their teammates and rivals to reach Double-A for the first time.
On Wednesday night, they threw like two pitchers intent on keeping their career paths headed in the right direction.
Cuevas, Madison Younginer and Marban combined on a three-hitter to lift the last-place but quickly improving Portland Sea Dogs to a 3-2 victory over the defending Eastern League champion Binghamton Mets.
“It feels good to go out there and help the team out and just do my job,” Marban, the newest Sea Dogs pitcher, said after working the last two innings to remain unscored on in three appearances while earning his second save. “I feel like I was under control.
“My main focus is just to throw strikes. I felt like I’ve been doing that, locating well and I can’t complain about the outcome.”
Cuevas (6-2) moved into a tie for the league lead in wins by allowing one hit in six innings.
It was not, however, the same type of effort Cuevas put together in Binghamton earlier this month when he matched his career high by striking out 10.
Cuevas gave up a run before allowing his first hit. He walked three batters and hit one in the second inning before escaping the bases-loaded mess.
“You just want to get out of it and minimize the damage,” Cuevas said.
By the end of the third inning, Cuevas said, he had cured an arm-angle issue, with help from pitching coach Kevin Walker between innings. The 24-year-old, in his seventh season in the Red Sox system but first at Double-A, retired the last 10 batters he faced.
“I was able to make an adjustment right away and that made a big difference,” he said.
Younginer gave up a run on a hit and two walks in the seventh.
Marban took it from there. At 26, the second-oldest member of the pitching staff is trying to keep rolling after spending time in independent leagues and winning a title as a closer last season in Australia.
Red Sox scout Steve Fish was Marban’s manager in Perth and the organization signed him after the season.
“Just as of late, I’ve matured more and I’m understanding pitching better,” Marban said. “I feel like my release is where it has to be and I’m under control, hitting my spots. When you do all that, good things happen.”
Marban started this year with Salem in High-A and was 2-1 with a 1.69 earned-run average in eight outings. He has been even better with the Sea Dogs, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out eight in six innings.
“Never did it come into my mind that I would get this opportunity, but I’m taking it and I’m running with it,” Marban said. “A lot of guys don’t know how hard it is to get back into affiliated (leagues) once you get released, having played only on the low end of it like I had.
“I worked my butt off. I’m grateful to get this opportunity and do what I can with it.”
Faced with trouble, Marban struck out two of the last three batters, pumping a fist after throwing a fastball by Jared King with runners on the corners.
The Sea Dogs tied the game in the third inning and moved ahead in the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Luis Martinez and Aneury Tavarez.
Once 12-22, Portland has won 9 of 13 overall and five straight on the road.
The Sea Dogs face a quick turnaround for a 10:35 a.m. start Thursday.
“Sleep fast,” Manager Billy McMillon said when asked about plans for the morning game. “I just hope we’re all here at 10:30.”
Send questions/comments to the editors.
