SANFORD — It’s been simple, yet extremely effective for the Sanford Mainers.

Pitching and timely hitting have carried the Mainers to first place in the NECBL Eastern Division, and the trend continued Monday night at Goodall Park, as Sanford defeated the Danbury Westerners 4-1.

Sanford now has a 9-4 record this season.

The Mainers were led by starting pitcher Mike Augliera, who allowed only one hit in over six innings of work to pick up his second win of the season.

“I felt really good,” Augliera said. “I was just trying to throw strikes and trust my defense. We scored four runs, and the defense made plays, which really helps a pitcher.”

Sanford put up three runs in the bottom of the first inning. The top of the Mainers lineup, Matt Marra and Pat Cantwell reached on singles, and Jim Schult, who now has a hit in 12 of the 13 games this season, hit an RBI single on a chopper over Danbury third baseman Derek Ingui. Cantwell scored two batters later on an error by Danbury second baseman (and former Mainer) Tucker Nathans. Soon after, Sanford leftfielder Greg Miller smacked an RBI double down the left field line, plating Schult.

Sanford added one more run in the bottom of third, when designated hitter Doug Eliot scored on an RBI single by shortstop Marlon Calbi.

The four runs would prove to be more than Augliera needed. While he didn’t blow hitters away (three strikeouts), he was efficient, only walking one batter, and let the Sanford defense, which has improved recently, take care of business.

“When the defense makes plays behind you, it makes things so much easier,” Augliera said. “All you have to do is throw strikes and let the defense make plays.”

The Mainers got into a jam in the top of the ninth, but with runners on second and third with two outs, closer Eric Ruth struck out Danbury rightfielder Eric Barry to earn the save. Tom McDermott, Kyle Davis and Alex Caravella bridged the gap between Augliera and Ruth, not allowing a run in more than two innings of work.

“I thought our bullpen did a great job,” Sanford manager Aaron Izaryk said. “Obviously, Mike Augliera only gave up one hit, and it could have gone either way. I thought it was his best outing. I’ve seen him do that to us before at [the University of Maine] and that’s the reason I brought him here, and we’re excited to have him.”

Sanford has now won two games in a row. The Mainers host the Laconia Muskrats tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m.

 SHORT HOPS: With the win, Sanford is now 7-1 at Goodall Park this season. The Mainers are also 5-3 on the season when scoring four runs or less. Sanford is a perfect 7-0 when scoring first, and 8-0 when taking a lead into the eighth inning”¦

Schult is now second in the NECBL with a .385 batting average. Only Ingui, who has a .425 average, ranks higher”¦

While Nathans, who played for the Mainers last season and is the brother of former Portland Sea Dog catcher John Nathans, drove in the only run for Danbury, he had a shaky return to Goodall Park, making two errors in the field.

— Contact Staff Writer Dave Dyer at 282-1535, Ext. 318.