Great battle at Hadlock, 'Dogs fall to the 'Cats 8-6
August 20, 2013 - Eastern League (EL1)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release
(Portland, Maine) - New Hampshire catcher Jack Murphy snapped a 5-5 tie with a two-out, two-run double in the seventh inning, leading the Fisher Cats (63-64) to an 8-6 win over the Portland Sea Dogs (61-67) on Tuesday night in front of a sellout crowd of 7,368 at Hadlock Field. The loss by Portland forces a rubber-game of the three-game set on Wednesday afternoon.
Both teams exchanged big innings early in the game. Portland took a 4-0 lead, sending all nine men to the plate in the second. Christian Vazquez began the rally with a double and scored on a single by Ryan Dent. Kevin Heller nailed a run-scoring double off the Maine Monster and scored on a wild pitch. Garin Cecchini added the final run with a single.
New Hampshire would send their entire lineup to the plate in the third, taking a 5-4 lead off Terry Doyle. Andy Burns put New Hampshire on the board with a sacrifice fly. Kevin Nolan hit a run-scoring triple and Ryan Schimpf nailed an RBI double. After a run-scoring ground out by Kevin Ahrens, Jack Murphy gave the 'Cats the lead with a single.
Doyle took a no-decision, giving up five runs 10 hits over 5.2 innings pitched. The New Hampshire native threw 100 pitches (64 strikes), issuing a walk and fanning six.
Portland tied the game at five in the sixth inning off Dayton Marze (1-0), who relieved starter Deck McGuire (5 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO). Travis Shaw was hit by a pitch to star the inning and left the game for pinch-runner Matt Spring. Dent followed with a single. After a fielder's choice, Shannon Wilkerson tied the game with a two-out bloop single. Marze earned the win, working one inning on two hits and one run.
LHP Eric Niesen (0-2) suffered the loss for the Sea Dogs. The rally in the seventh started on one-out error by SS Deven Marrero. Schimpf and Ahrens walk, setting up the game-winning hit by Murphy.
Portland rallied for a run in the ninth inning off Alan Farina. Michael Almanzar nailed a single, picking up his team-leading 72nd RBI. The Sea Dogs had the bases loaded with one out, but Farina retired Spring and Dent to end the game.
Cecchini extended his on-base streak to 29 games, the sixth longest on-base streak in team history.
Prime Motor Group Player of the Game: Ryan Dent
The Sea Dogs and New Hampshire Fisher Cats conclude their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon at Hadlock Field. Lefty Mickey Pena makes his Double-A debut for Portland against RHP Marcus Walden (6-12, 3.68)
Radio coverage begins at 11:40 AM on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network and seadogs.com powered by the Tune-In Radio app. Wednesday is a special Noon start at Hadlock Field. Tickets are available by calling 207-879-9500 or at seadogs.com.
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