An Epic Battle Goes to the \'Dogs
June 23, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release
(Norwich, CT) - DH Jon Still (1-for-5, 3 RBI) snapped a 5-5 tie in the top of the 9th inning with a 3-run homer over the left-field wall in Portland's (33-36) 8-5 come-from-behind win over the Connecticut Defenders (39-31) on Tuesday night. The victory snapped a 5-game losing streak for the Sea Dogs and puts them 5.5 games behind the Defenders for the top spot in the Eastern League's Northern Division.
The series opener featured six lead changes and the game was tied five times before Portland won their first contest when trailing after 8-innings (0-14).
Still's blast came off LHP Joe Patterson on the first pitch after 1B Lars Anderson tied the game with a single off the first baseman's glove. RHP Daniel Otero (0-3) suffered the loss for Connecticut, yielding 2 runs over .1 IP. 3B Jorge Jimenez (1-for-3) led off the ninth inning with a hit-by-pitch and C Mark Wagner (2-for-4) singled to set up the tying and winning runs.
LHP Andrew Dobies (2-0) allowed the go-ahead run in the seventh inning on a run-scoring double to RF Eddy Martinez-Esteve but worked 2.1 innings to earn the win. RHP Bryce Cox worked a scoreless ninth on one hit to notch his fourth save of the year.
CF Josh Reddick (2-for-4) led off the game with a solo-homer off RHP Tim Alderson on a 0-2 pitch. Reddick doubled and scored the go-ahead run in the second inning on a triple by 2B Ryan Khoury (1-for-3, 2 RBI). Reddick tied the game at three in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly. Alderson gave up six hits and three runs over 5 IP.
LHP Felix Doubront lasted only 3.1 innings for Portland, surrendering five hits and four runs over 3.1 innings. Connecticut tied the game at one in the first inning on 1B Brett Pill's single. In the second they tied the game at on C Jackson Williams' double and added single runs in the third (Martinez-Esteve double) and fourth innings (CF Mike McBryde double). Portland scored an unearned run off LHP Ben Snyder in the sixth inning on Khoury's sac-fly to right field.
Portland and Connecticut play game two of their series on Wednesday night at Dodd Stadium beginning at 6:35 PM. RHP Jarod Plummer will make his 13th appearance of the season and face RHP Henry Sosa, who is 6-0, 2.61 ERA for the Defenders. Catch all the action on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network beginning at 6:05 PM with the CorrectDeck Pre-Game Show.
Notes...Portland went 3-for-13 with runners-in-scoring position after going 4 for their previous 40...Still was 6-for-69 before his 3-run homer - his first blast since June 1 vs. Binghamton...RHP Chris Province hurled 2.1 scoreless innings...The Sea Dogs scored more than five runs since June 7 vs. Trenton...Reddick's homer to lead-off the game was the first for Portland since SS Argenis Diaz last August in New Britain.
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