Connecticut strikes back, beats Portland 7-4
Published on April 25, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release
(Portland, ME) Connecticuts LF Bobby Felmy cracked a game-winning, 3-run homer in the fifth inning and the bullpen fired six scoreless frames, aiding the Defenders in a 7-4 win over the Portland Sea Dogs in front of a sellout crowd of 7,368 fans on Saturday afternoon at Hadlock Field. Portland has dropped 2 of 3 in the series and look for the split on Sunday afternoon.
Sea Dogs starter RHP Junichi Tazawa (1-2) suffered his worse loss as a professional, allowing six runs and six hits in 5.2 IP. Tazawa was staked to an early 4-0 lead after one inning but Connecticut rallied back, knocking the righty out of the game in the sixth inning..
The Defenders bullpen has worked 15.2 scoreless frames in the series and received two spotless innings by three relievers on Saturday. RHP Dan Griffin (1-1) earned his first win of the year and LHP Joe Patterson fanned 4 of 6 batters faced to pick up his first save of the year. LHP Matt Yourkin also fanned four over two frames to pick up the hold.
Portland jumped out quickly in the first inning off RHP Brooks McNiven, scoring four runs (three earned) on two hits. CF Josh Reddick began the rally with a double to left-center field. 1B Lars Anderson and DH Aaron Bates drew walks LF Bubba Bell picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly to left field. After a 2B Ryan Khoury walk, 3B Jorge Jimenez smacked the first pitch into center field for a 2-run single. On the play, a throwing error by the C Tyler LaTorre allowed Khoury to score. LaTorre made up for that error in the top of the second inning with a 2-out, 2-run single.
The Sea Dogs had just three hits after the first inning with only one baserunner reaching second base in their final 8 at-bats. DH Andrew DAlessio homered in the fourth to cut the deficit to 4-3. In addition to his 3-run homer, Felmy, nailed a two-out, run-scoring double off RHP Justin Hedrick in the eighth inning.
Jimenez finished with two hits and stole his first base of the season. LHP Dustin Richardson and LHP Will Latimer had scoreless relief outings for the Dogs.
The two teams play game 4 of their series on Sunday afternoon beginning at 1:00 PM at Hadlock Field. Catch all the action on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network beginning at 12:35 PM with the CorrectDeck Pre-Game Show. Tickets for Sea Dogs Baseball at Hadlock Field can be purchased at www.seadogs.com or by calling (207) 874-9300.
Notes: Portland's bullpen had their scoreless streak snapped at 15 IPBell and Bates had their hitting streaks endedSaturdays sellout was the first of the year at Hadlock FieldConnecticuts pitchers have fanned 25 batters in the series.
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