Connecticut Stuns Portland with another Late Rally, 10-9.
August 10, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release
Norwich, CT - Using a 3-run rally in the bottom of the 8th inning, Connecticut (61-60) surged past the Sea Dogs (62-57) to steal a 10-9 win Sunday afternoon at Dodd Stadium. It was the second come-from-behind victory for the Defenders, who took four-of-five from the Sea Dogs in the series.
The winning rally started against Miguel Asencio (L, 2-4), who came on in relief of Ryne Lawson in the seventh. Leading off the eighth though, Connecticut put together back-to-back singles and a walk to load the bases for Adam Witter. The Defenders first baseman proceeded to rip a 3-2 pitch into the right field gap for a long 2-run single that tied the game at 8-8. After a pop-out to shortstop Iggy Suarez, Eddy Martinez-Esteve would drive in the winning run with a ground-out to short to make 9-8. Daniel Haigwood came on for Asencio and after walking Antoan Richardson, he'd give up an RBI single to Kyle Haines to make it 10-8 Defenders.
That rally took away a win from Lawson who was making his second Double-A start. The right-hander went six innings, allowing six runs (three earned) on 7 hits. He walked only one and had one strikeout. But, impressively, he recorded 16 of his 18 outs on groundballs, including three double-plays.
Steve Palazzolo earned the win for Connecticut, working a scoreless eighth inning in his first outing with the Defenders since June 6th. He did have to sweat it out in the end as the Dogs loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth inning against Jason Waddell (save). Waddell gave up two walks and a single before Zach Daeges came up with two outs and the bases loaded.
Daeges would line a single to the left side that would score Josh Reddick from third. On the play, Haines smothered the ball on the edge of the outfield grass to keep the ball in the infield. But Ryan Khoury tried to score from second base on the play and Haines threw Khoury out at the plate, from his backside, to end the game.
Khoury would have a good afternoon, nevertheless. He would pick up his first three-hit game since returning from the disabled list, driving in two runs. Mickey Hall added his ninth homerun of the season, a 2-run shot that gave the Dogs a 6-5 lead in the fourth inning. Portland had leads of 3-0 after one, 6-5 after two, and 8-6 heading into the eighth.
The Dogs will take Monday off after losing four of give in Connecticut (five of six if you count the suspended game from July 23rd that was continued Thursday night). They begin a three-game series with the Altoona Curve Tuesday night at Hadlock Field. Log onto www.seadogs.com for starting pitchers as that information is TBA. Pre-game coverage begins at 6:40pm Tuesday night with a first pitch scheduled for 7:00pm.
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Eastern League Stories from August 10, 2008
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