Defenders Fall in Ninth
June 23, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release
NORWICH, CT- The Defenders (39-31) returned home to suffer a heartbreaking lose to their division rival Portland (33-36) Tuesday night as they fell by the final of 8-5 at Dodd Stadium.
The Sea Dog's DH-Jon Still took the first pitch from reliever LHP-Joe Paterson over the wall for a three run homerun, capping off a four run ninth to take game one of the best of three series.
The ballgame was a seesaw battle between two heavyweights as each team traded runs for the first two innings.
With the game tied at two all, Connecticut took their first lead in the third inning on RF-Eddy Martinez-Esteve's RBI double to drive in DH-Brad Boyer who walked.
Portland responded in the fourth as SS-Argenis Diaz leadoff with a double, moved to third on a sac bunt then crossed the plated on a 2B-Ryan Khoury sac fly to tie the game at three.
The Defenders regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth but saw the game tied again at four in the sixth. In the seventh, 1B-Brett Pill delivered a one out double followed by a Martinez-Esteve flare RBI single to right-field to grab the lead once again, 5-4.
With closer RHP-Dan Otero (0-3) on the hill, Connecticut thought the one run lead would be sufficient but a leadoff hits batter followed by C-Marc Wagner's single put the go ahead run aboard. A pitching change was made to Paterson who gave up a hard chopper on the first base side in which Pill was able to put a glove on it but on the recovery, slipped as PR-Iggy Suarez scored the tying run. Jon Still did the rest as RHP-Bryce Cox shut the door in the ninth allowing just one hit as he picked up his fourth save of the year.
Defender's starter, RHP-Tim Alderson allowed three earned runs off of six hits, walked three and struck out three in the no decision.
Game two's matchup only gets better as the Defenders will send RHP-Henry Sosa (6-0) to the bump in hopes of staying undefeated as the Sea Dogs' counter with RHP-Jarrod Plummer (5-3).
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