'Dogs rally in the ninth to beat the 'Cats
August 31, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release
(Manchester, NH) - The Portland Sea Dogs (63-71) scored all four runs in the top of the ninth inning with two outs to defeat the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (62-73) 4-1 on Monday night at Merchantsauto.com Stadium. Portland avoids a 5-game sweep, finishes the roadtrip at 3-5, and trails the New Britain Rock Cats by 4 games for the final playoff spot in the Northern Division with a week to play.
SS Yamaico Navarro was down to his final strike in the ninth inning but cracked a 2-run double off the left-field wall for the game-winning hit, plating pinch-runner Iggy Suarez and 1B Lars Anderson. DH Jon Still started the rally with a one out single and singled Suarez (ran for Still) to third base. C Luis Exposito popped to the shortstop but RHP Leon Boyd (1-5) could not retire the next five batters. After Navarro's hit, RF Jason Place walked, 2B Ryan Khoury and LF Daniel Nava nailed run-scoring singles. Boyd suffered the loss, allowing five hits and four runs over 1.2 IP.
LHP Derrick Loop (1-0) relieved LHP Tommy Hottovy in the eighth inning with one out and Portland trailing 1-0. 3B Scott Campbell nailed a double down the right-field line but LF Todd Donavan was throw out at the plate (9-4-2) for the second out. Loop retired RF Nick Gorneault on a shallow fly out to right field to close out the frame.
In the bottom of the ninth, Loop fanned 1B Scott Cooper and gave the ball to RHP Bryce Cox. Cox loaded the bases on a two singles and a walk but SS Jonathan Diaz hit into a game-ending, 5-4-3 double play to seal the win.
RHP Ryne Miller took a no-decision in his second professional start and his 13th appearance of the season for Portland. Miller worked 5.2 scoreless innings on two hits, two walks and seven strikeouts. New Hampshire RHP Sean Smith (ND) tossed seven scoreless frames on five hits, one walk and six strikeouts.
The Sea Dogs opens up a 7-game homestand on Tuesday night against the Trenton Thunder (Yankees affiliate) from Hadlock Field beginning at 6:00 PM. Catch all the action on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network beginning at 5:30 PM with the Pre-Game Show built by CorrectDeck.
Notes...Miller has allowed one unearned run over 10 IP in 2 starts with Portland...Still picked up his 31st multi-hit game of the season and 3B Jorge Jimenez went 2-for-4, giving him a team-leading 40 multi-hit games...Portland snapped a season-high 4-game losing streak on the road and finished 24-27 against the Northern Division away from Hadlock Field.
Eastern League Stories from August 31, 2009
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