Late Defenders rally falls short
Published on June 24, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Connecticut Defenders News Release
NORWICH, CT- The Defenders lost their seventh in eight tries to the Portland Sea Dogs on Tuesday night in a 6-5 defeat.
Portland jumped ahead in the first, just as they did in Monday's contest, with two quick runs. Sandy Madera launched a homer to left field to bring Jeff Corsaletti and himself to the plate to make it 2-0.
The Sea Dogs added another run in the second as Iggy Suarez roped a single to left to score Andrew Pinckney as the lead grew to 3-0.
Carlos Sosa would tally a run for the home team on a slow roller to the left side of the infield to send Eddy Martinez-Esteve to the plate as the advantage shrunk to 3-1.
A scoreless third led to an eventful fourth. Ryan Rohlinger, in just his second start for the Defs, blasted a game-tying two-run bomb to left field.
Portland responded in the fifth with a three spot as the Defenders' starter Adam Cowart gave up a solo homer to Bubba Bell to start the frame. Tony Granadillo, Corsaletti and Madera singled in succession as Cowart was lifted from the game thereafter. Jason Waddell took the ball and proceeded to walk in two runs to push the lead back to Portland, 6-3.
The sixth, seventh and eighth went by quietly and quickly to lead to the final and most desperate frame: the ninth. Connecticut seemed to be up to the challenge as Ben Copeland started it off with a single. Martinez-Esteve walked behind him and Rohlinger popped out in foul territory. Carlos Sosa got aboard on a fielder's choice to put runners on the corners with two down. Adam Witter rapped a single to right to score Copeland to make it a two-run game and Dave Maroul topped a slow dying groundball to the left side of the infield to bring home another run to slim the lead to 6-5. Simon Klink was asked to pinch-hit for Jake Wald and with the crowd loudening, Klink struck out on four pitches and the game was over.
Highly-touted Red Sox prospect Michael Bowden earned his seventh win of the year as Cowart was touched up with his team-leading sixth loss. Mike James, who chucked the hectic ninth, picked up save number two.
The Defenders will take on the Sea Dogs twice more before traveling to Binghamton for a weekend series against the Mets. Tickets are still available for the remainder of the series against the Red Sox affiliate at ctdefenders.com or by dialing the box office at (860) 887-7962.
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