EL1 Portland Sea Dogs

Portland Sweeps a Twinbill from the Rock Cats

Published on July 3, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release


(Portland, ME) - The Portland Sea Dogs (38-41) swept their first doubleheader of the season, defeating the New Britain Rock Cats (41-38) 6-4 and 8-5 on Friday night at Hadlock Field. Portland snapped a franchise record 8-game losing streak at home and now trail New Britain by three games for the second playoff spot in the Northern Division.

Portland beat New Britain's two best starters, scoring six runs off losing pitcher RHP Cole DeVries (5-7) in 4.1 IP to grab the opener. The Sea Dogs scored three unearned runs off DeVries in the first inning. DH Jon Still reached on a dropped pop fly by 1B Whit Robbins to extend the frame. 1B Lars Anderson laced an RBI single and C John Otness clubbed a 2-run double off the Maine Monster (left field).

RHP Adam Mills (4-5) picked up his second consecutive win for Portland but struggled in the second inning. The Rock Cats loaded the bases on a double and two walks and CF Brandon Roberts cleared the bases on a double off the right-field wall. Mills yielded seven hits and four runs over 5 IP, issuing three walks and striking out two. New Britain took a 4-3 lead in the third inning on a run-scoring ground out by 3B Juan Portes. The Sea Dogs tied the game in the fourth inning on Otness' (2-for-2, 3 RBI) RBI single to left field, scoring Anderson (3-for-3, RBI, 2B). The Sea Dogs took the lead for good in the fifth inning with a 2-spot off DeVries. SS Argenis Diaz produced the game-winning RBI with a sac-fly and RF Reid Engel nailed a run-scoring single off LHP Jose Lugo.

RHP Bryce Cox tossed two scoreless innings on one hit, two walks and a strikeout to earn his 5th save of the season.

In game two, Portland scored four runs in the first inning off RHP Matt Fox (6-3) and completed the twinbill sweep. CF Josh Reddick led off the first inning with a triple and scored on LF Ryan Kalish's single. Kalish reached base five times in the double header and stole his team-leading 7th base of the season. Still (2-for-3, 2 RBI) followed a 3B Jorge Jimenez walk with an RBI single and C Juan Apodaca belted a 2-run double to left-center field.

LHP Felix Doubront (5-2), who earned the win for Portland, was greeted rudely in the top of the second inning when Portes blasted a solo-homer over the Coke Bottle in straight away left field. SS Yancarlos Ortiz cut the deficit in half with a sac-fly. Doubront picked up his 2nd victory at Hadlock Field, allowing 9 hits and five runs (three earned) over 5 IP.

Portland grabbed a 7-3 advantage with a 3-run fourth inning off Fox. Still drew a bases-loaded walk to force Fox out of the game (3.2 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 6 BB, 4 SO). RHP Kyle Waldrop relieved Fox and surrendered a 2-run single to Anderson. The Rock Cats scored two unearned runs in the fifth inning on back-to-back RBI singles from Robbins and 2B Toby Gardenhire. 2B Iggy Suarez provided the final with a run-scoring single in the fifth inning off Waldrop.

RHP Chad Rhoades earned his 4th hold with a scoreless sixth inning and RHP T.J. Large wrapped up the win with his 8th save of the year.

Portland begins a 3-game series on Saturday night against the Fisher Cats at Merchantsauto.com Stadium beginning at 7:05. Catch all the action on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network beginning at 6:35 PM with the Pre-Game Show built by CorrectDeck.

Notes...Still extended his hitting streak to six straight games - tying a season-high...Portland has won two straight home games for the first time since they won three in a row from June 6-16...Doubront picked up his first win at home since April 24 vs. Connecticut...Otness had a season-high 3 RBI and Anderson collected his 18th multi-hit game of the season.

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Eastern League Stories from July 3, 2009


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