Portland's Winning Streak Snapped at Three
Published on June 30, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release
(Portland, ME) - The New Britain Rock Cats (39-36) scored 7 runs in the first and LHP Ryan Mullins (5-8) tossed six strong innings as the Rock Cats defeated the Portland Sea Dogs (36-39) 9-5 in the series opener on Tuesday night at Hadlock Field. Portland has dropped six straight games at home and fall three games behind the Rock Cats for the final playoff spot in the Northern Division.
LHP Kason Gabbard (0-3) took the loss, lasting only a 1/3 of an inning, allowing seven runs on three hits, four walks and two hit batters. Gabbard began the game with two walks and a hit batter but fanned 3B Juan Portes (2-for-4). 1B Whit Robbins (0-for-4, RBI, BB) drew a walk to drive in a run and LF Danny Berg (1-for-5, 3 RBI, 2B) clubbed a 3-run double to right-center field. 2B Brian Dinkelman (1-for-3, 2B, 2 BB) followed with a walk and DH Erik Lis (1-for-5, HR, 3 RBI) cleared the bases with a 3-run homer. New Britain sent 12 men to the plate in the first inning with 9 runners reaching base.
Mullins, who improved to 2-0 against Portland, retired the final 10 batters faced and earned a quality start, allowing three runs on four hits over 6 IP. The lefty tied a season-high with 8 strikeouts and has worked 6 IP in back-to-back starts. DH Jon Still (2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, BB) continued his hot hitting with a 3-run homer over the Maine Monster in the bottom of the first inning. Portland scored their final two runs on CF Josh Reddick's (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB) 2-run blast off RHP Jay Rainville in the seventh inning.
RHP Blake Maxwell relieved Gabbard in the bottom of the first inning and yielded two runs on four hits over 4.2 IP. Maxwell fanned a season-high six batters and surrendered a 2-run homer to RF Rene Tosoni (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, HBP) in the fourth inning. RHP Chris Province and LHP Andrew Dobies each fired two scoreless frames for the Sea Dogs.
Portland had two hits after the third inning and finished the night 2-for-6 with runners-in-scoring position. The Rock Cats have taken 7 of 12 from Portland this season and improved their road record to 21-16.
The Sea Dogs and Rock Cats play a doubleheader on Wednesday night beginning at 6:00 PM at Hadlock Field. Catch all the action on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network beginning at 5:35 PM with the CorrectDeck Pre-Game Show.
Notes...Gabbard's 1/3 of a inning was the shortest start by a Sea Dog pitcher since May 29, 2005 when RHP David Pahucki lasted 2/3 of a inning at Norwich...Rainville has allowed 4 of 6 home runs this season to the Sea Dogs (Anderson, Jimenez, Reddick and Still)...Still becomes the first Sea Dog to reach 10 homers with 4 of his last 6 hits leaving the park.
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