Sea Dogs Rock Cats Late, 4-3
Published on July 12, 2007 under Eastern League (EL1)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release
(Portland, ME) - Portland rallied back from a 3-0 deficit, scoring two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take the series opener from the New Britain Rock Cats, 4-3 on Thursday night in front of a sellout crowd of 7,368 at Hadlock Field. With the win and a New Hampshire loss, the Sea Dogs moved two games behind the Fisher Cats for the second playoff spot in the Northern Division.
Hunter Jones earned his first Double-A win with a scoreless eighth and Mike Jones converted his 15th save (nine straight) with a perfect ninth to seal Portland's 44th win of the season.
J.P. Martinez (2-5) walked three in the eighth inning and allowed two runs to take the loss for New Britain.
Trailing 3-2 entering the bottom of the eighth inning, Martinez walked Bryan Pritz and Jed Lowrie to start the frame. Jay Johnson reached on a sacrifice-bunt fielder's choice to load the bases. Chad Spann, who was assigned to Portland earlier in the day, tied the game with a sacrifice fly. Tim Lahey entered the game after Jeff Natale was intentionally waked and surrendered a sacrifice fly to Andrew Pinckney for the game-winner.
New Britain knocked Portland starter Chris Smith out of the game in the fourth inning after Brandon Roberts produced a run-scoring double with two outs, giving the Rock Cats a 3-0 lead. Earlier in the inning, Matt Allegra nailed a 0-2 pitch for a two-run double, scoring Brock Peterson and David Winfree. Smith lasted three and 2/3 innings, yielding three runs, four hits, five walks and six strikeouts.
Ryan Mullins took a no-decision for New Britain in his eighth start of the season. The lefty allowed one run when Iggy Suarez lined a two-out RBI single in the fifth inning. Mullins retired 13 straight at one point, allowing only four hits, one run and five strikeouts over six innings.
Jeff Natale blasted a lead-off homer in the seventh inning off Jay Sawatski to cut the New Britain lead to 3-2. The home run for Natale was his third of the season and the first at Hadlock Field.
The Sea Dogs have won three of four and host the Rock Cats on Friday night at Hadlock Field - Game time is 7:00 PM. Knuckleballer Charlie Zink (8-3, 2.77) makes his 14th start of the season for Portland. Righty Kyle Waldrop (3-5, 5.11) gets the start for New Britain.
Allied Home Mortgage Big Dog of the Game - Mike James & Hunter Jones
Notes...Chris Smith walked five batters for only the second time of his career (last time: July 20, 2006)...Portland's bullpen worked five and 1/3 scoreless innings on just two hits - both allowed by Jose Vaquedano...Chad Spann went 0-for-3, RBI in his return to Portland from Triple-A Pawtucket.
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