Sea Dogs Break Out with Six Run 12th to Defeat Fisher Cats

MacDonald Thrills Out of Pen with Seven Scoreless

Manchester, N.H - Bryce Brentz and Travis Shaw combined to drive in five runs in the final frame putting an end to a 12 inning battle of the bullpens lasting 3:46 at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. The Sea Dogs (66-69) defeated the Fisher Cats (59-77) 9-3 behind Mike MacDonald's seven strong innings of scoreless baseball.

Portland batted around in the 12th inning but, the scoring was highlighted by Brentz and Shaw. Brentz drove in two runs on a single into centerfield and extended his hitting streak to eight games. Shaw then blasted a three run homer to right field putting an exclamation point on the frame offensively. Derrik Gibson added a RBI single putting the Sea Dogs in front 9-3.

Allen Webster was granted the role of starting pitcher over scheduled righty Mike Macdonald Tuesday night. Webster was just acquired by the Boston Red Sox in the blockbuster trade that sent Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Webster was the number two prospect in the Dodger organization.

Webster had to battle early in the game giving up three earned runs in the first two innings but turned on a switch and shut down the Fisher Cats in the third and fourth innings. The newest Sea Dog nevertheless impressed in his Portland debut firing seven strikeouts over his four innings of work. He also walked two and allowed six hits. Five of the six New Hampshire hits against Webster came in the first two frames. The righty went on a run, though, retiring seven consecutive Fisher Cats before allowing an infield hit to Jake Marisnick in the fourth.

Pitching dominated the game from the third inning on for both clubs. MacDonald, who was originally slated to start Tuesday night, came into the game in the 5th after Webster's departure. MacDonald (3-2) was brilliant in his outing holding New Hampshire scoreless over seven innings earning the win. The Camden, Maine native gave up just two hits while retiring 12 Fisher Cats in a row before yielding a hit in the 11th to Brian Van Kirk. He also struck out six batters.

Michael Olmsted entered in the 12th inning and threw a perfect frame to complete the game. Olmsted has yet to allow a run in 14 innings with a spotless ERA (0.00).

Meanwhile, the Sea Dogs were held at bay by a collective relief effort by New Hampshire. Michael Dubee, Joel Carreno and Trystan Magnusan combined for six innings of scoreless baseball out of the bullpen. The only two hits allowed were off of Magnusan and Christian Vazquez's base knock in the 11th was the Sea Dogs first hit since nobody out in the third inning. Shannon Wilkerson followed with a double but Vazquez was cut down at home attempting to score on the play.

The game scoring took place entirely in the first three innings until extras. The Sea Dogs pushed a single run across in the first, second and third innings, sandwiching a New Hampshire two run second, tying the game at three. Peter Hissey drove Christian Vazquez to the plate with a sacrifice fly in the second. An inning later, Travis Shaw doubled for the 12th time this season sending Bryce Brentz to third. Xander Bogaerts then earned a RBI on a sacrifice fly to right field sending Brentz home to tie the game.

Portland and New Hampshire match up for game three of the four game series Wednesday, August 29 at 6:35 PM. Sea Dogs right hander Brandon Workman will take the hill against the Fisher Cats' Yohan Pino (9-7, 3.43). Workman has been dynamic for Portland going 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA. To listen to all the game action tune into 95.5/95.9 FM WPEI. Tickets are available by calling 207-879-9500 or at www.seadogs.com.