3 is the magic number, 'Dogs beat Erie 5-3

Stefan Welch with two triples, highlights a 3-run 8th/Doubront 4 IP in MLB Rehab

PORTLAND, Maine - The Portland Sea Dogs (40-20) scored the game's final four runs, and beat the Erie SeaWolves (27-31) 5-3 on Thursday night at Hadlock Field. Portland took two of three from Erie and improved to 20 games over .500 for just the second time since 1997.

With the game tied at two in the eighth inning, 1B Stefan Welch (2-for-4, 2 triples) cleared the bases with a two-run triple, giving the 'Dogs a 4-2 lead.  Jonathan Roof knocked in the fifth run with a two-out single to left.

RHP Mike McCarthy (5-2) retired the final 11 batters faced and yielded one hit over four scoreless frames to earn the win. McCarthy did not issue a walk and fanned two.

Erie's Slade Smith (0-2) took the loss, giving up three hits and four runs over 1.2 innings pitched.

Left-hander Felix Doubront lasted four innings in a Major League Rehabilitation Assignment with Portland. Doubront gave up both runs and all three hits in the second inning.  Corey Jones led off the frame with an infield single and scored on a throwing error by catcher Blake Swihart. Erie's second run came on a two-out RBI single from DH Ramon Cabrera.

Doubront threw 43 pitches (31 strikes), yielding three hits, two runs, no walks and two strikeouts. He became the 33rd Major Leaguer to make a rehab assignment with Portland and the 27th as a Red Sox affiliate.

Portland cut the deficit to 2-1 Erie with a run off Tommy Collier (ND) in the fourth. The Erie righty threw 25 pitches in the inning, but only nine strikes. Keury De La Cruz and Heiker Meneses each walked, and Derrik Gibson was hit-by-a pitch to load the bases. Bo Greenwell picked up his 7th RBI with a fielder's choice.

Collier worked six innings for Erie, giving up just two hits on one run, four walks and seven strikeouts.

The Sea Dogs tied the game in the eighth inning off Smith. Matt Spring was hit by a pitch and lifted for Roof. Heiker Meneses moved Roof to second base with a sacrifice. After a wild pitch, Roof scored when Derrik Gibson reached on an error by 2B Devon Travis.

The Sea Dogs open up a three-game weekend series against the Bowie Baysox (Orioles affiliate) on Friday night at Hadlock Field. Righty Keith Couch (7-0, 2.26) makes his 12th appearance for Portland against Bowie lefty Tim Berry (3-3, 4.12). Radio coverage begins at 6:40 PM on the WPEI U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network. MiLB.tv coverage gets going at 6:55 PM.