Portland, Maine - The Portland Sea Dogs kicked-off their longest homestand of the season with a 13 inning marathon that lasted 4 hours and 10 minutes. Kevin Howard launched a two run homer in the 13th inning to lift the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (29-46) to a 5-3 victory over the Sea Dogs (31-45) Tuesday night at Hadlock Field to open a four game series.
Mark Sobolewski singled with one out in the 13th inning bringing Howard to the plate. Howard delivered a Chris Balcom-Miller offering over the right-field fence for his second home run of the season to give the Fisher Cats the 5-3 lead. Balcom-Miller (3-5) suffered the loss allowing two runs on four hits in one inning of relief.
The Sea Dogs rallied from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game. Singles by Derrik Gibson (3-for-4), Peter Hissey, and Jackie Bradley Jr. loaded the bases for Jeremy Hazelbaker who singled up the middle to score two runs in the seventh inning. Down 3-2 in the ninth, the Sea Dogs loaded the bases with nobody out. Ryan Dent scurried home to tie the game at three when Marquez Smith grounded into a double play.
The Sea Dogs threatened in the 11th loading the bases with one out but Scott Gracey was able to get Dan Butler to ground into a double play to end the threat.
Josh Fields entered the game in relief with one out in the ninth and was outstanding tossing 3.2 innings of no-hit ball before giving way to Balcom-Miller in the 13th. Fields notched four strikeouts, he retired 12 of the 12 batters he faced including eight straight.
New Hampshire starter John Stilson fired five shutout innings holding the Sea Dogs to three hits.
Chris Martin tossed six solid innings for the Sea Dogs scattering seven hits and allowing two runs. The Fisher Cats were able to manufacture a run in the third inning. John Tolisano led-off with a single, stole second and eventually scored on a Ryan Goins force out.
Mark Sobolewski blasted his team leading 13th home run of the season off Martin in the sixth to extend the Fisher Cats lead to 2-0.
Martin retired ten of the last 11 batters he faced. He struck out three and walked one.
The Blue Jays' affiliate added an insurance run in the seventh. Tolisano ripped a two out double to center and scored on a Brian Bocock single to right-field off Chorye Spoone.
Bradley reached base five times in the game going 3-for-5 with two walks. He has hit safely in five of six games since being promoted from Single-A Salem hitting at a .360 clip.
The Sea Dogs allowed a season high five stolen bases in the contest.
The game was the Sea Dogs longest of the season both in terms of innings and time.
Game two of the four game series will be Wednesday night at 7:00 PM. Right-handed pitcher Jeremy Kehrt (2-0, 5.11) will start for the Sea Dogs. New Hampshire will send righty Deck McGuire (2-9, 6.54) to the mound. The first 1,000 fans to enter the ballpark will receive a 2012 Sea Dogs team photo, courtesy of the Maine Credit Union League. Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or online at www.seadogs.com. The game can be heard live on 95.5/95.9 FM WPEI or worldwide at www.seadogs.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment