Trenton, NJ - The Portland Sea Dogs (36-53) came up big in the top of the 9th inning to defeat the Trenton Thunder (50-38) 3-2 at Waterfront Park Sunday afternoon. Jeremy Hazelbaker hit a game winning RBI single sending Ryan Dent to the plate essentially ending the game that was dominated by the Sea Dogs' bullpen.
The game took 2:59 to complete and was played in front of 3,979 fans.
Mike McDonald (0-0, 13.50), the first ever native Mainer to play for the Portland Sea Dogs, was handed the start on Sunday's matinee after the Boston Red Sox signed him. McDonald threw two thirds of an inning and was pulled because of an injury after taking a shot off of his left leg from the bat of Zoilo Almonte. McDonald gave up two runs, one earned, on three hits.
The Sea Dogs bullpen was outstanding since taking over for McDonald in the 1st inning. Chris Balcom-Miller came in to relieve McDonald and gave the Sea Dogs five shutout innings. Balcom-Miller struck out two batters and walked three. He also gave up two hits.
Aaron Kurcz entered the game in the 6th inning and took over right where Balcom-Miller left off. Kurcz struck out five hitters over 2.1 innings pitched. The Sea Dog all-star has struck out five Trenton batters on four separate occasions this season. Kurcz earned his third win of the year (3-4, 3.45).
Brock Huntzinger capped the stellar bullpen effort for the Dogs. He earned his third save of the season with a perfect 9th inning of work.
On the offensive side for the Dogs Jackie Bradley Jr. (.382) extended his hitting streak to nine games with an infield single in the top of the 7th inning.
The Thunder cracked the scoreboard first in the 1st inning taking advantage of Almonte's two out single off McDonald, which was followed by a Luke Murton single. Melky Mesa doubled (16) home the pair putting Trenton up early 2-0.
Portland answered right back with a run in the second and the third tying the game at 2-2. Matt Spring homered (6) in the second cutting the deficit in half. The Dogs evened the score on a RBI ground out by Marquez Smith scoring Jeremy Hazelbaker on the play in the third inning.
Craig Heyer (2-3, 3.83) got handed the loss for Trenton.
Prime Motor Group Player of the Game: Sea Dogs' Bullpen; Chris Balcom-Miller- 5 IP, 2 K, 2 H, Aaron Kurcz- 2.1 IP, 5 K, 1 H, Brock Huntzinger- 1 IP, 1 K.
The Sea Dogs will conclude their three game series against the Thunder Monday at 12:05 at Waterfront Park in Trenton, NJ. Right handed pitcher Stolmy Pimentel (2-4, 5.84) will get the nod for Portland and he will be faced by Trenton righty David Phelps (0-0, 0.00). Catch all the Sea Dogs game action on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs radio network with 95.5/05.9 FM serving as the flagship station.
The Sea Dogs will return home following the all-star break for an eight game homestand. Portland will face the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto Blue Jays) starting Thursday June 12th at 7:00 PM and will finish with a three game set against the Reading Phillies (Philadelphia Phillies). Tickets are available for all remaining Portland Sea Dogs 2012 home games. Book your nine inning vacation today by calling the Sea Dogs ticket office at 207-879-9500 or logging on to www.seadogs.com.
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