Meneses walk-off single, 'Dogs win 5-4 in 10-innings

Christian Vazquez 4-for-4, single shy of the cycle

Portland, Maine - Heiker Meneses lined an 0-2 pitch down the left-field line for a walk-off RBI single, giving the Sea Dogs (26-18) a 5-4 win over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (23-24) in 10 innings on Wednesday night at Hadlock Field. Portland has won two straight and improved to 3-4 on the homestand. The walk-off win was the fifth for the Sea Dogs this season.

Portland catcher Christian Vazquez went 4-for-4 (season-high), and initiated the rally in the 10th with a one-out triple down the left-field line. Vazquez was lifted for pinch runner Derrik Gibson, who scored on Meneses' hit. Vazquez added a homer, triple, two doubles and a walk.

Pete Ruiz (1-1) tossed three scoreless frames on one hit and three strikeouts to earn the win. Dustin Antolin (0-1) gave up the winning run and suffered his first Double-A loss.

Portland fell behind first for the fifth time on the homestand, as New Hampshire took a 1-0 lead in the second inning off Matt Barnes. With two outs, Brian Van Kirk singled and Sean Ochinko doubled, but on the play, leftfielder Kolbrin Vitek bobbled the hit, enabling Van Kirk to score.

Barnes worked five innings, yielding seven hits, three runs (two earned), one walk and fanned five.

The 'Dogs responded in the second inning with back-to-back two-out, RBI singles from Matty Johnson and Shannon Wilkerson, giving Portland a 2-1 advantage. Ryan Tepera gave up four runs on five hits, lasted only 3.2 innings for New Hampshire.

In the fourth inning, Barnes ran into trouble, giving up three straight hits. Van Kirk tied the game with a run-scoring double and Sean Ochinko gave the visitors a 3-2 lead with an RBI ground out.
Portland came right back, taking a 4-3 lead on Christian Vazquez's two-run homer to left-center field.

New Hampshire tied the game at four against Will Latimer in the seventh inning. With two outs, Ryan Schimpf singled, Clint Robinson walked and Brad Glenn tied the game with a run-scoring double to left.

Former Sea Dog Tommy Hottovy tossed 2.2 scoreless innings, escaping a first and third one out jam in the eighth.

The Sea Dogs were 3-for-15 with runners-in-scoring position. New Hampshire had six doubles but not one of them scored.

Prime Motor Group Player of the Game: Christian Vazquez

The Sea Dogs and New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays affiliate) conclude their four-game series this morning at 11:00 AM from Hadlock Field.

Radio coverage begins at 10:40 AM on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network and via the Tune-In Radio app for smartphones and tablets. Thursday is the first morning game in franchise history at Hadlock Field. Tickets are available by calling 207-879-9500 or at seadogs.com.