Sea Dogs Rally for 4-3 Win Over New Britain

Shannon Wilkerson Delivers Game Winning 2-Run Single in the 8th
  
Portland, Maine - Shannon Wilkerson hit a line drive single to left field scoring two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning lifting the Portland Sea Dogs (45-41) to a 4-3 win over the New Britain Rock Cats (43-45) Sunday afternoon at Hadlock Field. The win snapped Portland's three game slide. The Rock Cats lead the series three games to one.

Trailing 3-2 in the eighth inning, New Britain reliever Bruce Pugh (1-1) issued walks to Tony Thomas and Travis Shaw. Thomas stole third and pinch runner Derrik Gibson stole second placing runners at second and third with two outs for Wilkerson, who belted the game winning hit.

Portland trailed 3-0 after two innings of play. Eddie Rosario doubled in the first and scored on a RBI single by Josmil Pinto in the first off Portland starter Keith Couch. Couch yielded two more runs in the second; Dan Rohlfing scooted home on a ground out by Kyle Knudson and former Sea Dog Reynaldo Rodriguez would come home to score on an Angel Morales sacrifice fly to center.

Couch would settle down tossing 5.2 shutout innings the rest of the way. Couch fired a season-high 7.2 innings allowing three runs on five hits.

Rafael Perez (1-1) earned the win for the Sea Dogs allowing one hit over 1.1 innings of relief.

Garin Cecchini went 2-for-4 with a single and a RBI double in the sixth inning raising his average to .418 in 15 Double-A games. The seventh ranked prospect in the Red Sox organization has reached base safely in all 15 games he has appeared since being promoted from Single-A Salem.

Tony Thomas added a RBI single in the sixth inning scoring Cecchini. Thomas has a team high 55 RBI.

New Britain started Tom Stuifbergen did not factor into the decision despite hurling six strong innings yielding two runs on four hits.

Prime Motor Group Player of the Game: Keith Couch (7.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 2 SO)

The Sea Dogs and New Britain Rock Cats (Twins affiliate) will conclude their five-game series today with a 12:00 noon game at Hadlock Field. The Sea Dogs will send righty Jeremy Kehrt (0-2, 3.48) to the mound. He will be opposed by New Britain right-hander Virgil Vasquez (0-2, 4.08).

Radio coverage begins at 11:40 AM on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network and via the Tune-In Radio app for smartphones and tablets. Tickets are available by calling 207-879-9500 or at seadogs.com.