Blair & 'Dogs have a blast in Harrisburg, win 5-3

Justin Haley 1st AA win, Carson Blair 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI

Harrisburg, Pa. - One night after clinching their first playoff spot since 2008, the Portland Sea Dogs (80-50) rallied back for a 5-3 win over the Harrisburg Senators (49-80) on Wednesday night at Metro Bank Park.

Portland has won five straight games, their longest winning streak since May 19-24 (7-game win streak).

The battery powered the Sea Dogs, rallying back from a 3-1 deficit after six innings.  Justin Haley (1-2) earned his first Double-A win, working 6.1 frames on seven hits and three runs. Haley notched a Double-A high eight strikeouts.

Catcher Carson Blair homered for the second straight night and collected 3 RBI, tying the game with a two-run double in the seventh. Portland took the lead for good on a sacrifice fly by Shannon Wilkerson.  Blair added a solo-homer in the ninth inning for the final run of the game.

Wilfredo Boscan was flawless over the final 2.1 IP, earning his first save in the Red Sox system. With the win, the 'Dogs are 30 games over .500 for the fifth time this season, and clinched a winning record against the Western Division.

Harrisburg took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a run-scoring single by Caleb Ramsey. The RBI hit was the
first hit allowed by Haley with a runner-in-scoring position (previous 0-for-2).  Portland tied the game in the sixth inning on a run-scoring single by Ryan Dent.

The Senators took a 3-1 lead in the sixth inning off Haley. With two outs, 1B Kevin Keyes blasted a two-run shot into the right-field seats. The homer was the 19th for Keyes, who finished 2-for-4.

Portland gave Colin Bates (1-3) the loss, scoring three times off the righty in the seventh. Keury De La Cruz and Michael Almanzar began the inning with singles and scored on Blair's double. Wilkerson's game-winning sac-fly came off reliever Tyler Herron.

Harrisburg starter Felipe Rivero tossed five scoreless frames on one hit and six strikeouts.

The Sea Dogs and Senators resume their series with the finale, Thursday night (Tonight) at 7:00 PM from Metro Bank Park. Portland is slated to send LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (5-7, 4.14) to the hill against RHP Paolo Espino (6-4, 4.07) of the Senators. Radio coverage begins at 6:40 PM on the WPEI U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network. MILB.TV begins at 6:55 PM.