CLINCHED: Portland IN with 5-4 Win Over Senators

De La Cruz send Sea Dogs in front with solo homer in 8th, first playoff berth since 2008

Harrisburg, Pa. - The Portland Sea Dogs (79-50) came back from a 4-1 deficit to down the Harrisburg Senators (49-79) 5-4 in the opener of a three-game series Tuesday night at Metro Bank Park. The Sea Dogs clinched a playoff spot in the second inning when New Britain's loss to Richmond was complete; their eighth berth in franchise history and first since 2008.

Portland had climbed its way out of an early deficit and took a 4-4 tie into the top of the eighth inning. Neil Holland was working in his second inning and he retired the first man he faced on a strikeout before facing the reigning Eastern League Player of the Week, Keury De La Cruz. The designated hitter crushed a homer to right, on an 0-2 pitch from Holland and put Portland in front 5-4.

Pete Ruiz was in his second full inning of work and found himself in line for the win in the bottom of the eighth. The righty got the first two men he faced in the frame before he allowed a single and a walk, ending his night.

Noe Ramirez came out of the 'pen and got out of the jam with a fly out to right off the bat of Brian Jeroloman. He backed that up with a scoreless ninth and locked in his 14th save of the season.

The first inning was an active one for both sides, as each team hopped on the board. Portland scored a lone
run in the top half when Michael Almanzar drove home Mike Miller from third on a fielder's choice against the Senator's righty Austin Voth.

Luis Diaz was on the mound for Portland and ran into big trouble in the home half of the innings. The righty retired the first two batters he faced, but gave up a single to Cutter Dykstra, which fired up a rally. Matt Skole singled and Kevin Keyes walked to load the bases in front of Jason Martinson. The shortstop launched a grand slam to right on a 3-2 pitch and put Harrisburg in front 4-1.

The Sea Dogs began their comeback with another pair of runs in the fourth. Carson Blair led off the frame with a single to center and Stefan Welch followed with a two-run homer right field, his sixth and first since June 17th, which made it 4-3 and ended Voth's night on the mound.

Paul Demney was the first out of the pen for Harrisburg and he was scoreless through his first two innings, but could not escape his third unscathed. Carson Blair stepped in with one out and crushed a solo homer over everything in left-centerfield, his first career Double-A blast, tying the game at 4-4.

Diaz settled in after the first and weaved his way through the next four and two-third innings in scoreless fashion before exiting in the sixth. Ruiz came on in the two-on, two-out jam and induced a groundout to first to end the threat.

Diaz's ended giving up just the four runs, all earned, on six hits, two walks, and five strikeouts over his five and two-third innings. Ruiz (3-1) took home the win with two innings of scoreless work.

Voth lasted just three-plus and gave up three runs on six hits, a walk and one strikeout. Demny worked three innings in relief, allowing a run on two hits, a walk and two strikeouts.

The Sea Dogs and Senators resume their series with game two of three, Wednesday night at 7:00 PM from Metro Bank Park. Portland is slated to send RHP Justin Haley (0-2, 0.98) to the hill against LHP Felipe Rivero (1-6, 4.50) of the Senators. Radio coverage begins at 6:40 PM on the WPEI U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network.