Sea Dogs Take Series Over Altoona with 4-1 Win

Joe Gunkel Earns Win in First Double-A Start

Portland, Maine - The Portland Sea Dogs (17-23) took the rubber match of their three-game series with the Altoona Curve (23-15) on Thursday night, 4-1 was the final.  With the win, the Sea Dogs have posted back-to-back series wins over both Eastern League division leaders (New Britain and Altoona).

Joe Gunkel (1-0) earned the win in his Double-A debut as a starter, allowing one earned run on six hits in five innings, walking four and striking out six.  Simon Mercedes pitched two scoreless innings of relief in his first appearance since May 13th, and Jorge Marban (S, 1), making his Sea Dogs debut after being transferred from High-A Salem, pitched two hitless innings to earn the save.


Portland's offense got started early against Altoona starter Zach Dodson (L, 2-2).  After a two-out double by Jantzen Witte (2-4, 2B, 2 R), Oscar Tejeda (1-4, RBI) extended his hit streak to nine with an RBI single to make it 1-0.


Altoona tied the game in the fourth on a two-out, RBI single by Keon Broxton (1-5, RBI), but the Sea Dogs took the lead back in the bottom of the fifth.  After Jonathan Roof (1-2, 3B, R, BB) led off the inning with a triple, Blake Tekotte (1-3, RBI) immediately followed up with an RBI single to give Portland a 2-1 edge.  The Sea Dogs added two more runs in the sixth on an RBI double by Tim Roberson (2-3, 2B, RBI, R) and a single by Luis Martinez (1-3, RBI).


The homestand continues today as the Reading Fightin Phils come to Hadlock Field for a five-game, four day series spanning the Memorial Day weekend.  William Cuevas (5-1, 3.03) is set to start for the Sea Dogs while Zach Eflin (3-3, 2.74) is scheduled to go for Reading.  Pregame coverage begins on the WPEI U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network at 5:40 PM.  Tickets are still available and can be purchased by phone at 207-879-9500 or online at seadogs.com.