Baysox Use Eighth-Inning Rally to Upend Sea Dogs 8-3

Portland, Maine - The Bowie Baysox (29-25) used an error-aided eighth-inning rally to defeat the Sea Dogs (23-32) 5-3 in game one of their three game series Friday night at Hadlock Field.

A sellout crowd of 7,368 watched Justin Masterson make a rehab start for the Boston Red Sox.  Masterson worked 4.2 innings and allowed two earned runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out two - he received no decision.

After Brandon Snyder (2-3, 2 BB, RBI) singled in Mike Yastzremski (1-5, 2B, R) to give Bowie a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Portland quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning on a three-run home run by Keury De La Cruz (2-5, HR, 3 RBI) into the Sea Dogs' bullpen, his fourth homer of the season.

After Bowie added a run in the top of the second on an RBI double by Quincy Latimore (3-4, 2 2B, RBI, R, SB), the Sea Dogs maintained a 3-2 until the 8th inning.  Trey Mancini (1-4, 2 R) led off and was grazed by a pitch from Simon Mercedes, then Gabarez Rosa (2-4, R) hit a ground ball up the middle that was bobbled by shortstop Marco Hernandez and allowed both runners to reach safely.  Latimore singled to load the bases and Portland went to Jorge Marban to try and escape the jam.  After Marban induced a shallow pop-up from Jason Esposito (0-3), Glynn Davis (0-4, RBI) hit a sac fly to tie the game, then Ozzie Martinez (2-5, 2 RBI) singled up the middle on a 3-2 pitch to add two more runs and extend the Bowie lead to 5-3.  All three runs Bowie scored in the eighth were unearned.

The Bowie bullpen held strong, with Ashur Tolliver, Dennis Torres (W, 1-0), and Mychal Givens (SV, 12) combining in relief of Parker Bidwell to work 3.1 scoreless innings and allowing just one hit while walking three and striking out seven.  The Sea Dogs stranded 12 runners in the game and were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

The series continues this evening, first pitch is at 6:00 PM.  Heri Quevedo will make his Double-A debut for Portland, while former Sea Dog Joe Gunkel (2-1, 3.93) will make his first start for Bowie since being traded from the Red Sox to the Orioles for Alejandro De Aza.  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 online at seadogs.com or by phone at 207-879-9500.