'Cats top 'Dogs with eighth inning rally, 6-4

8th inning error leads to three unearned runs

Manchester, NH -  The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (34-38) led wire-to-wire and shutout the Sea Dogs (27-47) 9-0 on Friday night, winning the final three games of the four game series between the two New England rivals.

Austin Bibens-Dirkx (W, 2-3) entered the night with a 9.50 ERA, but kept the Sea Dogs scoreless and allowed just one hit over six innings of work, walking one and striking out six.

Dalton Pompey (2-4, 3 R, BB, 2 SB) reached on a Reed Gragnani error to lead off the bottom of the first and quickly advanced into scoring position on a bunt single by Roemon Fields (1-5).  After Jon Berti (0-3, 2 RBI, BB, HBP) grounded into a fielder's choice to put runners at the corners, KC Hobson (2-4, 2 RBI, R) hit a sac fly to put New Hampshire on the board, then Ryan Schimpf (1-3, HR, 3 RBI) uncorked a long home run off of Sea Dogs' starter Kyle Kraus to make it 3-0.  All three runs were unearned.

Kraus (L, 0-1) went four innings and allowed four runs (one earned) on five hits and struck out two.

The Fisher Cats added a run in the third, then scored four times off Simon Mercedes in the 5th inning to make it 8-0 and added a run in the eighth inning off on John Cornely to make it 9-0.

Once Bibens-Dirkx gave way, Jimmy Cordero worked two scoreless innings and allowed just one hit, and Scott Barnes worked a scoreless ninth.  Portland was shutout for the 10th time this season.

The Sea Dogs return home on Saturday night, opening up a three-game series against the Reading Fightin Phils (Phillies affiliate) at Haddock Field. RHP Heri Quevedo (0-4, 5.20) makes the start for Portland against Reading lefty Jessie Biddle (7-1, 3.62). Pre-Game coverage begins at 5:40 PM on the WPEI U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network.


Celtics center Kelly Olynk makes an appearance at Hadlock Field on Saturday. Tickets are at 207-879-9500 or online at seadogs.com. The Eastern League All-Star Game is at Hadlock Field on July 15th.