Harrisburg wins 16-12 in an epic showdown on Sunday

Portland, Maine - The Harrisburg Senators (53-56) scored four times in the top of the 11th inning and beat the Portland Sea Dogs (40-69), 16-12 on Sunday afternoon at Hadlock Field in front of a sellout crowd of 7,368. Harrisburg took three of four from the Sea Dogs by winning the final three.


Trailing 12-9, the Sea Dogs tied the game with back-to-back homers in the eighth from Sam Travis (2-run) and Tim Roberson.  Portland had 18 hits and finished 7-for-16 with runners-in-scoring position. Harrisburg had a season-high 22 hits, the most yielded by Portland since 2008.


Brian Goodwin snapped a 12-12 in the 11th, leading off the frame with a solo-homer to right. Harrisburg added three more run son a fielder's choice, walk and a groundout.  John Cornely (0-2) took the loss and Gilberto Mendez (5-3) worked two scoreless to earn the win.


The game was tied at six after three innings, as the teams combined for 15 hits.  Drew Vettleson put
Harrisburg on the board with a bases-loaded walk in the first. Luis Diaz (ND, 2.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) fanned three in the first to escape further damage.


Portland responded with five runs off Nationals Top Prospect Lucas Giolito in their first turn. Tim Roberson and Oscar Tejeda had RBI singles, Henry Ramos nailed a two-run double and Dustin Lawley provided a run-scoring ground.


Harrisburg added two runs in the third on a homer by Isaac Ballou and a single from Chris Bostick. Portland added a run in their second on Roberson's second RBI single of the game.  The Senators tied the game at six in the third inning, knocking Diaz out of the game. Drew Vettleson led off with a homer - Wilmer Difo (5-for-7) and Cutter Dykstra had RBI singles with two outs.


In the fifth, Harrisburg took a 7-6 lead off Simon Mercedes (ND) in the fifth. Jose Lozada tripled and scored on a sac-fly by Isaac Ballou.  Portland took a 9-7 lead in the sixth off Wander Suero. Jordan Weems picked up his first Double-A hit, an RBI double to center. Sam Travis gave the 'Dogs a 9-7 lead.


Harrisburg responded off Kyle Martin with two outs in the seventh, taking an 11-9 lead. Shawn Pleffner and Drew Vettleson hit back-to-back homers.


The Sea Dogs are off tonight and open up a six-game roadtrip on Tuesday night against the Erie SeaWolves (Tigers affiliate) at Jerry Uht Park.  RHP Mike McCarthy (6-4, 3.55) makes the start in the series opener for the Sea Dogs.


Portland's next homestand begins on August 11th against Erie. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by phone at 207-879-9500 or online at seadogs.com.