Sea Dogs take two of three from the Fisher CatsPortland, Maine - The Sea Dogs (62-67) used a three-run eighth inning to beat the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (63-65) 4-2 on Wednesday afternoon in front of 6,090 fans. Portland took two of three in the series, and trail the Fisher Cats by 1.5 games for third place.
Michael Almanzar delivered the game-winning hit, nailing a two-run triple to snap a 1-1 tie with two outs in the eighth. Christian Vazquez followed with an RBI single to right field. Almanzar leads the team with 24 two-out runs.
In the ninth, the Fisher Cats didn't make it easy for the Sea Dogs, scoring a run on four hits off Jeremy Kehrt. Noe Ramirez came in with two outs and the bases-loaded, but got Andy Burns to pop out to SS Derrik Gibson. Gibson had to move down the left-field line and fell down after the catch.
Kehrt (2-3) picked up the win, and Ramirez earned his fourth save of the season. RHP Marcus Walden (6-13) took the loss, giving up five hits and three runs over 7.2 innings pitched.
Lefty Mickey Pena (no-decision) was sensational for Portland in his Double-A debut, tossing seven scoreless frames on five hits, two walks and three strikeouts. Pena stranded five runners and held the Fisher Cats 0-for-6 with runners-in-scoring position.
Portland cracked the ice first, scoring a run off Walden in the fourth. Vazquez (3-for-4) and Peter Hissey (2-for-4) singled with one out. Gibson gave the 'Dogs a 1-0 lead on a run-scoring fielder's choice.
New Hampshire tied the game in the eighth inning on a two-out RBI double from SS Sean Nolan.
The Sea Dogs tied the season series with New Hampshire at 10 games apiece. Portland is 2-1 during a 16-game stretch against New Hampshire and Trenton.
Prime Motor Group Player of the Game: Mickey Pena
Garin Cecchini extended his on-base streak to 30 games with a first inning walk.
The Sea Dogs begin an 8-game roadtrip on Thursday night against the Trenton Thunder at Arm & Hammer Park. LHP Henry Owens (2-0, 1.20) makes his fourth Double-A start. LHP Nik Turley (9-7, 4.09) gets the start for Trenton.
Radio coverage begins at 6:45 PM on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network and seadogs.com powered by the Tune-In Radio app. Portland's final homestand begins on August 30th versus the Trenton Thunder (Yankees affiliate). Tickets are available by calling 207-879-9500 or at seadogs.com.
