Sea Dogs Get Nice Roll of the Dice
Matsuzaka retired the first seven batters, while scattering only three hits and one run, which ultimately led to a standing ovation from the hometown crowd, when his day concluded in the top of the fifth inning.
On the offensive side of things, the Sea Dogs began their attack in the third. Kolbrin Vitek led off the frame with a single, and Juan Carlos Linares was hit by a pitch, before back-to-back hits by Reynaldo Rodriguez and Oscar Tejeda produced the first two runs.
Portland added four more in the fourth, knocking losing pitcher Jonathan Pettibone (1-3) out of the game. Rodriguez delivered the knockout punch with a two-run single with two outs. Earlier in the inning, Ryan Dent and Derrik Gibson added RBIs.
The Sea Dogs sent eight to the plate in the fifth, scoring three times off reliever Juan Morillo. Dan Butler singled home Bryce Brentz, who led off the frame with a walk and stole second base. Vitek was hit by a pitch to drive in the eighth run and Linares drew a bases-loaded walk.
Chris Martin (1-2) earned his first Double-A win, hurling 4.1 innings of scoreless relief. Martin scattered six hits, fanned three, allowing a run-scoring to Troy Hanzawa in the fifth.
Portland and Reading play the rubber game of their three-game set on Sunday afternoon beginning at 1:00 PM. Lefty Chris Hernandez (1-1, 1.72) makes his fifth start of the season against Reading's Tyler Cloyd (3-0, 2.37).