Hazelbaker, Rain Ground Flying Squirrels 4-1

Linares Extends Hit Streak to 11 Games

June 8, 2012

Portland, Maine- Jeremy Hazelbaker blasted a three run homer in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Sea Dogs to a 4-1 victory over the Richmond Flying Squirrels in a rain shortened game Friday night at Hadlock Field. Due to severe thunderstorms that hit the area, the game was called with one out in the top of the eighth inning. The Sea Dogs improve to 26-34, while the Flying Squirrels fall to 28-33.

The Sea Dogs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Oscar Tejeda launched his fourth home run of the year off Mike Kickham.

Anthony Ranaudo threw four scoreless innings before running into trouble in the fifth. Ranaudo walked Daniel Mayora to lead off the inning. He stole second and advanced to third on a single by Tommy Joseph. Juan Ciriaco lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Mayora and knot the game up at one.

Ranaudo tossed five solid innings allowing one run on seven hits. He allowed three walks and struck out four, but did not factor into the decision.

With two outs and the rain fast approaching in the seventh inning Nick Natoli and Heiker Meneses each connected for a single off Jake Dunning (1-1). Hazelbaker stroked a three run bomb, knocking out a panel in the Hadlock Field video board, to break the 1-1 tie. The home run was Hazelbaker's sixth of the year.

Aaron Kurcz (2-2) earned the win tossing two innings of scoreless relief.

Juan Carlos Linares singled in the sixth inning to extend his hit streak to 11 games. He continues to lead the league in hitting with a .345 average.

The series will continue with a 6:00 PM game Saturday evening. The Sea Dogs will send southpaw Chris Hernandez (2-5, 3.21) to the mound. Richmond will counter with righty Justin Fitzgerald (3-4, 4.87). The Sea Dogs mascot band; The Kastaways will perform from 4:15 to 6:15 PM on the front plaza. Tickets are available by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or online at www.seadogs.com. Listen to Mike Antonellis with the play-by-play action on 95.5/ 95.9 FM WPEI.