Baysox Bash Sea Dogs 11-6 in Series Opener
Bowie jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning after the first four in the order reached, and three scored off of Portland starter Stolmy Pimentel. Rhyne Hughes got the scoring with a two-run double and Robbie Widlansky plated Hughes with a double to cap off the inning. Pimentel (1-3) allowed another run on a fielder's choice in the third, and finished his outing after a scoreless fourth.
Leading 4-2 in the fifth, Bowie once again struck the Sea Dogs' staff for three runs and upped its lead to 7-2. With the bases loaded and one out in the inning, it was the number nine hitter, Allan de San Miguel plating all three with a bases-clearing double.
The Sea Dogs made an attempt to come back in the top half of the sixth, but fell just short. With one out, Portland loaded the bases on two hits and a walk in front of Bryce Brentz. The right fielder took the first pitch of his at-bat and smacked it over the wall in right for a grand slam to pull Portland within one at 7-6. The grand slam marks the first for Portland in 2012.
Bowie responded to the Brentz bomb and scored three more runs in the bottom of the inning. A solo home run by Hughes plated the 11th and final run for the Baysox in the seventh inning.
Pedro Viola pitched a perfect ninth to finish up the marathon affair. Kyler Newby (4-2) was the third pitcher on the mound for the Baysox and he pitched one and two-thirds scoreless innings to earn his fourth win.
In all, the Portland pitching staff allowed the 11 runs on 18 hits and six walks. The Bowie staff had eight walks. All of the inaccuracy led to the game running 3 hours and 26 minutes.
A bright spot for the Sea Dogs was Peter Hissey's return to the lineup. He had been out with a fracture in his hand since April 13th. In the game Hissey went 2-for-4 with an RBI double in the second.
Prime Motor Group Player of the Game: Bryce Brentz 1-4, HR (GS), 4RBI, R
The Sea Dogs continue a six game road trip on Thursday with a 7:05 PM game against the Bowie Baysox from Prince George's Stadium in Bowie, Maryland. Right-handed pitcher Anthony Ranaudo (1-1, 5.84) will get the start for the Sea Dogs. Bowie will send righty Zach Clark (3-4, 3.36) to the hill. The Sea Dogs can be heard on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs radio network with 95.5/95.9 FM WPEI serving as the flagship station.
The Sea Dogs return to Hadlock Field June 19-21 for a three game series with the Harrisburg Senators (Nationals affiliate). Tickets are available for all remaining 2012 Sea Dogs' home games. Book your nine-inning vacation by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or log on to www.seadogs.com.