Sea Dogs Doubled Up in Trenton
Game 1 Recap:
The Trenton Thunder used a four run fifth inning to take down the Portland Sea Dogs 8-3 in game one of the double header Saturday night at Waterfront Park. The win marked the ninth in 11 tries for the Trenton Thunder against Portland.
With the game tied 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth, David Adams got the wheels in motion for the Thunder with a one out single off of Portland starter Stolmy Pimentel. Trenton's offense then exploded with back-to-back-to-back home runs against the Portland righty.
Zoilo Almonte hit the first blast that scored two, and put the Thunder out in front for good at 5-3. Melky Mesa and Luke Murton completed the trio of bombs. Pimentel's (1-4) night ended after Addison Maruszak doubled after the three homers. The righty went the first four and one-third, and allowed seven runs on 11 hits, including four home runs; he walked one and struck out one.
Trenton took advantage of Pimentel early and plated a run in each of the first two innings to take an early 2-0 lead. Portland jumped on the board and tied the game with a two-run second.
Peter Hissey and Jackie Bradley Jr. hit back-to-back doubles in the third inning to produce Portland's first run. The double and RBI were Bradley Jr.'s first in Double-A. Marquez Smith doubled in the centerfielder to tie the game at 2-2.
Jose Gil hit the first home run of the night in the fourth to put Trenton up 3-2, however Portland responded in the top of the fifth. Bradley Jr., tripled and scored on Oscar Tejeda's single to once again tie the game.
Shaeffer Hall (6-6) earned the win on the mound for Trenton. The lefty went the requisite five innings and held the 'Dogs to three runs, on seven hits; he walked two and struck out six.
Prime Motor Group Player of the Game: Oscar Tejeda: 3-4, RBI
Game 2 Recap:
The Trenton Thunder fell behind early, led in the middle, and broke a tie late to walk off and win 7-6 over the Portland Sea Dogs in game two of a doubleheader at Waterfront Park. The win keeps the Thunder's streak alive of not having lost a game in a doubleheader this season. (10 wins in 10 games in five doubleheaders.)
Tied at 6-6 entering the bottom of the seventh the Thunder looked to the bottom of its order for a little two out magic. Yadil Mujica drew a walk with two down and moved to second on Abraham Almonte's single to right against Aaron Kurcz (2-4).
It was Jose Pirela that won it for the Thunder with an RBI single to the left side of the infield, plating Mujica and sending Trenton home with its second win of the day in the game two marathon that lasted three hours and 22 minutes.
Portland trailed 6-3 with three offensive outs remaining. Jeremy Hazelbaker singled with one down, but it was Marquez Smith's single and Bryce Brentz's walk to load the bases with two down that kept the rally alive against Shane Flannery.
Oscar Tejeda plated two with a single to right, and Matt Spring tied it with a bloop single left that scored Brentz. The rally ended and the 'Dogs could not push the go-ahead run across before Derrik Gibson grounded into a fielder's choice that ended the inning. Flannery (2-1) earned the win, but also took home a blown save.
The Thunder entered the bottom of the fifth inning down 3-2, before the first three reached and scored. Jose Pirela drew a leadoff walk, Zoilo Almonte followed with a double, and Luke Murton drew a walk to load the bases with nobody out for the Thunder.
Chris Balcom-Miller struck out Damon Sublett, but Addison Maruszak loomed on deck. The third baseman drove all three runs home with a double to the wall in center and put the Thunder up for good at 5-3. Trenton tacked on an unearned run in the sixth to make it 6-3.
The Sea Dogs got off on the right foot offensively and jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning against Trenton's Ryan Pope. Jackie Bradley Jr. led the ballgame off with a double and scored on Marquez Smith's single three hitters later.
Trenton responded with two runs off of Portland's Anthony Ranaudo in the bottom of the second inning. The tall righty struck out three of the first four hitters of his outing, but walked Sublett, and gave up a double to Maruszak that plated the first run. Maruszak scored a few pitches later on a wild pitch by Ranaudo. The starter lasted just the two innings and allowed the two runs on two hits; he walked three and struck out four.
Portland rebounded and took a 3-2 lead with two runs in the third. Bradley Jr. and Jeremy Hazelbaker were each hit by a pitch with one out in front of Reynaldo Rodriguez. The first baseman reached on an error by the pitcher that plated Bradley Jr., and moved Hazelbaker to third. Bryce Brentz singled home Hazelbaker from third and put Portland in front.
Prime Motor Group Player of the Game: Bryce Brentz 2-3, RBI
The Sea Dogs continue a four game road trip on Sunday with a 1:05 PM game against the Trenton Thunder from Waterfront Park in Trenton, New Jersey. Left-handed pitcher Chris Hernandez (4-6, 6.24) will get the start for the Sea Dogs. Trenton will send righty Mikey O'Brien (4-1, 3.10) 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 26-July 3 for a stretch of nine games in eight days with the first four against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays Affiliate) and the final five against the Trenton Thunder. 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.