Sea Dogs Outlast the Thunder 6-5
Trenton got on the scoreboard immediately in the first inning. The Thunder put up three runs in the frame capped by a two-run home run by Melky Mesa, his 10th of the season. Zoilo Almonte added a RBI single to the Thunder's first inning scoring line preceding Mesa's blast.
The Sea Dogs scored four unanswered runs stretching from the second inning to the sixth inning. In the second, Matt Spring doubled home two runs. Spring's double (3) brought the Sea Dogs to within one run of Trenton, making to score 3-to-2.
Portland evened the score at three in the top half of the fourth without the benefit of a hit. Byrce Brentz reached first to start the inning after being hit by a pitch and would come around to score on a wild pitch.
Derrik Gibson put the Dogs in front of Trenton 4-to-3 with a RBI single in the sixth inning, Dan Butler scored on the hit. Butler went 1-for-1 on the afternoon and drew three walks, half of all walks earned by Sea Dogs batters.
Jackie Bradley Jr. has been brilliant for the Sea Dogs since joining the club. Bradley gathered two hits in five at-bats for Portland Sunday and has hit safely in all four starts with the team.
Ryan Dent put the Dogs in front for good, 6-to-5, in the top of the 8th. Dent launched a two-run home run scoring Derrik Gibson who tripled to lead-off the inning.
Trenton Thunder starter Mikey O'Brien went five innings giving up three runs on four hits. O'Brien also walked four and struck out three.
Chris Hernandez made a Sea Dog team-leading 15th start of the season Sunday. After allowing three runs in the first Hernandez settled down and tossed five scoreless innings. Hernandez was lifted in the 7th in favor of Caleb Clay after allowing an unearned run. Jeffrey Farnham then scored on an Abraham Almonte force out closing the book on Hernandez. Hernandez allowed five runs, four earned, on seven hits over six innings of work throwing 90 pitches, 53 for strikes.
Prime Motor Group Player of the Game: Ryan Dent, 1-3, HR, 2 RBI
The Sea Dogs will complete the four-game series against the Thunder Monday Night at 7:05 PM at Waterfront Park in Trenton. South paw Drake Britton (1-1, 4.19) is slated to take the ball for the Sea Dogs against Trenton's lefty Vidal Nuno (2-0, 1.08).
The Dogs will return home for nine games in eight days starting Tuesday at 7:00 PM against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Portland right handed pitcher Chris Martin (3-4, 4.41) will face New Hampshire righty John Stilson (1-1, 6.53). You can catch all the game action on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs radio network with 95.5/95.9 FM WPEI serving as the flagship station. 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.