Sea Dogs Spring to 4-2 in Finale
Trailing 2-1 in the ninth the Sea Dogs put two on with one out in front of Matt Spring. Spring, turned on a 1-2 pitch from Stephen Marek and hit it out of the park for a three run go-ahead home run.
New Hampshire trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, but as had been such commonplace in the series, they came back and scored multiple runs in an inning and took the lead.
Kevin Howard began the inning with a single off of Portland starter Drake Britton. Brian Bocock followed with a single to put two on with no outs. John Tolisano sacrificed the runners to second and third with a bunt in front of Brian Van Kirk. Van Kirk singled home the tying run, and Jack Murphy followed with a sac-fly that plated the go-ahead run.
Portland plated its first run in the third inning on back-to-back two out base hits by the top of the order. Ellsbury led off the frame with a double to right, and Jackie Bradley Jr. followed with a single to the wall that plated the centerfielder.
Britton pitched well in his seventh outing with the Sea Dogs. The lefty tossed six innings and allowed just two runs on five hits; he did not walk a batter and struck out five. Caleb Clay (3-2) was the first out of the pen and earned the win with two scoreless frames. Josh Fields earned the save with a perfect ninth.
New Hampshire sent John Stilson to the mound, and the young righty remained solid in his first professional season. Stilson threw five innings and allowed just one run on four hits; he walked one and struck out five. Marek (1-1) took the loss.
Jacoby Ellsbury - CF - 2 Putouts - 1-4, Double - 15 Pitches
Top 1st: 4-3 GO - 6 Pitches - Ball, Ball, Ball, Called Strike, Foul, In Play
Top 3rd: Double - 5 Pitches -Ball, Ball, Called Strike, Swinging Strike, In Play
Top 5th: 3-1 GO - 1 Pitch - In Play
Top 8th: F8 - 3 pitches - Ball, Called Strike, In Play
Ryan Sweeney - RF - 0-3 - 18 Pitches
Top 1st: F7 - 4 Pitches - Ball, Called Strike, Swinging Strike, In Play
Top 3rd: L6 - 5 Pitches - Called Strike, Ball, Ball, Swinging Strike, In Play
Top 6th: P6 - 9 Pitches - Ball, Ball, Ball, Called Strike, Foul, Foul, Foul, Foul, In Play
Prime Motor Group Players of the Game: Caleb Clay W, 2IP, 0R, 1H, 2BB, 3K
Matt Spring 1-4, HR, 3 RBI
The Sea Dogs continue a six game road trip Saturday night with the first game of a three-game series at 7:05 PM against the Trenton Thunder in Trenton, New Jersey. Right-handed pitcher Jeremy Kehrt (1-2, 4.11) will get the start for the Sea Dogs. Trenton will send righty Brett Marshall (9-3, 3.21) 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 following the all-star break for eight games, a four game series with the Fisher Cats (Blue Jays affiliate), followed by three against the Reading Phillies (Phillies 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.