'Dogs rally falls short, Trenton wins 6-4

TRENTON, N.J. -  The Trenton Thunder (31-27) used a five-run sixth inning to take the series finale from the Portland Sea Dogs (38-19), 6-4 on Sunday afternoon at Arm & Hammer Park. Despite the loss, Portland took three of from Trenton, improving their road-series record to 5-1-3.

Portland opened up the scoring in the second inning with two outs against winning pitcher Matt Tracy (6-2). Derrik Gibson (2-for-4) and Jonathan Roof (2-for-3) set the table with singles, and executed a double steal. Bo Greenwell delivered a two-run single on the ninth pitch of his at-bat, giving Portland a 2-0 lead. Greenwell finished the series 4-for-10 with 3 RBI and 4 walks.

Trenton got on the board in their half of the second against losing pitcher Mickey Pena (2-1). Gary Sanchez led off with a walk and scored from first base on a wall-ball double by Rob Refsynder.

Roof, who joined the Sea Dogs today from High-A Salem (.301 in 50 games) came through in the fourth inning, ripping a run-scoring double down the left-field line to score Gibson.

Tracy finished with six innings of work for Trenton, giving up eight hits and three runs. 

The game took a big turn for Trenton in the sixth, as they plated five runs against Pena and Matty Ott. Pena left the game after two singles and a walk to Tyler Austin. Ott yielded a two-run-single to Sanchez, the first batter he faced. The Thunder received three more run-scoring singles by Peter O'Brien, Taylor Dugas and Dan Fiorito.

Pena worked 5+ innings, suffering his firs loss of the season. They lefty gave up six hits, four runs, two walks and five strikeouts.

Portland rallied in the ninth inning off Cole Kimball and Tyler Webb. Keury De La Cruz (2-for-4) made his Double-A debut on Sunday and finished with two hits. In the ninth, he led off with a double. Kimball left the game after a one-out walk to Roof. Webb took over and walked Greenwell to load the bases. After Mookie Betts (0-for-4) popped out to second base, Deven Marrero nailed a run-scoring single on an 0-2 pitch to right. Webb secured the save by fanning Stefan Welch to end the game.

The Sea Dogs have finished up their road trip to Trenton and will have a well-deserved off day on Monday, before opening up a six game homestand against two teams from the Western Division. The Erie SeaWolves (Tigers Affiliate) is in town for the first three games and will kick off the series Tuesday night at 7:00 PM from Hadlock Field. RHP Mike Augliera (3-5, 4.18) takes the mound for Portland against Erie righty Wilsen Palacios (3-2, 5.15). Radio coverage begins at 6:40 PM on the WPEI U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network and www.seadogs.com. Coverage begins at 6:55 PM on MiLB.tv.