'Cats with a double party, win 7-0

New Britain, Conn. - The New Britain Rock Cats (52-53) smacked out eight doubles, and beat the Portland Sea Dogs (67-40), 7-0 on Saturday night at New Britain Stadium. New Britain has won two of the first 3 games of the series, as the season series closes out on Sunday afternoon.

Rock Cats RHP Tyler Duffey (7-2) earned his fourth straight win, tossing seven scoreless frames on five hits, no walks and seven strikeouts. Duffy earned his first win in three starts against Portland.

RHP Wilfredo Boscan (1-5) took the loss for the Sea Dogs, giving up six runs on 10 hits (season-high) over 4.2 IP, but did fan seven.

Rock Cats cracked the ice in the second inning, taking a 1-0 lead. Aaron Hicks reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a double by Brandon Waring, down the left-field line. That combination would work in the fourth against Boscan. Kenny Vargas began the rally with a one-out double and scored on Hicks' double. Waring followed with his second run-scoring double - both times plating home Hicks. In the same inning, Brad Boyer capped off the three-run frame with a run-scoring single.

Hicks delivered the knockout punch in the fifth inning, nailing a two-out, two-run double, and giving the 'Cats a 6-0 lead. New Britain added their final run in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Matt Koch.

The Sea Dogs had just five hits and only back-to-back runners once - singles by Blake Swihart and Sean Coyle (2-for-3) in the first.

The Sea Dogs and Rock Cats meet for the final time on Sunday afternoon, beginning at 1:35 PM. RHP Luis Diaz (3-2, 2.82) makes his eighth start of the season for Portland and New Britain counters with RHP Virgil Vasquez (5-6, 4.26). Radio coverage begins at 1:15 PM on the WPEI U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network. MiLB.TV is available at 1:30 PM.