Sea Dogs Drop Series Finale 4-2

Portland, Maine-The Trenton Thunder (60-43) salvaged the final game of a three game series defeating the Portland Sea Dogs 4-2 Wednesday night before a sold out crowd of 7,368 fans at Hadlock Field. The Sea Dogs (47-58) are 11-4 since the All-Star break and were looking for their first sweep of the Thunder since July 25-27, 2008.

Jason Urquidez was outstanding in a spot start for the Sea Dogs. He fired a career high five innings scattering five hits allowing one run. He did not issue a walk and struck out four.

Zoilo Almonte launched a home run off Urquidez, his 12th of the year, in the fourth inning as the Yankees affiliate took a 1-0 lead.

The Sea Dogs strung together four straight singles in the sixth inning to tie the game at one. Jeremy Hazelbaker led-off the inning with a bunt single, Marquez Smith and Reynaldo Rodriguez followed with singles and Bryce Brentz picked-up his team leading 51st RBI with a single to left. The Sea Dogs could only manage the lone run despite having the bases loaded with no outs. Kolbrin Vitek struck out and Dan Butler grounded into a double-play.

Leaving the bases loaded would prove costly for the Sea Dogs as the Thunder broke the 1-1 tie in the top of the seventh when Neil Medchill connected for a three run homer to left-center off Ryan Pressly (1-2). The home run was Medchill's fifth in 17 games with the Thunder.

The Sea Dogs rallied in the ninth but it was not enough. Vitek led-off with a double off Kelvin Perez. Butler followed with a single and Vitek scored on a Derrik Gibson fielder's choice to cut the lead in half. Perez ended the threat by striking out Jackie Bradley Jr. to earn his third save.

Brett Marshall (11-4) picked-up his Eastern League leading 11th win by tossing six innings allowing one run on eight hits. He did not surrender a walk and recorded six strikeouts.

Michael Olmsted made his Double-A debut for the Sea Dogs in relief of Pressly. He retired the Thunder in order on eight pitches in the eighth with one strikeout. He finished with two scoreless innings allowing one hit, a walk, and punched-out three batters.

The Sea Dogs got lead-off doubles in the first, second, and fifth innings from Bradley Jr., Vitek, and Butler but were unable to score as the Sea Dogs went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position through the first five innings. The Sea Dogs travel to Binghamton, New York for a four game series against the Mets starting with a 6:35 PM contest Thursday night. Lefty Drake Britton (2-3, 4.75) will face Binghamton righty Gonzalez German (6-7, 4.60) in game one. You can catch all of the action on 95.5/ 95.9 FM WPEI. The Sea Dogs will return to Hadlock Field on July 31st for a six game homestand with series against the Akron Aeros (Indians) and Erie SeaWolves (Tigers). Tickets are available for all Sea Dogs' home games and can be purchased by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or online at www.seadogs.com.