Ellsbury scores as Sea Dogs edge Rock Cats 2-1

(Portland, Maine)- The first home sellout crowd of the season filled Hadlock Field on Tuesday night, and all 7,368 in attendance left the ballpark rather satisfied. Jacoby Ellsbury joined the Portland Sea Dogs on a rehab assignment earlier in the day, and ended up scoring the eventual winning run, as the Sea Dogs defeated the Rock Cats, 2-1. Ellsbury shared the spotlight with Felix Doubront, who tossed seven scoreless innings in the win.

Jacoby Ellsbury took little time to introduce himself to the Portland crowd, reaching base on a five-pitch walk. After a single by Che-Hsuan Lin, Ellsbury scored the first run of the game, as Ryan Kalish reached on a throwing error by New Britain starter Carlos Gutierrez. The next batter up was Luis Exposito, and he continued to excel at the plate, scoring Lin with a sacrifice fly to right field. With the RBI, Exposito now has four in his last two games.

Aside from Ellsbury's rehab assignment, the story of the game was the starting pitching, as Felix Doubront and Carlos Gutierrez locked up in a terrific battle. After allowing two runs on one hit and two walks in the first, Gutierrez settled down, allowing two hits and one walk, finishing his outing after six innings of work. Doubront was spectacular for the Sea Dogs, pitching seven innings, allowing seven hits and one walk, while striking out six. Doubront (4-0) earned the win, while Gutierrez (0-3) took the loss.

After Doubront left the game, the Rock Cats got on the board. After a flyout to center by Ben Revere, New Britain received four consecutive singles, including Rene Tosoni's, which scored Yangervis Solarte. Solarte started the Rock Cats' rally with a bunt single. Despite the run, Portland reliever Robert Coello was able to battle out of a bases loaded jam, without allowing another runner to cross home plate. Coello followed that up with a perfect ninth inning, securing his first ever save in Double-A.

Ellsbury finished the night 0-for-3 with one walk and one run.

The Sea Dogs and Rock Cats will continue their three-game series on Wednesday night at 6:00. Ryne Miller (1-2, 5.63) will make the start for Portland, while New Britain counters with Tyler Robertson (0-3, 3.86).