Fife Grounds Flying Squirrels in 6-0 Win

Portland, Maine-Stephen Fife and two relievers held the Richmond Flying Squirrels (27-30) to two hits as the Sea Dogs shutout Richmond 6-0 Tuesday night at Hadlock Field. Fife took a no-hitter into the seventh inning to lead the Sea Dogs to their sixth straight victory as they improve to 20-36 on the season.

Fife (6-3) earned his team leading sixth win holding the Richmond offense to one hit over 6.1 innings of work. Fife, in his second season of Double-A, struck out a Double-A high seven batters and yielded just one walk.

The 24 year-old, Fife, took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. After retiring Richmond right-fielder Roger Kieschnick on one pitch, Justin Christian delivered a single to left field to break-up the no-hit bid. Fife would depart to a well deserved standing ovation in favor of Kyle Fernandes.

Fernandes and Eammon Portice would provide outstanding relief tossing 2.2 scoreless innings surrendering only one hit and recording three strikeouts. It was the third consecutive shutout and seventh of the season for the Portland pitching staff.

The Sea Dogs used the long ball to score five of their six runs as the Sea Dogs whacked three home runs on the night. Reigning Eastern League Player of the Week Chih-Hsien Chiang continued his torrid hitting blasting a two run homer, his tenth of the season, in the first inning to give the Sea Dogs a quick 2-0 lead. It marked the fourth consecutive game in which Chiang has homered, tying Josh Reddick's franchise record, who accomplished the feat in 2009.

Alex Hassan chipped-in with a solo home run in the third, his fifth of the season off Richmond starter Clayton Tanner. Jorge Padron ripped a two run homer to right in the fifth to give the Sea Dogs a 5-0 lead and chasing Tanner from the game.

Tanner (1-6) suffered the loss surrendering five runs on six hits in 4.1 innings of work. Richmond would receive outstanding relief from Henry Sosa who struck out five straight Sea Dogs in 1.2 innings.

Will Middlebrooks delivered a RBI single in the eighth off Alex Hinshaw to cap the Portland scoring.

The Sea Dogs' six game winning streak is their longest since they won six straight July 17th through July 22nd, 2010.

The two clubs will meet again Wednesday night at 7:00 PM at Hadlock Field. The Sea Dogs will send right-handed pitcher Brock Huntzinger (3-4, 7.11) to the mound. Richmond will counter with, Eastern League Pitcher of the Week, lefty Ryan Verdugo (3-1, 2.50). Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or online at www.seadogs.com.