Tazawa Shines on a Rainy Day, Dogs Beat Cats 10-5

(Manchester, NH) - RHP Junichi Tazawa (5-3) hurled five strong innings and LF Aaron Bates hit 2 home runs, leading the Portland Sea Dogs(23-23) past the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (24-24), 10-5 on Thursday morning at Merchantsauto.com Stadium in front of 7,698. Portland takes two of three from the Fisher Cats and continues their roadtrip on Friday night in Connecticut.

Tazawa allowed both runs on 2-out hits by RF Adam Calderone (3-for-3, HR, RBI) - a solo homer in the third inning and a run-scoring double in the fifth. The righty fanned seven, walked two and improved his road record to 4-1 with a 2.56 ERA (9 ER/31.2 IP).

Bates was the offensive standout for the Sea Dogs, going 4-for-4 with a pair of 2-run homers, 2 singles and 4 runs scored. Bates first home run gave Portland a 3-0 lead and his second put the Sea Dogs in front 7-2. The Portland outfielder hit three 2-run homers in the series and has 25 RBI in May - the franchise record for most RBI in one month is 28. 2B Ryan Khoury drove in 2 runs in the 9th inning and has an RBI in four straight contests.

New Hampshire starter RHP Brandon Magee (2-2) was touched for seven hits and four runs (three earned) over 5 IP to take the loss. In addition to Bates' homer in the first, 1B Lars Anderson (3-for-5) had an RBI single off Magee.

RHP Chad Rhoades yielded three runs on three hits in 1.2 IP for the Sea Dogs. New Hampshire scored three runs with two outs off Rhoades in the seventh, picking up 5 consecutive hits. SS Luis Sanchez cut the deficit to 7-4 with a 2-run double and 1B Brian Dopirak delivered a run-scoring single off RHP Chris Province (1.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R). RHP Bryce Cox worked a clean ninth inning and has not allowed a run in six consecutive outings.

The Sea Dogs continue their 6-game roadtrip on Friday night at Connecticut against the Defenders beginning at 6:35 PM. Catch all the action on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network beginning at 6:05 PM with the CorrectDeck Pre-Game Show.

Notes: Tazawa has fanned seven in 4 of 10 outings this season...Bates has 51 RBI over the past two Mays for Portland...Khoury extended his hitting streak to six straight games, hitting .391 (9-for-23)...New Hampshire's pitchers allowed five unearned runs - 2B Bryan Kervin made two errors...The Fisher Cats set an attendance record for a 3-game series, attracting 22,619 fans.