#SeaDogs Take Down Akron

For the second time on their road trip, the Portland Sea Dogs completed a series with a phenomenal effort from their pitching. On Sunday afternoon, Stephen Fife, Eammon Portice, and Jason Rice combined to blank the Akron Aeros, 3-0 at Canal Park.

Both starting pitchers did well in the early innings, as Stephen Fife held the Aeros hitless through five, while Alex White kept the Sea Dogs off of the scoreboard through four. In the top of the fifth, Portland broke through for the first run of the afternoon. With two outs, Che-Hsuan Lin received a walk, and proceeded to score two pitches later, when Ray Chang doubled over Adam Davis' head in left field.

One inning later, the visitors added to their lead with a second two-out run. Yamaico Navarro singled with one out, and moved to second on Chih-Hsien Chiang's grounder to third. Ryan Khoury followed with a single to right field, bringing Navarro around from second base.

Fife still had his no-hitter going with one out in the sixth, but Miguel Perez broke it up with an infield single up the middle. After Tim Fedroff grounded into a fielder's choice, the Aeros received their second hit of the day, on a single to right by Jason Kipnis. However, Portland's starter pitched out of any further damage, as Lonnie Chisenhall flew out to left,ending the inning.

Stephen Fife (3-1) finished the day with six innings pitched, allowing just two hits, while striking out five. Alex White (2-2) lasted five innings for Akron, allowing one runs, two hits, and four walks, while striking out six.

Luis Exposito and Anthony Rizzo started the top of the eighth inning with consecutive strikeouts, but Akron reliever Shane Lindsay was far from being done. He walked Yamaico Navarro and Ryan Khoury, while Chih-Hsien Chiang reached on an error by Carlos Rivero. With the bases loaded, Juan Apodaca was hit by a pitch, bringing in Portland's third run of the day.

That ended up being plenty of offense for the Sea Dogs and their bullpen. Eammon Portice allowed one hit in two innings for his fourth hold of the season, before Jason Rice closed things out with a scoreless ninth. Rice's save was his eighth of the campaign.

With the win, Portland secured a winning road trip, finishing their swing through Erie and Akron with a 4-2 mark. The Aeros' loss puts an end to their 12-game winning streak - the longest in franchise history.

The Sea Dogs will have Monday off, before beginning a six-game homestand on Tuesday night at 7:00. Tuesday's opponent will be the Erie SeaWolves. Portland has yet to name a starting pitcher for the series opener, while Erie will turn to Duane Below (2-5, 4.15).

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