7 Run 2nd All Sea Dogs Need in Win

The Sea Dogs decided to be efficient in game 2 of a doubleheader against the Trenton Thunder. Portland scored all 7 of its runs in the 2nd inning, holding on to split the twin-bill 7-5. A Home Run by Will Middlebrooks, his 7th of the year, led the Portland attack in the inning.

After a tough loss in the first game, the Sea Dogs didn't look much better to start of the second game. Reliever turned Starter Jeremy Kehrt got the first two men of the game out. The third out would prove to be not so easy. Bradley Suttle walked on a full count, then Cody Johnson doubled to put two men in scoring position. Jose Gil singled to bring home Suttle, then Addison Maruszak hit a bloop just over the glove of 2B Oscar Tejeda to score Johnson. Jose Pirela would reach base on an error by Jon Hee to load the bases, but DeAngelo Mack would ground out to end the inning.

Portland looked to score a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, as Ryan Lavarnway singled with two outs. However, The DH would get gunned down at the plate trying to score from 1st on Chih-Hsien Chiang's double.

The Sea Dogs made up for lost time getting that first run, as Middlebrooks led off the 2nd inning with a solo Home Run off the bottom of the video board in left center. Trenton starter Cody Arbiso then would get the next two batters out before Mitch Dening stepped to the plate. Dening walked, and #9 hitter Will Vazquez followed by getting hit by a pitch. Lead-off hitter Jeremy Hazelbaker then walked to load the bases. Hee would make up for his earlier error, doubling down the 3rd-base line to score 3 runs and give Portland the lead. After Lavarnway walked, Chiang doubled to score Hee. Middlebrooks then doubled to bring 2 more runs home, giving him 3 RBIs in the inning on 2 hits. That knocked Arbiso out of the game without getting out of the 2nd inning. Switch pitcher Pat Venditte came on in relief and got Jorge Padron to strike out swinging.

Trenton would get 2 runs back in the 3rd inning. Suttle led off with a single, then Johnson hit a deep fly ball to center that Hazelbaker badly misplayed. Suttle would score on the play, and Johnson would make it all the way to 3rd. Gil then grounded out to bring home Johnson, making it 7-4 Sea Dogs.

The Thunder would score another run in the 5th, making it interesting for Sea Dogs fans. Gil hit a one-out double off the Monster, then scored one out later on a single through the infield by Pirela. Those two hits were the only dents in the relief outing by Eammon Portice, who picked up his first win of the year.

Kehrt's final line was 3 2/3 innings pitched, with 5 hits, 4 runs (2 earned), with 2 walks and no strikeouts. It was Kehrt's first start of the year, due to it being a doubleheader.

Arbiso's record fell to 3-2 with the outing today. He went 1 2/3 innings, giving up 7 runs on 6 hits, with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts. His ERA now sits at a robust 5.87.

Venditte pitched solid in relief, confusing batters from both sides of the mound. In 4 1/3 innings, he only gave up 2 hits, and struck out 4. The Sea Dogs were lucky to get runs early, as Venditte was dominant over the last 4 innings.

Portice also pitched well in relief. He went 3 1/3 innings, giving up just 1 run on 2 hits, with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. He evened his record to 1-1, and his ERA sits at an even 4.00.

Middlebrooks went 2 for 3 with 3 RBIs and a run scored. Lavarnway and Chiang also had 2-hit games for the Sea Dogs. In the two games combined, Lavarnway went 4 for 6 with 4 RBIs, 4 runs scored, and 2 walks.