Cats' Bats Erupt in 13-7 Win

Ryan Lavarnway (Photo Jason Gendron/MESN)

Not much seemed to go right for the Sea Dogs in the series finale against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Although the Dogs did manage to score 7 runs on 10 hits, they gave up 13 runs on 16 hits, struck out 13 times, and committed 5 errors.

The Sea Dogs actually got of to the better start in the game, scoring the game's first run on some misfortune by the Fisher Cats. Jeremy Hazelbaker would walk to lead off the bottom of the 1st, then promptly steal 2nd, then move to 3rd on a throwing error by the catcher. He would then score on a wild pitch with one out. It was all downhill from there for the Sea Dogs.

After setting down the Fisher Cats in order in the 1st, Miguel Gonzalez ran into trouble in the 2nd. He hit Mike McDade to lead off the inning, then gave up a hit, walked Travis d'Arnaud, then gave up an RBI single to catcher Yan Gomes to tie the game. Mark Sobolewski then hit a sacrifice fly to give the Fisher Cats the lead for good.

They would score 3 more runs in the 4th inning, knocking Gonzalez out of the game. He walked d'Arnaud to lead off the inning, then gave up a double to Gomes, putting men at 2nd and 3rd. After Sobolewski struck out, Crabbe would reach on an error by first baseman Jorge Padron, allowing 2 runs to score. Crabbe would move to 3rd on an error by right fielder Chih-Hsien Chiang. Crabbe would score on a sacrifice fly by Darin Mastroianni. Gonzalez would get caught in jam by giving up a double and a walk, bringing in Kyle Fernandes. The lefty reliever would then get McDade to strike out swinging to prevent any more damage.

The Sea Dogs would answer with 2 runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Alex Hassan led off with a double, his 15th of the season. A single by Ryan Lavarnway and a walk by Tim Federowicz would load the bases. Will Middlebrooks then walked to bring home a run. Chiang then hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Lavarnway, cutting the deficit to 2 runs. However, Oscar Tejeda would strikeout, and Vladimir Frias flew out to get New Hampshire starter B.J. LaMura out of a jam.

The Fisher Cats broke the game open in the 5th inning. Fernandes gave up 3 straight hits to start off the inning, as d'Arnaud scored New Hampshire's 6th run. Gomes would score on Mastroianni's force out, then Adeiny Hechavarria unloaded on a pitch, jacking a 2-run homer to dead center.

The Sea Dogs would score 2 runs each in the 8th and 9th innings, as the game was out of reach. Lavarnway blasted a Monster shot in the 8th, and Hassan and Lavarnway hit RBI singles in the 9th to please the remaining crowd.

McDade's 6th homer of the year highlighted a 4-run 9th for the Fisher Cats, as they scored in 4 innings to Portland's 5 run-scoring innings.

LaMura evened his record at 3-3, going 5 innings, giving up 3 runs on 3 hits (2 runs earned), walking 3 and striking out 7.

Gonzalez picked up his 2nd loss in his only 2 outings for Portland this year. The righty lasted 3 2/3 innings, giving up 5 runs (3 earned) on only 4 hits, with 4 walks, 3 strikeouts, and 2 hit batsmen.

Every New Hampshire batter scored a run, and Anthony Gose was the only one not to record a hit. Every other Fisher Cat had multiple hits except Crabbe, and Gose did walk twice, too boot.

Lavarnway had a good night at the plate, going 2 for 5 with 2 runs and an RBI. Hassan, Federowicz, and Frias all had 2 hits as well.

The Sea Dogs begin a 4-day, 5-game series with the Trenton Thunder tomorrow night at Hadlock. Saturday features a doubleheader in the afternoon.
-WIL KRAMLICH-