The Sea Dogs looked dead in the water for seven innings. A game-tying double by Mitch Dening changed that, and the Sea Dogs kept going, scoring 8 runs in the 8th inning to rally past the New Britain Rock Cats, 10-6. Chih-Hsien Chiang had two home runs, including a 3-run shot in the 8th to give him a team-high 16 on the season.
Brett Jacobson made the Sea Dogs hitters look foolish until he left with a injury in the fourth inning. Chiang was the only batter to record a hit off the lanky righty, getting a single in the first and his first home run of the game, a 2-run shot, in the fourth. Blake Martin came on in relief of Jacobson and picked up where he left off. Martin pitched 3 1/3 innings of 1-hit ball, with 4 walks and 1 strikeout.
Portland starter Brock Huntzinger looked great at the beginning of the game, retiring the first 7 batters he faced, including 3 straight strikeouts looking to start the game. A solo home run by Deibinson Romero in the third seemed to knock him off his game. He gave up back to back doubles in the fourth, and a home run followed by 3 straight walks in the fifth to end his outing after just 4 2/3 innings. Cesar Cabral came on in relief and allowed a run-scoring walk and a 2-RBI single to give Huntzinger 5 earned runs on the night. That was the end of the New Britain offense on the night, however, leaving open a sliver of hope for the Sea Dogs.
The Sea Dogs managed only 3 hits in the through the first seven innings, swinging at many pitches up in the zone that led to fly outs or strikeouts. They then started to calm down and make the New Britain relievers work for outs. Deolis Guerra hit Will Middlebrooks with one out in the eighth, and then walked Tim Federowicz and Oscar Tejeda back to back to load the bases. Jon Hee then lined a single that ricocheted off Guerra and drove home Middlebrooks. Rock Cats closer Tyler Robertson came on in relief, but couldn't manage to end this game like he did the previous night. Dening stayed patient in his at-bat, staying away from breaking balls in the dirt, and dropped an RBI double into left-center. Ryan Dent then lined a single that landed just inside the 3rd-base line, bringing home 2 more runs, and suddenly Portland was out of the doghouse and in the lead. After Jeremy Hazelbaker ground into a force out, Alex Hassan drew a walk on 4 pitches. Chiang then hit what has become a common sight at Hadlock this season: a towering home run out of the stadium. It gave Chiang 5 RBIs on the night, the first time he has done that as a Sea Dogs, and only the 2nd time in his professional career.
Blake Maxwell came on to pitch the ninth, and made it interesting. He gave up a single and a walk before getting his first out. He then gave up another walk and a sacrifice fly to pull New Britain within 4 runs. he then got Michael Hollimon to ground out to first to end the game, and the comeback was complete. it was a complete 180 degree turn from last night's game, when the Sea Dogs committed 3 errors and lost the game on an error in the eighth.
Eammon Portice picked up the win in relief, while only throwing 7 pitches. he is now 3-4 on the season.
Guerra took the loss, and the Twins prospect is now 5-7 with a 7.49 ERA. Robertson picked up his 6th blown save, a night after getting his 10th save.
Chiang went 3 for 5 with 5 RBIs and 2 runs, and was the Sea Dogs only offense for much of the game. He now has 67 RBIs on the season, and bumped his batting average up to .323.
The Sea Dogs are now 36-55 on the season, and maybe tonight's win will start a late-season surge towards .500.
Stephen Fife will take the mound tomorrow against New Britain righty Bobby Lanigan. Fife will be looking for his team-high 11th win of the year.
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