Wilson Dominant in Dogs' 5-2 Win

Alex Wilson (Photo MESN)

Alex Wilson put together his finest outing of the season, going 7 strong innings without a walk in The Sea Dogs 5-2 win over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Wilson picked up his 7th win of the season and showed why he was deserving of his All-Star game selection. Three runs in the second and two in the seventh were enough offense for the Sea Dogs and Wilson, who have won 5 of their last 6 games.

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Wilson was dominant from the get-go, allowing only 1 hit through 4 innings while facing the minimum number of batters. When he did face adversity, like putting runners at the corners with one out in the fifth, he relied on his fastball to get batters out. Wilson's efficiency was aided by the fact he didn't walk a batter and didn't face a three-ball count until the last batter in the fifth.

Portland looked like it would score the game's first run in the bottom of the first, loading the bases on a single by Alex Hassan and two walks. However, Matt Spring couldn't resist swinging at the first pitch, and flew out to right to end the inning.

The Sea Dogs would get on the board an inning later, thanks to some solid hitting and some help from the New Hampshire defense. Oscar Tejeda led off the inning with single through the right side of the infield. Tejeda would make it to 2nd when Jon Hee bounced a pitch back to Fisher Cats starter Zach Stewart, who threw the ball into the dirt in front of 2nd, and Tejeda was safe. Mitch Dening then singled to left-center to drive home Tejeda. Jeremy Hazelbaker then singled to load the bases. Hassan ground into a double play, but Hee was able to score. Chih-Hsien crushed a double to score Dening, and it was quickly 3-0 Dogs.

The Sea Dogs made Stewart throw pitches in bunches early, racking up 65 in his first three innings of work. But after giving up a one-out double to Matt Spring in the third, he would get 11 straight outs to finish off his outing with 100 pitches.

The Fisher Cats would end Wilson's shut-out bid in the top of the seventh as Travis d'Arnaud blasted a solo home run over the monster in left field. It was one of the few mistakes Wilson made in seven innings of work. d'Arnaud was the only New Hampshire batter to really be successful against Wilson, getting 3 of the hits given up by Wilson.

The Sea Dogs would tack on two insurance runs in the seventh inning. Hassan walked on a 3-2 count with 2 outs. Chiang then lined a 3-2 pitch from reliever Matt Daly to left to put two men on with two outs. Will Middlebrooks doubled both men home with a drive deep to right to make it 5-1.

Kyle Fernandes came on in relief of Wilson, and after two quick outs ran into some trouble. He gave up a single to Callix Crabbe, who would score as the next batter, Justin Jackson lined a hit past the glove of a diving Dening for an RBI triple. Blake Maxwell came on and got the final out of the eighth by getting Mike McDade to fly out on the first pitch. Maxwell would pitch a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.

Wilson improved his record to 7-4, while lowering his ERA to 2.70, the lowest on the team for a starter. he allowed just 1 run on 5 hits, with 3 strikeouts and no walks.

Maxwell picked up his 7th save for the Sea Dogs, and his ERA sits at just 1.08.

The Sea Dogs offense was led by its 3 All-Star hitters: Hassan, Chiang, and Middlebrooks. They trio combined for 4 hits, with 2 runs, 2 RBIs, and 2 walks. Chiang's double was his team-leading 23rd of the season. Hassan picked up his 7th stolen base of the season in the first inning, which is 2nd on the team behind Hazelbaker.

The Sea Dogs finished the 8-game homestand at 5-3 by taking 3 of 4 from the Fisher Cats, who are in second place in the Eastern Division, 17 games ahead of the Sea Dogs.

The Sea Dogs now head out on the road for 8 games, 4 each in Binghamton and New Hampshire before the All-Star break.

POST GAME AUDIO
Manager Kevin Boles

Pitcher Alex Wilson

-WIL KRAMLICH-