Sea Dogs Win Second-Straight Over Hartford

Hartford, Connecticut – The Portland Sea Dogs (46-47, 15-8) held on to the 10-5 victory over the Hartford Yard Goats (57-35, 14-9) on Thursday night at Dunkin’ Donuts Park. With the win, the Sea Dogs extend their lead of first place in the Northeast Division of the Eastern League and now are 1.5 ahead of the second-place Yard Goats.

Rich Hill started the game for Portland on a Major League rehab and tossed 3.0 innings allowing one run on four hits while striking out five. The one run was a home run by Isaac Collins in the third inning. Matt Barnes came out of the bullpen for the Sea Dogs and pitched one perfect inning with two strikeouts earning the win. Christian Arroyo went 1-for-3 with an RBI tonight at the plate for the Sea Dogs.

The Sea Dogs were first to score in the top of the second inning. After Izzy reached on a single, he came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Elih Marrero and Portland led, 1-0.

The Yard Goats tied the game in the bottom of the third inning. Isaac Collins clubbed his fourth homer of the year off Sea Dogs starter Rich Hill and the game was tied, 1-1.

Portland would then put up a crooked number in the top of the fourth inning. Elih Marrero, David Hamilton, Ceddanne Rafaela, Christian Arroyo and Hudson Potts would combine for five RBI singles and the Sea Dogs led, 6-1.

In the top of the seventh inning, Koss reached on a lead-off single to left field then scored on an RBI single by Wilson and Portland continued to lead, 7-1.

The Yard Goats attempted to stage a comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning. Daniel Cope and Tyler Hill blasted back-to-back homers to make it 7-3. Christopher Navarro then scored on an RBI infield single by Michael Toglia and the Yard Goats continued to trail, 7-4.

In the top of the ninth inning, Christian Koss recorded his third hit of the night, a double to left field then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Stephen Scott then drew a walk to join him on the basepath. Wilson hit a groundout to first base, allowing Koss to score and Portland extended their lead, 8-4. Tyler Dearden then blasted a two-run homer to right field, his second of the series, and the Sea Dogs led, 10-4.

Hartford scored their final run of the game in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs. Hunter Stovall came home to score on a passed ball by Portland’s catcher Elih Marrero and the Yard Goats fell, 10-5.

Matt Barnes earned the win, tossing a perfect inning for the Sea Dogs with two strikeouts. Tony Locey (0-2, 9.39 ERA) was given the loss pitching 3.2 innings allowing six runs on eight hits while walking three and striking out three.

The Sea Dogs and Yard Goats face off again tomorrow, July 29th at 7:05pm. Portland will send RHP Dylan Spacke (1-4, 6.45 ERA) to the mound while RHP Michael Baird (3-1, 3.21 ERA) will pitch for Hartford.