Late-Inning Heroics Power Portland to Ten-Inning Win
Altoona, Pennsylvania - The Portland Sea Dogs (26-23) take down the Altoona Curve (16-33) 8-6 in ten-inning victory on Friday night. Hunter Dobbins dominated with a season-high 7.0 scoreless innings to start. He did not allow a baser runner in scoring position while allowing just three hits total and tying
Altoona, Pennsylvania - The Portland Sea Dogs (26-23) take down the Altoona Curve (16-33) 8-6 in ten-inning victory on Friday night.
Hunter Dobbins dominated with a season-high 7.0 scoreless innings to start. He did not allow a baser runner in scoring position while allowing just three hits total and tying a season-high with eight strikeouts. Matthew Lugo launched his team-leading eleventh homer while Kyle Teel cranked his fifth of the season to go two-for-four with four RBI. Robert Kwiatkowski earned his sixth win to tie the Eastern League lead.
A pitcher’s duel kept the game scoreless until the top of the fourth when Nick Yorke broke open the scoring with a single to center field.
Lugo launched his eleventh homer in the top of the seventh to give Portland a two-run advantage.
A single from Teel in the top of the eighth drove in a run for Portland before Altoona went on to score six in the home half of the inning. A single from Jase Bowen would put Altoona on the board before a grand slam from Joe Perez would propel the Curve to their first lead, 5-3. Carter Bins went back-to-back with a solo shot to double the lead.
With two outs in the top of the ninth, Teel came through with a game-tying three-run homer (5) to knot it up at six apiece and force extras for the first time this season.
In the top of the tenth, Portland tacked on two runs after Tyler Miller singled to drive in Eddinson Paulino who represented the ghost runner. An RBI groundout from Nick Decker would seal the deal and Portland took it in ten, 8-6.
RHP Robert Kwiatkowski (6-0, 3.74 ERA) earned the win after pitching 2.1 innings allowing two runs on two hits while walking one and striking out three. RHP J.C. Flowers (0-1, 5.40 ERA) was issued the loss after pitching 1.1 innings allowing two runs (1 ER) on two hits while striking out one. He did not issue a walk.
The Sea Dogs return to PNG Field, tomorrow, June 1st, 2024 for game five of a six-game series with the Altoona Curve. First pitch for game five is slated for 6:00pm. RHP CJ Liu (0-1, 4.50 ERA) will start for Portland while Altoona will give the ball to RHP Po-Yu Chen (0-4, 5.72 ERA).