Portlands Bobby Dalbec is congratulated at home plate by teammate Jarren Duran (18) after he hit a two run homer Friday night at Hadlock Field in a Sea Dogs win over Harrisburg. Photo by Chris Lessner (click to enlarge)
PORTLAND, Me- Jeremy Rivera hit an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning, and Bobby Dalbec hit his 20th homerun of the season Friday night as the Portland Sea Dogs rallied past the Harrisburg Senators for a 3-2 Eastern League baseball win at Hadlock Field.
Adrian Sanchez hit a line drive that deflected off Portland starting pitcher Matthew Kent in the top of the first. Kent threw Sanchez out at first base, but Michael Taylor scored on the play to make it 1-0 Harrisburg. Spencer Kieboom reached on an error with two outs by Sea Dogs shortstop C.J. Chatham in the top of the third inning. The throw went into the Portland dugout allowing Sanchez to score to double to lead to a pair at 2-0. Senators pitcher Kyle McGowin was making his Double A debut and held the hosts hitless for the first three innings. In the bottom of the fourth however Jarren Duran led off with an infield bunt single. After Chatham struck out, Dalbec crushed a no doubter for a long two run homer to center field to tie the score 2-2.
The score remained the same until the bottom of the eighth inning. Tate Matheny led off with a double, and was moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Jhon Nunez. Rivera then grounded the game winner to left field scoring Matheny. Dedgar Jimenez got the win and fired 2.2 innings of scoreless and hitless relief including the first two outs of the ninth. Closer Kevin Lenik struck out Drew Ward looking to end the game.
Kent went the first 6.0 innings for the Sea Dogs allowing one earned run on six hits, with three walks and five strikeouts. Jimenez is now 4-4 and struck out five in his relief outing. Lenik earned his second save. Matheny had two of the six hits on the night for Portland. Taylor had two hits to lead the Senators. Bryan Bonnell (2-2) took the loss in relief allowing one run on three hits in 3.0 innings of work. McGowin had an impressive first start allowing just two earned runs on three hits, with no walks and seven strikeouts in 5.0 innings.
Portland is now 17-19 in the second half of the season (44-59 overall). They sit in third place and 4.5 games behind first place Reading. Harrisburg drops to 15-19 (57-47). The loss breaks a five game win streak for the Senators. The teams play game three of the four game series on Saturday night at 6 p.m.
