PORTLAND- AJ Politi tossed a career high six innings leading the Portland Sea Dogs (13-8) to a 4-2 win over the Hartford Yard Goats (6-15) Thursday night at Hadlock Field.
Politi surrendered three straight hits to open the second inning, including an RBI double by Willie Abreau to give the Yard Goats the 1-0 lead. Politi then struck out Todd Czinege and Greg Jones, and retired Manny Melendez on a line out to get out of the inning without any further damage. He would retire 11 consecutive batters until surrendering a two out walk in the fifth inning. A lead-off double by Matt Hearns in the sixth inning was the first hit by Hartford since the second inning, and led to another run when Hearns scored on a ground out by Sean Bouchard. The right hander earned his first Double-A win (1-3), holding the Yard Goats to just the two runs on four hits. He tied a career high with seven strikeouts and walked just one batter in the outing.
Ryan Fitzgerald hit his team leading 10th and 11th doubles of the season, including one that went for an RBI in the second inning to tie the game at one. Portland took a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning on a two run double down the left-field line by Jeisson Rosario. Back-to-back singles by Jeremy Rivera and Rosario in the sixth led to another Portland run, when Rivera scored on a fielders choice off the bat off Pedro Castellanos as Portland took a 4-2 lead.
Hartford threatened in the eighth inning loading the bases with one out, but Zack Kelly got Coco Montes to ground into a double play to escape without any runs scoring.
Karl Kauffman (0-2) took the loss for Hartford allowing three runs on seven Portland hits.
Jose Adames picked-up his league leading fifth save of the season setting down the Yard Goats in order in the ninth, including striking out Czinege on a 100 mph fastball.
The Sea Dogs and Yard Goats continue the series Friday night at 6:00 PM at Hadlock Field. Righty Frank German (0-2, 8.03 ERA) gets the start for the Sea Dogs. He will be opposed by Hartford righty Garrett Schilling (0-1, 5.00).
