PORTLAND- The Portland Sea Dogs (25-20) scored three runs over the final two innings, but came up short in a 7-4 loss to the Somerset Patriots (30-15) Friday night before a crowd of 5,080 at Hadlock Field. The Patriots extended their Double-A Northeast League Northeast Division lead over the Sea Dogs to five games.
Diego Castillo (3-for-5), led off the game with a single for the Patriots and scored on a Donny Sands single as Somerset got off to a quick 1-0 lead in the first. Sands and Castillo each homered the game. Sands hit a solo home run in the third inning, his 8th of the year, extending the lead to 4-0. Castillo led off the seventh inning with his seventh home run of the season. Jason Junk (3-1) held the Sea Dogs to three hits over seven innings of work to earn the win. He struck out three and did not issue a walk.
Grant Williams powered the Sea Dogs offense with an RBI single in the third and an RBI double in the eighth inning. Pedro Castellanos doubled to lead off the ninth inning and scored on a Devlin Grandberg double to finish the scoring on the night. Portland pitchers combined to strike out 13 batters in the loss. Frank German (2-4) took the loss for the Sea Dogs allowing four runs on six hits in five innings.
The six game series continues Saturday night with game five at 6:00 PM. Portland has not yet named a starter. Somerset will send RHP Glenn Otto (4-2, 3.45 ERA) to the mound.
