The Portland Sea Dogs, after finishing tied for second place in the first half of the season, are off to a solid start in the second half of their Double A campaign.
Portland opened up a six game series with a 7-3 road win over the Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies) on Tuesday night in Connecticut. Blaze Jordan, Eddinson Paulino, and Phillip Sikes each had two hits and two RBI. Kyle Teel and Kristian Campbell also added two hits a piece. Hunter Dobbins improved to 6-1 by firing six shutout innings on the mound allowing three hits, walking one, and striking out six. Campbell is leading the team with a .410 batting average since he joined the club on June 4 after being called up from Single A Greenville. He has 41 hits in 100 at bats with 10 doubles, a triple, four homeruns, 18 RBI, and five stolen bases.
Portland, who went 36-33 in the first half, improves to 8-3 in the second half (44-36 overall) and are currently tied with the Somerset Patriots (NY Yankees) for first place in the Northeast Division. The first half winner and the second half winner in the Northeast and Southwest Division advance to the Eastern League Playoffs. The Sea Dogs continue their six game set in Hartford on Wednesday night at 7:10. After their series with the Yard Goats, the league heads to the All-Star Break. Portland then will return to action on Friday, July 19 when they take on the Reading Fightin’ Phils at Hadlock Field at 6:20 p.m.
