MANCHESTER, New Hampshire — The Portland Sea Dogs hit two solo home runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back, taking their Eastern League series opener over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats by a score of 7-2 on Tuesday night at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.
Carlos Asuaje and David Chester (2 RBI) each hit solo homers in the first inning off of Taylor Cole (2-7) to put Portland (27-44) ahead 2-0. Marco Hernandez (2-5, HR, 2B, 4 RBI, R) would follow-up in the second with a two-out, two-run homer to right center field, his fourth of the year, to extend the Sea Dogs’ lead to 4-0.
Hernandez would later deliver a two-out, two-run double in the sixth to tie a career high with four RBI in the game and give the Sea Dogs a five-run advantage.
William Cuevas (7-4) rebounded after a rough start last week against Binghamton to shut down the Fisher Cats’ offense. Cuevas allowed two earned runs on five hits in five innings, walking two and striking out four.
Mike McCarthy and John Cornely combined to pitch four scoreless innings to close out the game. The Sea Dogs’ bullpen has allowed just nine earned runs in their last 84⅓ innings of work (0.96 ERA).
New Hampshire fell to 31-38.
The series continue Wednesday night at 7:05 when Justin Haley (2-8, 5.34) makes the start for Portland while Joel Pineiro (2-2, 3.94) is scheduled to start for New Hampshire.