PORTLAND, Maine — K.C. Hobson hit a grand slam in the third inning and provided the offensive punch for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats as they defeated the Portland Sea Dogs 7-4 Tuesday night in an Eastern League contest at Hadlock Field.
Making his second straight start against Portland, Joel Pineiro (4-2) worked seven innings and allowed four earned runs on six hits while walking one and striking out one. He retired the last eight batters he faced..
Red Sox outfielder Shane Victorino joined the Sea Dogs, the team’s Double-A affiliate, on a rehab assignment for the second time this season and finished the game 1 for 3 with an RBI double. He also scored from second base on a sacrifice fly to center field by Carlos Asuaje in the fifth inning.
Justin Haley (2-9) lasted just three-plus innings in the start for Portland and allowed five runs on five hits, walking three and striking out three.
After trailing 6-0, the Sea Dogs scored four runs off Pineiro in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Marco Hernandez, an RBI double by Victorino, and then a rare two-RBI sacrifice fly from Carlos Asuaje that scored Hernandez and Victorino.
Portland’s Mike McCarthy had another impressive showing out of the bullpen in long relief, going four innings and allowing one earned run on four hits.
New Hampshire added an insurance run in the eighth on a double by Jorge Flores that scored Ian Parmley after Aneury Tavarez bobbled the ball in left field.
Victorino, 34, was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 24 with a left calf strain. In 20 games with the Red Sox this season, he is hitting .255 (14 for 55) with six runs scored, two doubles, one home run, three RBIs, nine walks, nine strikeouts and three stolen bases.
Victorino began his current rehab assignment with the Pawtucket Red Sox on Wednesday. He appeared in four games and hit .308 (4 for 13) with a double and a run scored.