PORTLAND, Maine — Cole Sturgeon broke a 1-1 tie with a bases-loaded, two-run single in the bottom of the sixth to lift the Portland Sea Dogs by the New Hampshire Fisher Cats 3-2 in Eastern League baseball action Friday night at Hadlock Field.
Portland plated the game’s first run in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Nate Freiman to score Yoan Moncada, who led off with a walk.
The Fisher Cats answered in the third. After they loaded the bases with nobody out, Ryan Lavarnway grounded into a 4-3 double play to tie the game 1-1.
The Sea Dogs rallied in the sixth. After they loaded the bases with nobody out, Connor Greene retired two straight batters, then Sturgeon lined a single into right center field for a 3-1 Portland lead.
New Hampshire got a run back in the top of the seventh on an RBI double by Emilio Guerrero to score Jason Leblebijian, but New Hampshire wouldn’t add any more as Jake Drehoff shut the door in the seventh, stranding two Fisher Cats runners.
Ben Taylor entered in the ninth and worked a perfect inning to earn his first career Double-A save.
Portland’s Kevin McAvoy (W, 6-4) allowed two runs on six hits in 6 ⅓ innings, walking two and striking out one. Greene (L, 1-2) allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits in six innings, walking three and striking out three.