TRENTON, New Jersey — The Trenton Thunder jumped out to an early lead and used a strong bullpen performance to beat the Portland Sea Dogs 7-4 in their Eastern League baseball series finale on Wednesday afternoon at Arm & Hammer Park.
Portland (35-61) got on the board in the top of the first inning. After a leadoff triple by Aneury Tavarez off Vicente Campos, Mauricio Dubon grounded out to put the Sea Dogs ahead 1-0.
The Thunder (59-38) struck for three runs in the third inning. Vince Conde doubled in a run to tie the game then, two batters later, Dustin Fowler hit a double to make it 2-1. Miguel Andujar followed with a sacrifice fly.
Trenton extended its lead to 5-1 on a two-out, two-run homer by Dustin Fowler off eventual loser Kevin McAvoy (6-5). He allowed five runs on six hits in six innings, walking none and striking out six.
The Sea Dogs cut the deficit to one run in the sixth inning on a three-run home run by Cody Decker that came with two outs and two strikes. All seven Sea Dogs’ hits in the game came with two strikes.
Campos (5-1) lasted 5⅔ innings and allowed four runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
The Thunder bullpen allowed just one baserunner over the final 3⅓ innings. Cale Coshow retired all seven batters he faced and Matt Wotherspoon worked around a two-out single in the ninth to earn his second save.
The Sea Dogs return home on Thursday to being a seven-game homestand at Hadlock Field, beginning with four games against the Binghamton Mets. First pitch on Thursday is 7 p.m.