MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Portland Sea Dogs were on their way to a third-straight win over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Saturday night, but the Fisher Cats found their bats in the seventh inning.
Seven runs in the seventh helped the Fisher Cats earn a 10-8 victory, snapping a five-game losing streak.
Tanner Houck replaced Robinson Leyer on the mound just before New Hampshire’s side of the inning began, and he’d follow a strikeout of Logan Warmoth by allowing seven straight batters to reach base, although Chad Spanberger only spent a brief time on base during his two-run home run trot.
New Hampshire’s offensive explosion followed an extra pair of runs earlier in the seventh that Portland tacked onto the six that accumulated earlier, but Danny Young and Bryan Baker shut down the visitors over the final two innings, with Young climbing to 1-1 on the year and Baker earning his ninth save.
Houck was removed after obtaining just one out in the seventh, falling to 8-6 on the year.
At the plate, New Hampshire was outhit by Portland, but still had quality contributions from Nash Knight (3-for-4, three runs, and an RBI), Alberto Mineo (2-for-4, two RBI) in addition to Spanberger’s blast.
Every Sea Dog batter ended with at least one hit, highlighted by Jerry Downs’ home run in the fifth.
The series concludes on Sunday when New Hampshire will send Yennsy Diaz (6-6, 3.84 ERA) against Portland’s Bryan Mata (1-0, 1.50 ERA) in the final game before the All-Star Break.
