NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — Marquez Smith put an end to the longest game the Sea Dogs (62-66) have been a part of since April 16, 2008, with a two-run blast in the ’Dogs half of the 15th inning for a 4-2 victory over the Rock Cats.
Tuesday’s Eastern League marathon matchup between Portland and the Rock Cats (68-61) lasted 4:44 at New Britain Stadium. Portland has won eight of its last nine games and is 25-12 since the All-Star break.
The Sea Dogs’ bullpen held strong Tuesday, firing 10 spotless innings. Chris Balcom- Miller, Caleb Clay, Ryan Pressly and Brock Huntzinger combined in the effort after taking over for starter Jeremy Kehrt in the sixth.
Clay went three hitless frames and racked up a season high five strikeouts. Clay, Pressly and Huntzinger have been scoreless in 26 of their last 32 innings. The four struck out a total of 13 and walked three batters, while allowing four base knocks. Huntzinger (4-5) picked up the win, finishing the night for the Portland pitchers.
New Britain jumped in front early. With two outs in the Cats first inning, Oswaldo Arcia hit his 18th double of the season to center-field setting the stage for Chris Colabello. Colabello followed with a single to left field, sending Arcia home for the game’s first run, putting New Britain in front of Portland 1-0.
Lead-off singles by Aaron Hicks and Chris Herrmann in the third inning had New Britain threatening with runners on the corners and nobody out. Hicks scored, doubling the ’Cats lead to 2-0 on a Travis Shaw fielding error at first base off the bat of Arcia. Jeremy Kehrt got out of the frame, though, by retiring the next three batters.
Albers pitched four consecutive perfect innings from the second to the fifth, retiring 14 straight batters, but the ’Dogs touched him up in the top half of the sixth inning to even the score at 2-2.
With Gentile on first, Jeremy Hazelbaker doubled for the 19th time this season, putting him and Gentile in scoring position. Following a Marquez Smith walk, Bryce Brentz hit a two-run single sending Gentile and Hazelbaker home.
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