MANCHESTER, NH — The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (34-38) led wire-to-wire and shutout the Sea Dogs (27-47) 9-0 on Friday night, winning the final three games of the four game series between the two New England rivals.
Austin Bibens-Dirkx (W, 2-3) entered the night with a 9.50 ERA, but kept the Sea Dogs scoreless and allowed just one hit over six innings of work, walking one and striking out six.
Dalton Pompey (2-4, 3 R, BB, 2 SB) reached on a Reed Gragnani error to lead off the bottom of the first and quickly advanced into scoring position on a bunt single by Roemon Fields (1-5). After Jon Berti (0-3, 2 RBI, BB, HBP) grounded into a fielder’s choice to put runners at the corners, KC Hobson (2-4, 2 RBI, R) hit a sac fly to put New Hampshire on the board, then Ryan Schimpf (1-3, HR, 3 RBI) uncorked a long home run off of Sea Dogs’ starter Kyle Kraus to make it 3-0. All three runs were unearned.
Kraus (L, 0-1) went four innings and allowed four runs (one earned) on five hits and struck out two.
The Fisher Cats added a run in the third, then scored four times off Simon Mercedes in the 5th inning to make it 8-0 and added a run in the eighth inning off on John Cornely to make it 9-0.
Once Bibens-Dirkx gave way, Jimmy Cordero worked two scoreless innings and allowed just one hit, and Scott Barnes worked a scoreless ninth. Portland was shutout for the 10th time this season.
The Sea Dogs return home on Saturday night, opening up a three-game series against the Reading Fightin Phils (Phillies affiliate) at Haddock Field. RHP Heri Quevedo (0-4, 5.20) makes the start for Portland against Reading lefty Jessie Biddle (7-1, 3.62). Pre-Game coverage begins at 5:40 PM on the WPEI U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network.
Celtics center Kelly Olynk makes an appearance at Hadlock Field today. Tickets are at 879-9500 or online at seadogs.com. The Eastern League All-Star Game is at Hadlock Field on July 15.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less