PORTLAND — The general admission seats at Hadlock Field were not deserted in the later innings Friday night, despite the 41-degree weather, an occasional bone-chilling gust and the bad news displayed on the scoreboard.

But this is minor league baseball. And when there are fireworks after the game, you hang around.

Additional Photos

Jorge Padron of the Sea Dogs slides home safely home as New Britain pitcher Steve Hirschfeld awaits a throw following his wild pitch in the fourth inning of the Rock Cats 9-7 victory Friday night at Hadlock Field. Photos by Tim Greenway/Staff Photographer

Sea Dogs second baseman Oscar Tejeda slaps a late tag on New Britain's Yangervis Solarte, who steals second Friday night at Hadlock Field. The Rock Cats survived a late Portland rally, holding on for a 9-7 victory. Tim Greenway

Portland starter Stolmy Pimentel was solid through three innings but lost his command in the fourth. He left after 4 1/3 innings and was charged with six runs on six hits and two walks. Tim Greenway

Those who stayed through the 3-hour, 14-minute game nearly witnessed a stunning comeback. The Portland Sea Dogs scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth and brought the tying run to the plate before losing 9-7 to New Britain.

Ryan Lavarnway hit a two-run homer and Oscar Tejeda doubled in a run with two outs, narrowing the gap to two runs.

New Britain brought in left-handed closer Tyler Robertson to face left-handed Chih-Hsien Chiang, who already had an RBI single. Chiang ran the count full before striking out.

The Rock Cats (8-6) ripped 12 hits off Portland pitching, many of them timely. New Britain left seven on base.

The Sea Dogs (5-8) also had 12 hits — and six walks — but left 10 runners on base.

Lavarnway and Tejeda were two of five Sea Dogs with a pair of hits, along with Che-Hsuan Lin, Jorge Padron and Will Middlebrooks. Tim Federowicz stroked an RBI double.

“We swung the bats very well tonight, kept a quality approach,” Portland Manager Kevin Boles said. “Very impressed how (we) came back in the ninth.

“Tonight, it was a struggle with the pitching.”

Sea Dogs starter Stolmy Pimentel (0-2) allowed a run on two hits through the first three innings, then seemed to lose his command. He was done after 41/3 innings, giving up six runs on six hits and two walks while striking out two.

“It wasn’t the best start I ever had,” Pimentel said. “Everything was fine, but I lost the feel of my pitches in the fourth inning.”

In the fourth, Pimentel gave up three runs on two walks, a single and a double.

He left with two runners on in the fifth. Jeremy Kehrt allowed those runners to score and later gave up three more runs.

Portland’s third and final pitcher, Eammon Portice, pitched two hitless innings to lower his ERA to 1.59.

Former Sea Dogs third baseman Ray Chang drove in three runs for New Britain.

NOTES: Alex Hassan was held hitless (0 for 5) for the first time this year, although he is still batting .408. Hassan’s 12-game streak to begin the season was the second-best start since Portland became a Red Sox affiliate in 2003. Jacoby Ellsbury began 2007 with a 15-game streak. … Pimentel, born Feb. 1, 1990, is the fourth-youngest player in the Eastern League, and second-youngest pitcher. Erie pitcher Jacob Turner, the Detroit Tigers’ first-round draft pick in 2009, is the youngest (May 21, 1991). … The announced paid attendance was 6,026. Former Sea Dogs outfielder Ryan Kalish, now with Triple-A Pawtucket, has a “significant sprain” in his left shoulder, Red Sox Manager Terry Francona told reporters in Anaheim, Calif. Kalish suffered the injury while making a diving catch Thursday.

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or:

kthomas@pressherald.com

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