HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Portland Sea Dogs got enough pitching and defense Wednesday night against the Harrisburg Senators, but their bats were quiet in a 2-1 loss.

Portland starter Brock Huntzinger threw one of his best games of the season, allowing five hits and one walk in seven innings.

After he left with the game tied 1-1, the Senators scored the winning run in the eighth off Eammon Portice.

Chris McConnell led off with a single, advanced to second on Josh Johnson’s sacrifice and to third on a wild pitch.

After Derek Norris walked, Tyler Moore dropped a single into shallow center field to drive in McConnell.

Huntzinger has struck out 25 in 19 innings in his last three starts.

“He’s been really good lately,” said Sea Dogs Manager Kevin Boles. “This kid, every time he goes out he’s improving. He put together a real nice outing for us today.”

The Sea Dogs also turned in a strong defensive performance, keyed by left fielder Mitch Dening, who helped turn a double play in the sixth inning.

After tracking down a line drive by Moore, Dening threw out Archie Gilbert at home with a strike to catcher Jeff Howell. Gilbert decided not to slide, thinking he would be safe.

“It was a great throw,” Boles said. “Moore is such a dangerous hitter. He scalded that ball and it looked like it took Dening a step back. He was still able to get carry on the throw and the accuracy was well above average.”

The Sea Dogs took a 1-0 lead when Jose Valdez scored on Dening’s sacrifice fly in the fourth inning. Harrisburg answered in the bottom of the inning on Tim Pahuta’s home run.

NOTES: Stephen Strasburg, the first pick in the 2009 draft, will face the Sea Dogs tonight in his final rehab start before rejoining the Washington Nationals. The game is already a sellout. “We’re looking forward to that,” Boles said. “I’m sure there’s going to be a buzz and an excitement in our dugout.”

 

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