HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Portland Sea Dogs were uninvited guests at a celebration Thursday night.

Buoyed by an injury rehab start by major league pitcher Stephen Strasburg, the Harrisburg Senators routed the Sea Dogs 10-0 to clinch first place in the Eastern League’s Western Division.

The Sea Dogs wilted in the glare of the bright lights from a franchise-record crowd of 8,637 at Metro Bank Park.

The Portland bats stayed quiet for a second straight night, this time because of Strasburg’s outstanding performance. Taking his last turn in the minor leagues before an expected start with the Washington Nationals Tuesday night, Strasburg did not allow a Sea Dog to reach base until the fifth inning.

He retired his first 14 batters before Jeremy Hazelbaker became the first Sea Dog to reach base — and that was after getting hit by a pitch.

Strasburg allowed only one other base runner, Dan Butler, who doubled in the sixth inning. Not only was it the only hit Strasburg allowed, it was the only hit of the game for the Sea Dogs.

“He’s a gorilla, he’s unbelievable,” said Portland Manager Kevin Boles. “He’s as good as it gets.

“He’s very impressive and it’s good to have guys like him in the game. It makes the game a lot better.”

Strasburg, the first pick in the 2009 draft, departed after throwing 70 pitches, 53 for strikes. He allowed no walks and recorded four strikeouts.

Coming back from Tommy John elbow surgery, Strasburg threw fastballs clocked as high as 99 mph.

Portland pitcher Caleb Clay, activated from the disabled list earlier in the day, started and threw two innings. He gave up one run on two hits and a walk.

Michael Lee, the scheduled starter, came on in relief, but his three innings were much rougher. He allowed a three-run homer by Tim Pahuta in the third inning that put Harrisburg up 4-0.

The Senators pulled away when Stephen King hit a two-out grand slam to spark a five-run fifth inning that chased Lee.

Fourteen-time major league All-Star Ivan Rodriguez, on a rehab assignment because of an injured oblique muscle, caught all nine innings for Harrisburg and went 2 for 5 with a double.

The loss was the 80th of the season for the Sea Dogs, who return to Hadlock Field for a four-game, season-ending series with New Hampshire that begins today.

 

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