PORTLAND – Two pitching prospects faced off Wednesday night at Hadlock Field with Stolmy Pimentel of Portland opposing Bowie’s Bobby Bundy.

After two innings and 10 runs, the Sea Dogs led 6-4.

The pitching eventually settled down, and Portland held on for an 8-5 victory over the Baysox.

Bryce Brentz’s two-run single was followed by Dan Butler’s three-run homer for a five-run first inning.

Oscar Tejeda and Juan Carlos Linares both contributed three hits for the Sea Dogs (25-33), who have won 10 of 16.

New Portland reliever Marco Duarte (1-0) got the win with three shutout innings, keeping his ERA at 0.00 after three appearances.

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Duarte relieved Pimentel, who lasted only four innings (89 pitches, 48 strikes).

Pimentel, 22, in his second year on the 40-man roster, gave up four runs (three earned) on four hits and four walks. His fastball touched 96 mph, but command was an issue. His ERA is 5.46.

“He threw some quality fastballs, but he was unable to get a feel for his change-up or slider,” Sea Dogs Manager Kevin Boles said. “He became one-dimensional.”

Duarte, 25, came up in the Rockies’ organization and pitched the past two seasons in the Mexican League. He dominated in Class A Salem before his promotion to Portland.

“He is really good at locating his fastball. He gets ahead of hitters,” said Butler, the Sea Dogs catcher.

Bundy, 22, is ranked the Orioles’ 16th-ranked prospect by Baseball America, but he is better known as the older brother of the Orioles’ top prospect, Dylan Bundy.

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Bobby Bundy had performed well in Class A but has struggled this season (2-8, 5.46). And while he retired 14 of the last 15 batters, Portland had already done its damage.

Tejeda and Linares began the first-inning rally with one-out singles. After a walk to load the bases, Brentz bounced a single to left field, scoring two. Then Butler bashed a fastball over the left-field wall for his fourth home run and a 5-0 lead.

Butler has a five-game hitting streak, batting .381 (8 for 21) with three home runs and nine RBI in that stretch.

“I’m seeing the ball better,” Butler said. “I made some adjustments, mechanically, but mostly it’s just relaxing a little more and trust my approach.”

Linares continued to batter Double-A pitching and leads the Eastern League with a .344 average.

NOTES: Brentz was named the EL Player of the Month after batting .388 in May with nine doubles, five home runs and 11 RBI Today’s noon game will feature an appearance from Olympian Julia Clukey, who will be available for autographs from noon to 1 p.m. The announced paid attendance was 3,819.

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

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases

 


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