PORTLAND – And this is why the Portland Sea Dogs are 13-29 …

Alex Wilson turned in a performance indicative of his prime-prospect status. But the Sea Dogs gave up an unearned run, allowed another after a controversial call and lost 2-1 to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Wednesday night at Hadlock Field.

Wilson, 24, allowed three hits, two walks and the unearned run over six innings while striking out six. His fastball topped out at 96 mph.

“I had a good slider tonight and stuck with it,” Wilson said. For the most part, it was fastball-slider.”

But Wilson did allow a broken-bat, RBI single by Callix Crabbe in the fifth inning that tied the game 1-1 — after shortstop Jon Hee’s throwing error put a runner on second base with two outs.

The error came after Wilson retired 10 straight batters.

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Reliever Cesar Cabral (0-2) gave up the winning run in the sixth, but only after a disputed call by an umpire.

With runners on first and second and no outs, second baseman Oscar Tejeda fielded a grounder and tried to tag base runner Moises Sierra. Sierra ran around Tejeda to avoid the tag, and he threw out the runner at first.

Sea Dogs Manager Kevin Boles argued to no avail that it should have been a double play because Sierra ran out of the baseline.

Boles was in a prolonged meeting after the game and unavailable for comment.

Cabral struck out Ricardo Nanita for the second out, but Mark Sobolewski followed with a line-drive single to center field, putting New Hampshire ahead 2-1.

Two runs were enough for the Fisher Cats (29-16).

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New Hampshire’s Henderson Alvarez (2-0, 1.50 ERA) made his third Double-A start and stymied the Sea Dogs on six hits over six innings.

Portland scored in the first inning when leadoff batter Jeremy Hazelbaker beat out an infield single, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on Tim Federowicz’s single.

The Sea Dogs then failed to get a hit beyond the fourth inning.

Wilson remained 4-3 while lowering his ERA to 2.85. In his last six starts, he has allowed seven earned runs (1.89 ERA).

Wilson, who was promoted to Portland in early June last year, may be ready to advance beyond Double-A. 

NOTES: The Sea Dogs have not announced a starting pitcher for today, with scheduled starter Brock Huntzinger now on the disabled list (cut finger), but Miguel Gonzalez is a candidate. Gonzalez, who was promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket May 14, had his name back on a locker in the Sea Dogs’ clubhouse on Wednesday. It appears Gonzalez may be sent down from Pawtucket to make room for Hideki Okajima, who cleared waivers and was assigned to Triple-A.

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Portland catcher Ryan Lavarnway threw out 2 of 4 runners trying to steal and has caught 13 of 30 for the season.

The announced paid attendance was 5,408.

Kevin Youkilis bobblehead dolls will be given tonight to the first 1,000 fans through the Hadlock gates, which open at 4:30 p.m. 

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:
kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases

 


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