ALTOONA, Pa. – Unable to wait for the postgame fireworks, the Portland Sea Dogs decided to provide some of their own Sunday.

Wading through five Altoona Curve pitchers, the Sea Dogs pounded out 17 hits and scored a dozen runs as they handed the Curve a 12-4 loss.

It’s Portland’s fifth win in a row. The Sea Dogs can thank their bats for that as they totaled 23 runs on 45 hits in Altoona.

“We have been playing real well recently,” said Portland Manager Kevin Boles. “This is an exciting ballpark to play in and our guys came ready to play. It was a real good road trip for us and hopefully this is something we can build on.”

At the end of the successful trip, Boles was happy to see the effect a few wins have had on the players’ attitudes.

“It is really good to see the guys feeling good about themselves,” Boles said. “We went through a tough May, but as I said before, May is over and it is time to push ahead and move on. These guys have done that and, overall, they have responded well.”

The Sea Dogs got on the board early as they scored three runs in the first and added a single tally in the second for a quick 4-0 lead. Big blows in the fast start were an RBI double by Ryan Lavarnway, a table-setting double by Tim Federowicz and RBI singles by Will Middlebrooks and Jon Hee.

Chih-Hsien Chiang finished the series 7 for 14 with three home runs and a triple. For the trip, he went 13 for 29 with six extra-base hits while driving in eight runs.

“I was feeling real good out there,” said Chiang. “Their pitching staff is good, but I was seeing the ball real well and was able to make good contact.”

His manager liked what he saw from Chiang’s bat.

“He had a real good series and swung the bat very well,” Boles said. “Now that he is healthy, we plugged him in the middle of the lineup and we are glad to have that left-handed bat in that spot.”

Combining with Chiang to lead the Portland offensive assault was Federowicz, who finished a triple shy of the cycle.

“I think that (getting a triple) is a little bit further than people think with my speed,” chuckled Federowicz. “I have been seeing the ball pretty well, especially today. Sometimes it takes a little time to get used to the shadows on the field, but toward the end of the series, I was able to see the ball a lot better.”

Boles was more pleased by Federowicz work catching the Sea Dogs pitchers.

“He has been swinging the bat well and again, watching him catch and throw, he has handled this pitching staff very well,” said Boles.

“He is starting to turn the corner in a lot of different ways. He has always had the physical tools, and now he is establishing a real good tempo and pace of the game, utilizing the pitcher’s mix to have them pitch to their strengths.”

After an off day today, the Sea Dogs return to Hadlock Field for a six-game homestand featuring three games with the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants) and three more with the Bowie Baysox (Orioles).

 

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