MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Portland Sea Dogs did it again Thursday night in Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.

Two weeks ago, they rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth inning to end a three-game series with a win.

Thursday night, Portland scratched together a pair of runs in the top of the ninth to come from behind and pull out a 3-2 win over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats for their third straight victory.

“The offense didn’t give up and went after them,” said Sea Dogs catcher Dan Butler, who was hit by a pitch and scored the winning run.

The Sea Dogs were in trouble with three outs left.

The Fisher Cats scratched together a run with the help of a bad-bounce single and then a double steal to grab their first lead, 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth.

They got their run off Ryan Pressly, who was on for Portland starter Stolmy Pimentel, who had another impressive outing.

The Sea Dogs came right back in the ninth.

Marquez Smith got to second on an infield hit and error to open the inning. Fisher Cat third baseman Kevin Howard fielded Smith’s slow grounder and threw wildly to first base, allowing Smith to advance.

Ryan Dent ran for Smith and advanced to third on a Bryce Brentz grounder, and then Butler was hit by a pitch. Peter Hissey grounded to third and Howard’s throw was in the dirt, allowing Dent to score and Butler to go to third.

Butler then scored on a sacrifice fly to left by pinch-hitter Reynaldo Rodriguez.

“That’s a credit to guys being ready off the bench with Rodriguez getting the ball elevated a little bit to get the sacrifice fly,” said Portland Manager Kevin Boles.

The fly ball was not all that deep, but Butler was heading for home.

“We’re tagging there,” Butler said. “That’s a play I’ve got to be able to score on. If I don’t, oh well, but it’s got to be a perfect catch and a perfect throw. It’s a tough play.”

Butler helped finish things off in the bottom of the ninth.

Pressly, who earned his first win, struck out one batter and then got a soft pop out. Pressly also struck out John Tolisano, but the ball got by Butler for a passed ball and Tolisano got to first base.

No problem.

Tolisano attempted to steal and Butler gunned him down at second base to end the game.

Pimentel put up his second straight seven-inning, one-run performance and both have come against New Hampshire. Last week in Portland he allowed two hits, struck out six and walked one. The Fisher Cats had six hits off him Thursday night, but Pimentel struck out seven and walked no one.

“He had real good movement on his fastball and everything was down in the zone for the most part,” Butler said. “He was able to keep guys off balance by using his secondary pitches.”

Jeremy Hazelbaker pulled a two-out, three-and-one pitch over everything in right field for his third home run in two games to put the Sea Dogs up 1-0 in the top of the third.

The Fisher Cats tied it in the bottom of the inning with a run, snapping Portland’s scoreless streak at 22 innings.

 

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