With the loss, Portland dropped two of three in the series and finished the roadtrip at 2-5.
Noel Cuevas (3-for-4) had the big hit, striking a basesclearing triple in the fifth inning off losing pitcher Luis Diaz (0-1). Diaz gave up seven runs (five earned) on nine hits, two walks and six strikeouts.
New Britain’s Shane Carle (3-0) earned his third win in as many outings, despite giving up five runs on 10 hits over 5.2 innings pitched.
The Rock Cats scored eight consecutive runs at one point. After Cuevas’ triple, Jason Langfels added a sac-fly, giving New Britain a 7-5 lead. In the eighth, the Cats scored three times off Pat Light. Will Swanner led off with a homer and Trevor Story delivered a two-run single.
Portland would rally back in the ninth inning off Nelson Gonzalez. Carlos Asuaje nailed a two-run single and Martinez drove home a run with a single. Austin House retired Oscar Tejeda to earn his third save of the season.
Portland had cracked the ice, scoring three times in the second inning against Carle. David Chester led off the frame his first homer of the season. Reed Gragnani singled home Martinez and Blake Tekotte nailed an RBI double down the right-field line.
Portland tied a season-high with 16 hits and went 6-for-16 with runners-in-scoring position. Oscar Tejeda went 3-for-5 with 2 runs scored. The Sea Dogs had at least one hit from all nine starters.
The Sea Dogs open up a four-game series with the Trenton Thunder (Yankees affiliate) on Thursday night at Hadlock Field, game time is 6:35 p.m.
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