Manchester, N.H. — Taylor Cole went eight innings and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (39-47) led wire-to-wire to defeat the Sea Dogs (30-55) 6-1 on Wednesday night at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.

New Hampshire jumped out to an early lead on an RBI double by Derrick Loveless in the bottom of the first off of Kevin McAvoy. The ‘Cats added two more runs in the second on an RBI double by Jorge Flores and an RBI bloop single by Christian Lopes over the drawn-in infield.

That would be all the run support Cole would need, as the veteran right-hander lasted eight innings and allowed just one run on four hits with no walks and eight strikeouts. Wil Browning closed out the game with a perfect ninth.

Portland got on the board on a solo homer by Cody Decker in the top of the fourth.

McAvoy (L, 5-4) allowed five runs on eight hits in six innings, walking two and striking out three.

The Sea Dogs and Fisher Cats wrap up the series Thursday night at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch. RHP Keith Couch (5-4, 4.09) takes the mound for Portland, RHP Connor Greene (1-0, 7.20) gets the ball for New Hampshire. Pregame coverage on the WPEI US Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network begins at 6:45 p.m.