Two stellar performances by the two left-handed starters.

A total of 24 hits in two games.

It all added up to a dominating doubleheader sweep for the Portland Sea Dogs as they twice beat the Binghamton Rumble Ponies 7-2 Thursday night at Hadlock Field.

The Sea Dogs have won four straight for the first time this season.

Matt Kent (1-1) started the first game and allowed two hits and no walks over five innings, striking out seven.

Dedgar Jimenez (1-2) went the distance (seven innings) in Game 2 – two hits and a career-high nine strikeouts.

Cole Sturgeon went 4 for 8 in the two games, lifting his average to .371.

Not all the pitching performances drew praise. Red Sox reliever Tyler Thornburg, making his fifth rehab appearance – and second with the Sea Dogs – did not get out of the sixth inning of the first game.

Thornburg allowed two runs on two hits (one double) and a walk, while inducing two flyouts. He threw 24 pitches, 12 for strikes.

“Obviously, things didn’t go well today but the arm feels good,” said Thornburg, who has yet to pitch for the Red Sox since being obtained before the 2017 season because of shoulder trouble. He is recovering from surgery to treat thoracic outlet syndrome.

Thornburg’s fastball was in the 91-93 mph range.

“When I was throwing in Pawtucket (last week), I hit 96 – that’s where I want to be,” Thornburg said. “We’ll see where I’m at Monday.”

Thornburg plans to join the Red Sox in Toronto and return to Pawtucket Monday for another rehab outing.

Thornburg’s outing did not hurt the Sea Dogs, who already had a 7-0 lead. Tate Matheny paced the offense with two triples and three RBI.

Kent, a 13th-round draft pick out of Texas A&M, was a starter in his first two full pro seasons. He was moved to the bullpen this season but has been used as a spot starter.

Adam Lau finished the game, retiring four batters.

In the second game, Jimenez retired the first nine batters. A leadoff double by John Mora in the fourth was Binghamton’s only hit. In the sixth inning, Jimenez began by hitting Tim Tebow with a pitch. Tebow scored after a walk and two groundouts.

Tebow, the former NFL quarterback, played only the second game and was 0 for 1 with a groundout.

Jimenez had the comfort of a 5-0 lead after the first inning. In the third inning, Luke Tendler swatted his third home run of the season.

Binghamton’s Patrick Mazeika homered in the seventh.

NOTES: First baseman Josh Ockimey did not play either game because of an undisclosed injury. … Left-handed Kyle Hart is expected to come off the disabled list to make Friday’s start … Portland added two infielders recently, Chad De La Guerra from Pawtucket and Tanner Nishioka from extended spring training … Josh Tobias was placed on the disabled list and reliever Daniel McGrath was temporarily placed on the Lowell roster …The announced paid attendance was 4,182.

Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-7411 or:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: @ClearTheBases

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