It was a game of high-low for the Portland Sea Dogs’ fans at Hadlock Field.

One moment, the fans’ only fret was the infield single in the fourth inning that ruined Teddy Stankiewicz’s no-hit pitching.

The next moment, the Sea Dogs trailed 7-2.

From that low came hope. Portland rallied for four runs in the ninth, and had the bases loaded with two outs.

But Erie Seawolves reliever Trent Szkutnik entered to face Deiner Lopez, and struck him out, giving the Seawolves a 7-6 win over Portland before a crowd of 6,067.

Stankiewicz (6-9) provided the excitement early, dealing through six innings. He had allowed only one hit – a fourth-inning single by Isaac Paredes when he beat out a grounder to third – and needed only 72 pitches.

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Portland led 2-0 at the time, courtesy of a two-run double by Danny Mars in the second.

But in the seventh inning, Erie’s Josh Lester led off by beating the shift with a bunt down the third-base line. Two singles to left followed, loading the bases.

Stankiewicz steadied himself and had Hadlock cheering. But Stankiewicz hit the next batter, bringing in a run. Next up was Chad Sedio, who had just entered the game replacing a sick teammate. Sedio crushed a grand slam to right-center for a 5-2 lead. Erie added two against Daniel McGrath in the eighth.

In bottom of the ninth, the Sea Dogs loaded the bases with one out. Mars scored on a wild pitch.

Michael Chavis singled to center. Jeremy Rivera scored and then Chad De La Guerra came across on a throwing error. Portland loaded the bases and Austin Rei drew an RBI walk, closing to 7-6.

Szkutnik, the third Erie pitcher of the inning, got the strikeout and the save. Alfred Gutierrez (3-0) was the winning pitcher.

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NOTES: Erie was scheduled to start Kyle Dowdy, but he was traded. Detroit sent him and Tigers outfielder Leonys Martin to Cleveland for stellar shortstop prospect Willi Castro, who could join Erie on Wednesday … The SeaWolves already have plenty of Tigers prospects, including outfielder Daz Cameron, son of former major league outfielder Mike Cameron (who rehabbed at Hadlock when he was with the Red Sox in 2010) … Another Erie player with a major league bloodlines is outfielder Cam Gibson, son of Kirk Gibson … Chavis’ single ended an 0-for-14 skid. … Relievers Travis Lakins and Matt Gorst were promoted to Triple-A, and reliever Jordan Weems returned from Pawtucket.

Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-7411 or:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: @ClearTheBases


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