Yanks’ Williams solid in defeat to Sea Dogs

PORTLAND – Ryan Robertson’s three-run homer in the seventh inning broke an 11-11 tie and lifted the Portland Sea Dogs to a 14-11 victory over the Norwich Navigators on Tuesday in the Eastern League.

Kurt Bierek hit a grand slam for the Navigators and drove in another run with a single, but Bernie Williams, the New York Yankees centerfielder on a rehabilitation assignment with Norwich, garnered the most attention.

When placed on the disabled list June 11 with a knee injury, Williams was second in the American League in hitting with a .353 average. In his first game for Norwich, Williams led off with a walk and scored on Bierek’s grand slam. Williams hit a sacrifice fly that gave the Navigators a 10-8 lead in the fifth inning and doubled and scored Norwich’s 11th run in the seventh.