Rock Cats cool off Sea Dogs

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – Jesse Crain threw three innings of hitless relief and Terry Tiffee drove in two runs to lead the New Britain Rock Cats to a 4-2 win over the Portland Sea Dogs Thursday in the Eastern League.

New Britain (13-22) had lost 15 of its last 20 games coming into the contest. Northern Division leader Portland (20-14) had its four-game winning streak snapped.

Crain, who earned his first Double-A save, allowed an earned run, walked one and struck out five in relief of starter Peter Fisher (3-1). Crain has now pitched 9 1/3 innings with New Britain without yielding a hit. Fisher scattered six hits over six innings, walking none and striking out two.

Portland committed three errors, all of which led to unearned runs.

Starter Tim Kester (2-2) yielded just one earned run in seven innings, walked none and struck out four.