Sea Dogs nip Senators in 9th

PORTLAND – Reliever Benji DeQuin walked Dustin Brisson with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning to force in the winning run as the Portland Sea Dogs beat the Harrisburg Senators 5-4 on Sunday in the Eastern League.

The Sea Dogs let a 4-1 lead slip away as starter Tim Kester gave up a two-run single to Brandon Watson in the eighth inning and Josh McKinley and Jake Thrower doubled off reliever Juan Perez in the ninth to tie the game.

In the bottom of the ninth, Luis Torres hit Kevin Youkilis with a pitch. DeQuin then came on to commit an error on a Justin Headley bunt and allow Kevin Haverbusch’s single to load the bases. Brisson then walked on a 3-2 pitch to force in the winning run.

Kester, who retired the first 12 batters he faced, allowed six hits and only one earned run over eight innings while striking out eight, but did not earn a decision.

The division-leading Sea Dogs improved to 26-19; the Senators fell to 22-28.

On Saturday, Kevin Haverbusch drove in the winning run, Trace Coquillette hit a two-run triple and Jeremy Owens homered as the Sea Dogs beat the Senators 4-3 in a game that was shortened to 51/2 innings because of rain.

Josh McKinley belted a two-run homer for the Senators.

McKinley’s blast over the left-field wall was the key hit as Harrisburg (22-27) grabbed a 3-0 lead in the first inning in which Noah Hall and Jake Thrower both singled and scored.