Sea Dogs’ Owens tames Cats

PORTLAND – Jeremy Owens drove in three runs with a two-run homer and an RBI double and Justin Sherrod also homered with a runner aboard as the Portland Sea Dogs defeated the New Britain Rock Cats 6-2 Tuesday in the Eastern League.

Dustin Brisson went 4-for-4 and scored twice for the Sea Dogs. Jeff Deardorff homered for New Britain.

After two scoreless innings, Kelly Shoppach’s RBI double sent the Sea Dogs (47-38) ahead 1-0 in the third. Deardorff’s homer tied it for the Rock Cats (40-45) in the top of the fourth, but Portland regained the lead on Owens’ two-run shot over the center-field fence in the bottom of the inning, and the Sea Dogs made it 5-1 when Sherrod homered in the fifth.

Kevin West knocked an RBI double for the Rock Cats in the seventh, and Owens doubled in the final run of the game in the eighth.

Pawtucket, Charlotte split

PAWTUCKET, R.I. – Cesar Crespo hit a two-run home run and four pitchers combined to allow four hits as the Pawtucket Red Sox beat the Charlotte Knights 6-1 to gain a split of a doubleheader Tuesday night.

Charlotte won the opener 3-1 on Russ Gload’s ninth-inning two-run homer.

In the nightcap, Pawtucket scored all the runs it would need in the first inning. A throwing error by losing pitcher Felix Diaz (3-6) scored two runs, then Crespo lined his seventh homer of the season to right-center for a 4-0 lead.

Jeremy Giambi added an RBI double in the third to make it 5-0 and Earl Snyder contributed an RBI double in the sixth.