Tejada powers Spirit past Lumberjacks 9-2

LYNN, Mass. – Rookie righthander Jeremy Sugarman fired a six-hitter and Michael Tejada belted a three-run homer in the four-run first inning to lead North Shore a 9-2 Northeast League win over the Bangor Lumberjacks Tuesday night.

Sugarman, who formerly pitched for the University of California-Santa Barbara, struck out 12 and walked two.

Singles by Marcos Agramonte and John Schmitz were followed by Tejada’s blast. Eddie Muth singled home the fourth run.

The Spirit expanded the lead to 6-0 in the second on Yuri Sanchez’s base hit, Agramonte’s RBI triple and Tejada’s sacrifice fly.

Donnie Ross got one back with a homer in the fourth but the Spirit added three more off starter and loser John Vigue and reliever Roger Kalinowski in the seventh.

Schmitz singled with one out and Tejada walked. Carlos Sepulveda chased Vigue with a run-scoring double and, one out later, Muth hit a two-run single off Kalinowski.

Luis Melendez singled home the final Bangor run in the ninth.

Tejada drove in four runs and Muth knocked in three for the Spirit. Muth, Agramonte and Schmitz had two hits each in the Spirit’s 13-hit attack.

Prospect throws perfect game

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Tampa Bay Devil Rays prospect Chad Gaudin pitched a perfect game in his debut for the Double-A Orlando Rays on Tuesday, retiring all 21 Jacksonville Suns batters in a seven-inning game.

The right-hander needed 78 pitches – 56 strikes – to complete a 1-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers’ affiliate in the first game of a doubleheader.

Gaudin had a three-ball count on only one batter – leadoff hitter Shane Victorino in the first inning. He struck out nine, including Reggie Abercrombie to end the it.