Berkshire’s Harden blanks Lumberjacks Bangor four games behind Quebec

PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Right-handed pitcher Tony Harden threw a two-hit shutout to pace the Berkshire Black Bears past the Bangor Lumberjacks 3-0 in Northeast League baseball action Thursday night.

It was the first shutout of the season for the Black Bears.

Harden struck out six hitters while walking two to improve his record to 8-4. Berkshire is now 11-19 in the south division second half standings.

Offensively, left fielder Manny Crespo sparked the Bears with a solo home run in the fourth inning and a single. Shane Hopper scored the other two runs and had a double.

Lefthander Matt Scheuing (0-1) took the loss for the 15-16 Lumberjacks, who fall four games behind north division-leading Quebec. Scheuing allowed three runs (two earned) and five hits in 5 2/3 innings. Brandon Bowe tossed 2 1/3 innings of hitless, scoreless relief. Bangor had just four baserunners all night.

Portland 11, Reading 6

READING, Pa. – The Portland Sea Dogs batted around twice Thursday night to defeat the Reading Phillies 11-6 and earn a split of their four-game Eastern League series.

The Sea Dogs scored five runs off Layne Dawson (1-7) in the second inning to overcome an early deficit. Greg Catalanotte hit a two-run double to highlight the rally.

In a four-run fifth, Brian Loyd hit an RBI double and Jim Goelz and Raul Nieves hit run-scoring singles for Portland.

Tim Kester (9-8) got the win despite allowing solo home runs to Anderson Machado, his fifth, and Jeff Inglin, his league-leading 21st.

Loyd hit a solo home run for Portland, his first.