Quebec edges Lumberjacks, takes two-game division lead

QUEBEC CITY – Shane Hopper and Ricky Morton each had two hits and three RBIs to lead the division-leading Quebec Capitales to an 8-5 victory over the Bangor Lumberjacks Saturday night.

The Capitales’ win gives them a two-game lead over Bangor in the Northeast League North Division standings.

Morton hit two home runs – a solo shot in the second inning and a two-run blast in the sixth – while Hopper hit a three-run homer in the first and doubled to pace Quebec’s 11-hit attack. Geof Tomlinson had a double, two singles, and an RBI. Keith Dunn (8-1) picked up the win with 7 1/3 innings of five-hit ball.

Bangor’s Adam Thomas started the game on the mound, but left in the bottom of the third after yielding six hits and four earned runs, but it was reliever J.C. Huguet who took the loss despite limiting Quebec to two hits through 3 1/3 innings of work.

Shin Uchino and Mark Burke led Bangor’s offense with two hits apiece. Burke had a double, a single and an RBI while Uchino had two singles. Catcher Brad Hargreaves hit a two-run double in the second inning.

Bangor had Sunday off to recover from its 2-4 road trip and will open a seven-game homestand with Jerry Long on the mound tonight at 6:30 p.m. against South Division leader New Jersey.

New Britain 10, Portland 5

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – Garrett Jones went 3-for-3 and drove in four runs to lead the New Britain Rock Cats to a 10-5 win over the Portland Sea Dogs Sunday in the Eastern League.

The Rock Cats (54-60) have won two straight to inch past Portland (54-61) and the Trenton Thunder to claim fourth place in the league’s Northern Division.