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Jon Still hits a two-run homer and an RBI single to help Junichi Tazawa notch his ninth victory.

From staff reports July 18, 2009

TRENTON, N.J. — Jon Still drove in three runs and Junichi Tazawa pitched five solid innings as the Portland Sea Dogs earned a 5-2 win over the Trenton Thunder on Friday night.

Still's two-run homer, his 11th of the season, gave the Sea Dogs a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Portland added another run later in the second on a single by Jason Place and a two-out double by Josh Reddick.

Trenton starter Ryan Pope (3-7) was in trouble throughout his four-inning stint, giving up six hits, four walks and five runs – three earned.

An RBI single by Still in the third inning and a sacrifice fly by Ryan Kalish in the fourth increased Portland's lead to 5-0.

One night after relinquishing a 6-0 lead in a 9-6 loss to the Thunder, the Sea Dogs held on this time, though they couldn't produce any more runs against a Trenton bullpen that extended its scoreless streak to 32 innings.

Tazawa (9-5) allowed five hits in five innings, striking out four and walking none. The only run he gave up came in the bottom of the fourth, when Noah Hall hit a two-out double and scored on Chris Malec's single.

Sea Dogs reliever Chris Province allowed an unearned run in two innings, and Bryce Cox pitched the final two innings for his seventh save.

Portland finished with 11 hits but stranded 10 runners, going 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position. Still, Place, John Otness and Lars Anderson each had two hits.

NOTES: Right-handed reliever Blake Maxwell was assigned to Class A Lowell to make room for Tazawa, who was activated from the temporary inactive list. Maxwell is 1-6 with a 6.79 ERA in 59 2/3 innings.