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Portland takes advantage of 13 walks, including one to Iggy Suarez for the winning run in the ninth.

By KEVIN THOMAS, Staff Writer September 6, 2009

PORTLAND — A night after Ryan Kalish ended the game with a 14th-inning home run, the Portland Sea Dogs sought some more walk-off magic.

With the game tied 6-6 and the bases loaded with two outs in the ninth inning, Iggy Suarez stepped to the plate.

Suarez did not need his bat.

He watched four pitches out of the strike zone, and Jon Still jogged home as Suarez headed to first base with his winning walk, and Portland defeated the New Hampshire Fisher Cats 7-6 Saturday night at Hadlock Field.

The victory capped Portland's comeback from a 6-2 deficit. It was also a fitting way to end it; New Hampshire pitchers issued 13 walks.

Despite their wildness, Suarez was not set on taking pitches.

"I was just going to try to put the ball in play," Suarez said. "All I needed was a little dumper over the infield.

"I just wanted to keep my composure. (The pitcher) is as pumped as I am. I'm trying to keep the pressure off myself."

The pressure was on reliever Zach Dials (1-5), who entered in the ninth as New Hampshire's fourth pitcher.

Still greeted Dials with a double to the right-field corner. Lars Anderson was walked intentionally, and Dials retired the next two batters.

The Sea Dogs already had left 12 runners on base when Jason Place came to the plate and walked to load the bases.

Then Suarez drew the winning walk.

"We were fortunate to take advantage of a lot of walks," Portland Manager Arnie Beyeler said.

With two games to go at Hadlock, Portland (66-73) assured itself of fourth place in the Eastern League's Northern Division. New Hampshire (63-77) is fifth.

The Fisher Cats jumped on Sea Dogs starter Ryne Miller for six runs in the first three innings.

It was a rare off night for Miller, whose ERA rose to 2.75.

"He just didn't have his best command," Beyeler said. "That said, he still battled for five innings."

Miller rebounded in the fourth and fifth, allowing only one walk.

Suarez and Daniel Nava led the Sea Dogs with two RBI apiece.

Portland scored two in the second on two walks and RBI singles by Yamaico Navarro and Suarez.

Nava stroked a two-run double in the fourth.

Portland tied it in the eighth. Ryan Kalish got an RBI with a bases-loaded walk, and Jorge Jimenez singled in a run with a grounder to right. Suarez was thrown out trying to score from second on Jimenez's hit.

Portland reliever Tommy Hottovy pitched three scoreless innings before giving way to Chad Rhoades (6-2), who retired the side in the ninth.

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com