TODAY'S GAME
WHO: Harrisburg Senators (Bobby Brownlie 8-2) vs. Portland Sea Dogs (Dustin Richardson 6-7)
WHEN: 6 p.m.
WHERE: Hadlock Field
Iggy Suarez wasn't going to lose the race to first base, not after the Portland Sea Dogs had rallied so late in the game.
Friday night at Hadlock Field, the Sea Dogs surrendered a six-run lead before an infield hit by Suarez in the bottom of the ninth inning drove in Mark Wagner to give Portland an 8-7 win over Harrisburg.
"I was kind of surprised," Suarez said. "I kind of cued it off the end of the bat. Once I saw the first baseman (Bill Rhinehart) go over to go get it, I kind of saw out of the corner of my eye the pitcher (Steve Schmoll) brake near first and I was like, 'OK, I've got a shot to beat this.'
"Once I'm running up to first base, I can see that I've already passed him. ... I was like, there's no way he's going to beat me there."
Suarez capped off a ninth-inning rally in which the Sea Dogs scored two runs on three hits, including a leadoff home run by Aaron Bates.
Portland's ninth inning was indicative of what Manager Arnie Beyeler believes is his team's strength – the ability to consistently play a complete game.
"You've got to play nine innings, and they just play a hard nine innings every night," Beyeler said. "It would have been kind of easy for them to lay down out there and go one-two-three, but they pride themselves in not giving at-bats away, and I know I preach with them about that, about not giving things away no matter what the score is. Again, they did that."
It's something that's becoming critical for the Sea Dogs with less than three weeks left in the regular season. Portland (66-57) holds a two-game lead over Binghamton (66-61) for second place in the Eastern League's Northern Division, with 17 games remaining for the Sea Dogs.
"We're having a good run right now," Suarez said. "We're confident, and we're backing each other up. Especially after giving up seven runs in the last two innings. We didn't really hit the panic button, and that's a good sign."
Portland took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, then appeared to break open the game in the bottom of the fifth on a three-run homer by Josh Reddick, who finished the game 3 for 4 with a home run, a double and three RBI. Portland added a run in the sixth on Mickey Hall's solo home run.
Portland starter Ryne Lawson gave up two hits and struck out two in six innings, but was relieved by Richie Lentz in the seventh.
Harrisburg (68-59) scored five runs on three hits in the eighth. Then, in the top of the ninth, the Senators scored the tying and go-ahead runs when Mike Daniels' hit off Daniel Bard bounced off the glove of first baseman Lars Anderson (4 for 4, double), driving in Javi Herrera and Garrett Guzman.
Harrisburg appeared in control, but Bates' home run to open the bottom of the ninth tied the game. After a single by Anderson, pinch-runner Bryan Pritz moved to third on a single by Wagner. Josh Reddick was walked intentionally to load the bases, and Pritz was thrown out at home when he tried to score on a fly to center by Argenis Diaz.
Wagner and Reddick both advanced on the play, however, putting runners on second and third as Suarez came to the plate. With a 2-2 count, Suarez fouled off three pitches, then took ball three before getting his winning hit.
"Iggy just battled and battled and battled," Beyeler said.
Staff Writer Rachel Lenzi can be reached at 791-6415 or at:
rlenzi@pressherald.com
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