3 min read

PORTLAND – Portland Sea Dogs starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa couldn’t feel his pitching hand.

Harrisburg Senators manager Dave Machemer chose to keep his feelings to himself.

It was that kind of night Saturday at Hadlock Field.

Kevin Haverbusch’s broken-bat single with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning scored Justin Headley from third base as the Sea Dogs topped the Senators 4-3.

The game was stopped after Harrisburg was retired in order in the top of the sixth inning.

An hour later the contest was officially called, giving Portland the win.

Machemer, who was unhappy the game even was allowed to start with a steady rain falling, chose to take the high road after the game.

“I could say a lot of things that would get me in trouble and I’m not going to do it,” said Machemer. “I’ll get myself in trouble if I tell you what I really think.”

With the game tied at three, Headley led off the fifth with a dribbler up the third base line. Harrisburg pitcher Josh Karp slipped as he fielded the ball and threw wide of first as Headley continued on to second.

One out later, Dustin Brisson dropped a single into right field to put runners at the corners.

Haverbusch’s bat shattered as he fought off an inside pitch from Karp and muscled it into right field.

“I think I almost killed the third baseman (with the broken bat),” said Haverbusch. “I was looking away and he came in.”

Chapman, who had worked out of a bases-loaded jam an inning earlier, set the side down in order in the sixth as conditions worsened.

“The umpire was throwing balls out to me, but his bag was full of water,” said Chapman.

Three batters into the game, the Senators had a 3-0 lead.

Noah Hall singled, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on Jake Thrower’s base hit. Josh McKinley then belted a drive over the left-field wall to make it 3-0.

De La Rosa settled down nicely, allowing just one more hit before leaving after four innings.

Unable to get a grip on the ball at times, the left-hander walked five and struck out six.

“They hit him hard, but he didn’t keel over,” said Portland manager Ron Johnson.

“That was a tough four innings.”

Jeremy Owens got Portland on the board in the bottom of the third with his ninth home run of the season.

In the fourth, Trace Coquellette tripled past diving center fielder Brandon Watson to score Haverbusch and Tonayne Brown and tie the game.

The hit broke an 0-for-26 skid for the Sea Dogs with runners in scoring position.

Portland took the lead in the fifth and let Mother Nature do the rest.

“Those games are no fun,” said Johnson. “Nobody wins in these things.”

Sea Dogs notes: Raul Nieves could return to the line-up today after missing the last two games with an ankle injury….Justin Sherrod’s sore wrist will keep the outfielder out until at least Tuesday….Tim Kester (2-3, 3.29 ERA) opposes Harrisburg’s Seung Song (4-1, 2.13) today at 1 p.m.

bfoley

Comments are no longer available on this story