NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (AP) – A throwing error by pitcher Beau Kemp on a bunt led to a game-winning sacrifice fly by Brett Roneberg that gave the Portland Sea Dogs a 3-2 win over the New Britain Rock Cats Thursday in the Eastern League.

With the score tied 2-2, Edgar Martinez led off the Portland eighth with a single. When Sheldon Fulse pushed a bunt up the first-base line, the throw by Kemp (3-1) struck the baserunner and all hands were safe.

Raul Nieves sacrificed and Roneberg lifted a long fly to center that made a winner of Sea Dogs reliever Jason Howell (2-2). Starter Chris Smith allowed four hits, no walks and struck out nine for Portland (16-24).

Joe Nelson recorded his seventh save by getting Kevin West to bounce into a bases-loaded, inning-ending double play in the eighth and striking out the side in the ninth.

John Hattig had two hits including his 10th home run of the season for Portland. Luis Maza had a triple and two-run homer for New Britain (18-21).

Major-leaguer Rick Helling started for the Rock Cats, yielding five hits and two runs in seven innings while striking out five.