PORTLAND – Mike Mooney blasted a grand slam and Connecticut’s bullpen tossed six scoreless innings to give the Defenders a 6-2 win over the Portland Sea Dogs Thursday night at Hadlock Field.

Lefty Ben Snyder pitched four scoreless innings of one-hit ball to hand Portland its third loss in a row. Sea Dogs starter Jarod Plummer, making his Hadlock Field debut, allowed six runs on nine hits to take the loss.

Portland relievers Chris Province, Chad Rhoades, T. J. Large and Justin Hedrick combined for five scoreless innings, giving up just one hit while striking out three.

Snyder, Mike Musgrave and Daniel Otero came out of Connecticut’s bullpen to hold Portland to just three hits while striking out five in the final six innings.

Portland scored a run off starter Henry Sosa in the first when Josh Reddick led off with a double, moved to second on Mark Wagner’s single, then came hom on Aaron Bates’ sacrifice fly.

Jackson Williams tied the game in the next half inning on Jackson Williams’ two-out RBI double. Mooney gave the Defenders the lead for good with his two-out grand slam in the third inning.

Bubba Bell added a home run, his second of the season, in the bottom of the frame for Portland. Bobby Felmy drove in the game’s final run for the Defenders by doubling home Brian Bocock in the fourth inning.

The win snapped Connecticut’s five-game losing streak.

The two teams will meet for game two of their series at 6 p.m. Friday.