NEW BRITAIN — After five innings of scoreless baseball, the Portland Sea Dogs’ bats came alive in the top of the sixth. The Sea Dogs scored five runs on five hits in that inning, getting all of the offense they needed in an 8-0 win over the New Britain Rock Cats. Felix Doubront, Tommy Hottovy, and Ryne Lawson combined to blank the Rock Cats on four hits.

Portland’s Felix Doubront and New Britain’s David Bromberg got the calls to start for their respective clubs, and both pitchers certainly brought their best to the table on this night. Doubront went four scoreless innings, allowing three hits and two walks, while striking out six. Bromberg went five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and two walks, while striking out two. Both starters received no-decisions.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Rock Cats made a pitching change, turning the ball over to Joe Testa. The New Britain reliever was greeted rather rudely by the Portland offense, as six consecutive batters reached base. Luis Exposito and Lars Anderson led the rally with RBI singles, as the Sea Dogs built a 5-0 lead.

Steve Hirschfeld took over for Testa, and despite a scoreless seventh inning, his night wasn’t much better. Ray Chang knocked in the sixth Portland run with an RBI double, and scored the seventh run on the very next pitch, when Chih-Hsien Chiang doubled him in. The Sea Dogs added one more run in the eighth, putting the exclamation point on an 8-0 win.

Tommy Hottovy was spectacular out of the Portland bullpen, earning the win, allowing just one hit and one walk, while striking out five, in three innings of work. Ryne Lawson followed up Hottovy with two perfect innings, completing the shutout.

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