Zink Complete Game Leads Sea Dogs Over Defenders
June 19, 2007 - Eastern League (EL1)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release
(Norwich, CT) - Charlie Zink (6-2) pitched his fourth career complete game, lifting the Portland Sea Dogs (33-31) to a 2-1 win in the series opener against the Defenders at Dodd Stadium. Zink hurled his second career, 9-inning complete game, yielding six hits, one run, two walks and seven strikeouts.
Geno Espineli (5-4) suffered the tough luck loss for Connecticut (26-41), allowing five hits and two runs over eight innings pitched
Zink stranded two runners in the bottom of the ninth inning to secure Portland's second straight win. With one out, Eugenio Velez reached base on an apparent infield single but was ruled out for stepping out of the batting box before making contact with the pitch. Following the second out, John Bowker doubled, Jake Wald walked but Zink fanned Carlos Sosa to end the game.
The last 9-inning complete game for the Sea Dogs came by Jon Lester on August 1, 2005 vs. New Britain. Zink's first 9-inning complete game came on June 1, 2003 at Lakeland (pitching with Sarasota).
Portland scored the first run of the night in the fourth inning off Espineli. Jay Johnson and Dusty Brown smacked back-to-back singles and Andrew Pinckney produced a sacrifice fly. The next inning, Jed Lowrie lined a run-scoring single with two outs, scoring Iggy Suarez from second base.
Connecticut scored their lone run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Todd Jennings followed Steve Holm's double with an RBI two-bagger. The Defenders had six hits off Zink - five were doubles.
The Defenders finished the game 1-for-8 with runners-in-scoring position and dropped to 17-34 against division opponents.
Portland has taken five of eight from Connecticut this season, including three of four at Dodd Stadium.
On Wednesday night, the two teams will play a twinbill starting at 5:35 PM. Portland sends RHP Clay Buchholz and RHP Chris Smith to the hill - Connecticut counters with RHP Nick Pereira and RHP Ben Cox.
Notes...Andrew Pinckney extended his hitting streak to 14-games...Jeff Corsaletti returned to the lineup and went 0-for-4...Iggy Suarez has hit safely in four straight starts...Jay Johnson picked up his 9th multi-hit game.
Allied Home Mortgage Big Dog of the Game - Charlie Zink
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