PORTLAND – The smile on Ron Johnson’s face was a little bigger than usual, sort of like the one you see on the face of a proud parent.
The Portland Sea Dogs manager had just watched his team execute in all facets of the game while topping the Bowie Baysox 6-2 at Hadlock Field Wednesday night.
The Sea Dogs got a slap base hit from Justin Headley on a fake bunt play to turn a potentially harmless inning into a four-run uprising in the bottom of the eighth to break a 2-2 tie.
An inning earlier, Portland thwarted what could have been a big inning for the Baysox by first throwing out the lead runner at third base on a sacrifice bunt attempt with two on and no one out.
The Sea Dogs then caught the trail runner on a double steal, executing the rundown between first and second base to perfection, with Headley trailing the runner and making the tag.
“That was a good game,” said Johnson. “You go out and work on these things in spring training and you always want to believe the guys are understanding and will be able to do it at game speed and have it work.
“When it does, you’re like, ‘All right!’.”
Portland also found a way to work around its recent woes while hitting with runners in scoring position.
The Sea Dogs scored twice on ground outs (one being a double play), twice on wild pitches and once on a wild pitch/error.
Only Dustin Brisson knocked in a run with a hit when he doubled in the eighth to extend his hitting streak to nine games.
With the score tied at two in the bottom of the eighth, Kevin Youkilis led off with a walk.
Headley took a pitch from reliever Enrique Ramirez before slapping the next one into right field.
“With everybody moving, it creates a lot of holes,” said Headley. “R.J. kind of gave it away a little bit, but it worked out good. That’s the first time I ever did that in a game.”
The hit opened the floodgates.
Ramirez (0-2) bounced a pitch off the shin guard of catcher Eli Whiteside and compounded his mistake when he picked up the ball, which had rebounded up the third base line, and threw it into left field allowing Youkilis to score the go-ahead run.
After Brisson’s double, Kevin Haverbusch, who had walked, scored on a ground out.
Pinch-runner Justin Sherrod scored from third when Bowie’s fourth pitcher of the night, Eddy Rodriguez, bounced his first pitch past Whiteside.
Anastacio Martinez (2-0), who surrendered the tying run in the top of the eighth, struck out two in the ninth while picking up the win.
“He’s shown me he’s getting to the point with his maturity level that he can pitch around a little adversity,” Johnson said of Martinez. “I’ve had this guy before (in Trenton and Sarasota) and I don’t see the body language deteriorating. He understands what’s going on.”
The Sea Dogs took the lead in the bottom of the third inning.
Jeremy Owens singled, went to third on John Nathans’ roller into right field and scored when Raul Nieves hit into a double play.
Portland starter Josh Stevens cruised through the first six innings, allowing just one man as far as second base.
In the top of the seventh, Kris Wilken doubled leading off and scored on Fletcher Bates’ single to center.
Stevens left after the seventh having given up six hits. The right-hander, who lowered his earned run average to 2.55, walked none and struck out five.
Owens walked with one out in the seventh, moved up on Nathans’ ground out and stole third base before scoring on Ramirez’s wild pitch.
“Late in the game, fundamental baseball wasn’t at it’s best,” said Bowie manager Dave Trembley. “It was matter of Portland executing when they had the opportunity and us not and them taking advantage of our mistakes.”
Sea Dogs notes: Haverbusch had two hits in his first game in the clean-up spot….Owens stole two bases and now leads the team with nine….Sherrod didn’t start his second straight game after aggravating a wrist injury Monday night….Junior Herndon (2-3, 5.71 ERA) opposes Bowie’s Mike Paradis (2-3, 3.74) in the series finale today at noon.
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