The Sea Dogs were walk-off winners in the final day of the regular season, defeating the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, 3-2 on Sunday afternoon at Hadlock Field. Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Jacoby Ellsbury led off the frame with a solo home run off Tracy Thorpe. Portland then loaded the bases with nobody out and scored the winning run when Thorpe threw over the head of the catcher on a comebacker hit by Jeremy West.

Portland advanced to the playoffs earlier in the afternoon with the Binghamton Mets losing game one of their doubleheader in Connecticut, 2-0. The Sea Dogs and Fisher Cats were scheduled to play a doubleheader but game two was cancelled since it did not have playoff implications.

Edgar Martinez earned his fifth win of the season with a scoreless seventh inning. Thorpe suffered his first loss of the year, allowing two hits and two runs (one earned).

Frank Brooks made the start for Portland, taking a no-decision by working five innings on five hits and two runs. New Hampshire scored both runs in the third inning on an RBI single by Brad Hassey and a sacrifice fly by Dustin Majewski.

David Purcey did not figure in the decision for New Hampshire, allowing four hits and one run in six frames. His only run allowed came on Luis Jimenez’s second-inning home run. Jimenez finished the regular season with a team-high, 17 home runs and 57 walks.

Brett Evert, Barry Hertzler and Martinez worked two scoreless innings in relief for the Sea Dogs.

Notes…Portland finished the season 37-31 at Hadlock Field…The Sea Dogs set a franchise record in average attendance at 6,356…Portland picked up their 31st comeback win of the season.

Allied Home Mortgage Big Dog of the Game – Jacoby Ellsbury