(New Britain, CT) - Erik Lis cracked a 3-run homer off Adam Mills (0-2) in the fifth inning as the New Britain Rock Cats (40-55) beat the Portland Sea Dogs, 5-4, Sunday afternoon at New Britain Stadium.

Portland rallied in the 9th inning off closer Ben Julianel. Bubba Bell led off the frame with a single and moved to second base on a sacrifice-bunt by Kris Negron. Jeff Corsaletti advanced Bell to third with a single to left field but Julianel nailed down his 20th save by fanning Aaron Bates and Zach Daeges.

Mills suffered his second straight loss, yielding five runs on eight hits in five innings pitched. Miguel Ascencio fired three scoreless innings in relief on two hits and two strikeouts.

Yohan Pino (3-3) picked up the win for New Britain, working five innings on six hits and three runs. The righty fell behind 3-0 in the fourth inning on two home runs hit by the 'Dogs. Corsaletti led off the fourth with a solo-homer over the right-field wall. Aaron Bates followed with a single and scored on Wagner's 2-run shot to left.

Lis's 3-run homer in the fifth inning gave New Britain the lead for good. Portland added the game's final run in the sixth inning on a lead-off blast by Zach Daeges.

New Britain's Armando Gabino fanned four over three innings and allowed the homer by Daeges (3 IP, 5 H, R, 4 SO).

The Sea Dogs finished 1-for-9 with runners-in-scoring position and stranded 10 baserunners. For the third straight game, the Sea Dogs did not commit an error and have two in their last seven games.

On Monday afternoon the two teams close out their 5-game series at New Britain Stadium. Catch all the action on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network beginning at 11:40 AM.

Notes...Zach Daeges homered for the second straight day and has all three homers at New Britain...Jeff Corsaletti had 2 hits, his team-leading 25th multi-hit game of the season...Miguel Asencio is scoreless in two outings since retiring to Portland.