The Portland Sea Dogs dropped a doubleheader on Friday night to the Connecticut Defenders, 10-4 and 1-0 at Hadlock Field. Portland remains four games in front of Trenton for the top spot in the Northern Division and an 8 game lead over Binghamton for the second playoff spot.
In game one, Chris Begg (8-9) beat Portland for the third time this season, hurling a complete game, allowing eight hits and four runs. Begg was perfect in five of seven frames, allowing two runs in the fourth and seventh innings. Jose Vaquedano (6-4) lasted three innings, giving up six runs (four earned) on three hits, five walks but fanned six.
Brian Buscher went 3-for-4 with a home run and 5 RBI, including a two-run homer in the seventh inning. Connecticut received 10 walks from four different Sea Dogs pitchers and scored four unearned runs.