TRENTON, N.J. – Lars Anderson came to the rescue again.
With the game tied at 4 in the top of the ninth inning Sunday, Anderson hit a three-run homer over the right-field wall, lifting the Sea Dogs to a 9-5 victory over the Trenton Thunder.
After Noel Castillo walked Ryan Kalish and Luis Exposito to begin the ninth, Anderson connected for his fourth home run in the last nine games. Three days earlier, his home run in the eighth inning broke a 1-1 tie as the Sea Dogs beat Trenton 3-2.
“It’s awesome,” Anderson said. “But (my teammates) put me in the situation. A couple of guys got on today (in front of me). That changes the whole dynamic, so it’s like everybody gets credit for that.”
Portland won three of four games against the Thunder. Both of Anderson’s home runs in the series came off Castillo.
“It was two fastballs that I was able to drive,” Anderson said. “He has good stuff. He throws hard, has some movement, has a good slider.
“But probably both of those pitches weren’t where he wanted them, and I was able to put a good swing on them.”
After Anderson’s homer, Juan Apodaca followed with a single, Jose Iglesias walked, and Nate Spears doubled home both runners.
“That’s kind of what you do all your work for — to come through in those situations,” said Anderson. “You gotta feel confident and want that situation. If you don’t want it, then it won’t turn out well. And I’ve been on both sides.”
Anderson also had an RBI single in the seventh inning, helping Portland erase a 4-2 deficit. He has nine RBI in his last five games, and his average is up to .328.
The Sea Dogs finished with 15 hits. Apodaca was 4 for 5.
Reliever Robert Coello (3-1) pitched the last two innings and got his second win of the series. Felix Doubront, the starter, allowed three runs on six hits with three walks and six strikeouts in 42/3 innings.
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