Portland Sea Dogs starter Luis Diaz was cruising with a no-hitter through 32/3 innings. But before he could get that third out, the New Britain Rock Cats tagged him for two runs.
Diaz didn’t return after the fourth and the Sea Dogs couldn’t come back Friday night in a 5-1 loss at Hadlock Field.
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WHO: New Britain Rock Cats (Yohan Flande 4-0) at Portland Sea Dogs (Mike Augliera 1-4)
WHEN: 1 p.m. Saturday
The game featured the appearance of Boston Red Sox outfielder Shane Victorino on a rehab assignment. He went 0 for 3 with a strikeout in six innings.
Diaz (0-3) looked for a while like he was going to overshadow Victorino. After Tom Murphy broke up the no-hitter with a single to left, David Dahl struck out but reached on a wild pitch. Dahl stole second and Murphy scored on catcher Mike Blanke’s throwing error. Will Swanner doubled in Dahl.
Diaz loaded the bases on a walk and hit batter before getting a pop-up. Diaz threw 41 pitches in the inning, giving him 84 and knocking him from the game.
The Sea Dogs scored in the sixth. Carlos Asuaje singled, then scored after two New Britain throwing errors.
New Britain got three runs off the Portland bullpen to improve to 20-7. Portland dropped to 11-17.
NOTES: The announced paid attendance was a sellout at 7,368. … Victorino tested his healed hamstring by attempting to steal second, but Asuaje lined out on the play. … Oscar Tejeda singled twice and is batting .338. … The Rock Cats stole six bases. … Travis Shaw became the third member of the 2014 Sea Dogs to play for the Red sox this year, getting called up Friday night and starting at third base. The other ’14 Dogs, Mookie Betts and Blake Swihart, were also in the lineup.
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