Manchester, NH  [5/29/19] - Vladimir Guerrero Jr. launched his 11th home run of the season and drove in three runs as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays Double-A affiliate) opened their series with the Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox) with an 11-2 win on Tuesday at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.

Josh DeGraaf (W, 1-1) matched a career-high with eight strikeouts in 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with no walks.

Portland scored a pair in the top of the first inning. Jeremy Rivera led off the game slicing a double into the left field corner, advancing on a couple of groundouts to make it 1-0. Josh Ockimey then drilled a solo homer to extend the lead to 2-0.

New Hampshire picked up a run in the bottom of the second inning. Max Pentecost ripped a two-out double to left and scored on a base knock by Juan Kelly to cut the Sea Dogs lead to 2-1.

The Fisher Cats moved in front with a three-run third inning that started with an Andrew Guillotte triple. Bo Bichette singled to knock in the first run with a ground ball single and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homered to left center to make it 4-2.

A five-run sixth inning for the Fisher Cats put the game away. Ten batters came to the plate, starting with a leadoff double from Juan Kelly. Harold Ramirez, Gunnar Heidt and Max Pentecost each hit RBI singles, and Guerrero added his 53rd RBI of the season with a run-scoring groundout. The Fisher Cats led 9-2, and plated another two runs in the seventh with a run-scoring double from Andrew Guillotte and an RBI single from Gunnar Heidt.

The Fisher Cats and Sea Dogs play again on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. The first 1,000 fans will receive an Uncle Sam Hat courtesy of Northeast Delta Dental. RHP Justin Dillon is scheduled to make his New Hampshire debut against Portland RHP Mike Shawaryn. Coverage begins at 6:15pm on the WGIR Fisher Cats Radio Network and online at www.nhfishercats.com.

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Posted 5/29/18