PORTLAND, Maine — Right-hander Chad Zurat pitched two-plus innings in his third appearance for the New Britain Rock Cats, who stretched their winning streak to eight to even their Eastern League record at 69-69 by rallying to defeat the Portland Sea Dogs 11-9 in front of 7,080 fans at Hadlock Field Saturday night.
With the Rock Cats trailing by a run in the bottom of the second, Zurat stepped into a two-out, bases-loaded situation and gave up back-to-back singles that padded the Sea Dogs’ lead to 7-3. He issued two walks to force in another run before stranding three runners via a groundout.
Zurat allowed two more free passes with one out in the third but then retired the next five Sea Dogs he faced, including all three on ground balls in the fourth.
New Britain, a Class AA affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, eventually pulled out the win with four runs in the eighth frame.
Zurat has pitched 4.1 innings for the Rock Cats, allowing three hits and three earned runs.
His season stats with Grand Junction, Boise and New Britain include 47.1 innings pitched, 17 strikeouts, 21 walks and three hit batsmen.
He has a 4-3 record and a 3.99 earned run average.