Garcia back in win column, Thunder take 3 of 4

PORTLAND, MAINE >> Rony Garcia won for just the fourth time in 19 starts, tossing five scoreless innings in the Thunder’s 5-4 victory over Portland at Hadlock Field on Sunday afternoon.

Garcia allowed one hit and matched a careerhigh nine strikeouts. He has pitched at least five innings while conceding three runs or fewer in 12 of his 19 starts.

The Thunder (34-31, 7259) scored four of their five runs in the fourth inning and held on to win three of four against the Sea Dogs (29-34, 56-74).

Hoy Jun Park led off the fourth inning with a double and took third on a Chris Gittens single. Kellin Deglan followed with an RBI single, and after two flyouts, Rashad Crawford added another RBI single. A walk loaded the bases, and after a pitching change, Ben Ruta lined an RBI infield single off the new pitcher’s leg before Kyle Holder was hit by a pitch, stretching the Thunder lead to 4-0.

The Sea Dogs fought back against Thunder relievers Will Carter and Greg Weissert with a three-run sixth. The three Portland runs scored on a hit-bypitch, wild pitch and walk.

In the seventh, the Thunder added an insurance run as Ruta doubled to deep center, took third on a wild pitch, and scored on a wild pitch.

Brooks Kriske turned in a scoreless eighth inning for the Thunder and Daniel Alvarez pitched the ninth, allowing a one-out solo homer to Marcus Wilson before retiring the next two batters to record his 19th save.

Holder’s hit-by-pitch extended his on-base streak to 14 games, three shy of his season-high, while Crawford’s fourth-inning RBI gave him eight RBIs in his last 10 games.

Yajure to get debut

The pre-playoff roster shuffle continued for the Thunder as pitcher Miguel Yajure was promoted to Double-A and Braden Bristo was optioned to High-A.

The 21-year-old Venezuelan went 8-6 with a 2.26 ERA in 22 games (18 starts) for the Tarpons. Seven of his last 10 starts have been quality starts.

The right-hander is scheduled to start Monday’s series opener at New Hampshire.