The Senators and Sea Dogs will play game 6 and the final scheduled game of 2026 between the pair this afternoon for some matinee baseball. The Sens lead the series 3 games to 2 and will once again play a ball game with the opportunity to win the series.

Despite the loss, the Sens were able to maintain a 4 game back deficit with the SeaWolves squandering a late inning lead and ultimately losing to Akron. Chesapeake jumped back in front of the Sens by a ½ game defeating Altoona. The Sea Dogs picked up a ½ game on Reading and now sits 2 games back of the division lead.

The Senators will hand the ball to RHP Riley Maddox, who will face the Sea Dogs for the 2nd time this series. Maddox makes his 5th appearance. He has won 2 of his 4 appearances with the Senators. He had a no decision in Tuesday’s game but didn’t have his best day. He went only 4 innings. allowing 3 runs on 5 hits, walking 3 and striking out 3. Overall Maddox has pitched 21 innings, allowing 9 runs on 19 hits, walking 7 and striking out 15. The Sens are hoping Maddox will round into the form as he continues to adjust to the level of competition at AA.

The Sea Dogs will counter with Gage Ziehl. Ziehl will be making his 17th appearance with the Sea Dogs. He has thrown 75 innings allowing 41 runs on 85 hits, 13 home runs, walking 17 and striking out 88. Opposing batters are hitting .281 off of him this season. His last appearance was a week ago. He only went 3 innings, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits, walking 1 and striking out 4. His opponents have hit over .270 in all of his outings this season.

Stats:

The Senators are 10-6 on Sundays coming into today’s game. They’ve been pretty good on getaway days this season and look to get win number 11

Despite no errors in last evening’s ball game the Senators have committed the 2nd most errors in the Eastern League. The Senators have 8 errors in the series and are averaging about 1 run per game.

Senators and Sea Dogs on last time for 2026, barring a playoff series match up. It’s getaway day for the Senators but first we have matinee baseball from Delta Dental Park. Line ups have been posted and are below. First pitch coming up just after 1 o’clock.

Harrisburg Senators Lineup: 1. Johnathan Thomas CF 2. Cortland Lawson SS 3. Branden Boissiere 1B 4. Kervin Pichardo 2B 5 Ethan Petry DH 6. Caleb Lomavita C 7. Sam Brown RF 8. TJ White LF 9. Devin Ortiz 3B

Portland Sea Dogs Lineup: 1. Tyler McDonough RF 2. Yoelin Cespedes 2B 3. Brooks Brannon 1B 4. Ronald Rosario DH 5. Mason White SS 6. Nate Baez C 7. Will Turner CF 8. Max Ferguson 3B 9. Matt Frazier LF

For the third consecutive game Saturday’s game 5 started about as well as you could chalk it up for the visiting Senators. Kervin Pichardo got the Sens rolling with a 2 run bomb over the left center field monster wall to give the Sens a 2-0 lead. The Sens picked up right where they left off in the first inning. TJ White singled, Sam Brown doubled and Caleb Farmer singled to drive in TJ White to make it 3-0 Sens. Sam Brown would be thrown out at home on the same play. In the top of the 3rd, the Sens kept rolling when red hot Cortland Lawson and Branden Boissiere traded places on back to back doubles to put the Sens up 4-0. Portland would respond in the home half of the 3rd with 2 runs to cut the Sens lead in half. The Sens wouldn’t really threaten until the 8th inning when they would leave runners stranded on 2nd and 3rd. Portland would get 1 in the 5th and take a lead, they’d never relinquish in the 6th. The Sens really wouldn’t threaten after the 3rd inning until the 8th inning when they’d ultimately squander a great chance to chip away at Portland’s lead. After 3 two out singles in a row the Sens would ultimately be retired with runner’s in scoring position. They would go down in order in the 9th and fall 7-4 in game 5, ultimately allowing 7 unanswered runs.

The Sens would go 3-6 with runners in scoring position, leaving 5 on base but ultimately it wouldn’t be enough after a tough night from Sens reliever Brady Hill. The pitchers allowed 7 free passes and striking out 6. Chance Huff and Sandy Gaston would pitch a scoreless 7th and 8th inning.

On Deck…

After today’s series finale the Senators will head right past Harrisburg and make the 500+ mile trek to Bowie, Maryland. The Senators and Baysox will start a 6 game set on Tuesday evening at 6:35. Tuesday night, Thursday night and Saturday night’s games will all start at 6:35. Wednesday night is a double header from the rainout during the previous series. Game 1 will begin at 5:35 with Game 2 following about a half hour or so after. Friday evening will be a 7:05 first pitch and the finale Sunday will be a matinee game with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 PM. With the Sens and Baysox being in a virtual dead heat in the Southwest Division standings chasing Erie, this will be a huge series, while marking the half way point of the season’s second half.

In the hole…

The Sens, after what will be a two week road trip, will make their way back to Harrisburg to welcome the Richmond Flying Squirrels to Harrisburg for a 6 game series starting on August 11th.