Sea Dogs Bats Hit Snooze Button in 3-0 Loss

Jeremy Hazelbaker started the bottom of the first inning by striking out. Nine innings later he ended the game by striking out. In between Akron pitchers picked up 13 more strikeouts for a total of 15, as the Aeros beat the Sea Dogs 3-0 in a slow-paced game at Hadlock.

Brock Huntzinger had one of his better outings of the season, but a high pitch count kept him from completing 6 innings. After giving up a lead off single to Jordan Henry, Huntzinger retired the next 9 batters before giving up a solo home run to Ben Copeland in the fourth. He got of a jam in the fifth, getting Karexon Sanchez to fly out to center after giving up his only 2 walks of the game. He got two quick outs in the sixth before giving up back to back infield singles to end his outing. Huntzinger gave up only 4 hits, the solo home run and 3 infield singles.

The Sea Dogs got runners to 3rd in both the first and third innings, but both rallies were ended by strikeouts thrown by Paolo Espino. Espino set the standard for Akron pitchers in the game, giving up no runs on 4 hits, with 7 strikeouts and just 1 walk. All 4 Akron pitchers struck out at least 2 batters.

The Aeros would score again in the seventh, as John Drennen hit a 2-out solo home run off of Josh Fields. It was Drennen's 4th home run of the season, and the first one given up by Fields since being traded to the Red Sox organization.

The third Akron run was not so conventional, to say the least. Cesar Cabral walked the first two batters in the top of the ninth. After Sanchez struck out, Henry dropped a bunt down the 3rd base line. Sea Dogs catcher Dan Butler got to the ball, saw no play at 3rd, so he fired towards 2nd, and promptly pegged Cabral in the head from point blank. The ball flew into shallow left, allowing pinch-runner Donnie Webb to score. Luckily Cabral was okay, but it was a not-so-bright moment in a game filled with such moments for the Sea Dogs.

Cory Burns came on to pitch the ninth for the Aeros, and wrapped 2 strikeouts around a Butler groundout. Burns now has 31 saves on the year in 33 opportunities.

Espino is now 6-0 on the year, and his ERA sits at 2.44.

Huntzinger dropped to 5-10, but could have had a much more positive outing if he had any sort of run support.

In a sad statistic for offensively futility, every Sea Dogs batter struck out in the game.

The Aeros will say goodbye to Portland for the season with tomorrow's series finale. Game time is set for for noon, with Portland's Chris Balcolm-Miller facing off against Akron's T.J. McFarland.

WEILAND PITCHES WELL, DOGS LOSE 3 - 2 #portlandseadogs #redsox #sblog

KYLE WEILAND ALLOWED 1 RUN AND 3 HITS OVER 5 INNINGS

Kyle Weialnd pitched well in yet another start, but that was no enough for the Sea Dogs as they lose to the Akron Aeros 3 - 2. The Sea Dogs wore special uniforms to help create Prostate Cancer Awareness.

OFFICIAL PORTLAND SEA DOGS WRAP UP
Justin Head smacked two home runs as the Akron Aeros defeated the Portland Sea Dogs 3-2 Sunday afternoon at Hadlock Field in front of 6,300 fans.  Akron (34-35) avoids the sweep.  The two teams split the season series, each winning three games.  The Sea Dogs fall to 36-32 on the season.

Both teams received good outings from their starting pitchers as Kyle Weiland and Scott Barnes mirrored one another for five innings.  Weiland struck out a season high seven batters in five innings of work.  He allowed just one run on three hits, walking three.  Weiland lowers his team best ERA to 3.81.  Meanwhile, Barnes (3-6) picks-up the win tossed five innings, allowing one hit on three runs.  He would walk five and strike out eight.

Mr Sparky Day at Hadlock and Dogs get a big win #sblog #redsox #portlandseadogs

YAMAICO NAVARRO HIT 2 MOON SHOTS ON WAY TO 11 - 5 WIN

Yamaico Navvaro paced the Portland Sea Dogs offense with 2 HRs and Steven Fife kept them in the game, pitching 7 strong after a rough 1st inning.

OFFICIAL PORTLAND SEA DOGS GAME WRAP
Yamaico Navarro blasted two home runs to propel the Portland Sea Dogs (36-31) to an 11-5 victory over the Akron Aeros (33-35) Saturday night at Hadlock Field in front of 6,238 fans.

The Sea Dogs offense pounded out 11 runs on 15 hits. Navarro was 3-for-4 with two homers, four RBI and a walk. Nate Spears had a very solid night as well, going 3-for-4 with a triple. Luis Exposito went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run. Eight of the nine Portland starters collected at least one hit.

CASEY KELLY PITCHES STRONG IN DOGS 4-3 LOSS TO AKRON

OFFICIAL PORTLAND SEA DOGS GAME RECAP

The Portland Sea Dogs got off to a great start on Saturday night, as each of their first three batters came around to score. However, the finish wasn't as positive, as the Akron Aeros scored in four consecutive innings, erasing their deficit, while picking up a 4-3 win in the series opener at Canal Park.

Akron starter Kelvin de la Cruz ran into trouble right away, giving up free passes to three of the first four batters he faced in the top of the first. The other batter in that stretch was Che-Hsuan Lin, who reached base on an error. Luis Exposito picked up the first RBI of the ball game, walking on five pitches with the bases loaded. The Sea Dogs added two more runs in the inning, as Lin scored on Yamaico Navarro's sacrifice fly, while Chih-Hsien Chiang singled home Ray Chang.

The score stayed 3-0 until the bottom of the fifth, when the Aeros finally solved Casey Kelly for a run. Jerad Head led off the frame with a double, and moved to third on a groundout by Adam Davis. Damaso Espino followed with a groundout of his own, but produced a run, as Head came in with Akron's first run.

The Sea Dogs nearly got that run back in the sixth. Anthony Rizzo sent a deep drive to right-center field that appeared to be a home run. However, the ruling on the field was a double. Will Vazquez pinch ran for Rizzo, and was stranded on base after three consecutive groundouts.

There was one ball that left the park in the sixth, as Lonnie Chisenhall greeted reliever Tommy Hottovy with a solo shot to right field, trimming Portland's lead to 3-2.

One inning later, Akron drew even. Adam Davis and Damaso Espino started the rally with back-to-back singles, putting a pair of runners on base for Tim Fedroff. Fedroff cashed in one of the runs with a double to deep right field. After allowing the double, Hottovy was able to battle out of the jam, keeping the game knotted at three.

The tie game gave both starting pitchers no-decisions. Casey Kelly tossed five innings for the Sea Dogs, allowing one run, five hits, and one walk, while striking out five. After a rough first inning, Kelvin de la Cruz settled down for the Aeros, going five innings, allowing three unearned runs, three hits, and five walks, while striking out one.

Unfortunately for Hottovy and the Sea Dogs, Akron's comeback continued, as the home team took the lead in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, Jerad Head reached on an infield single, and advanced to second on a walk to Adam Davis. Damaso Espino broke the deadlock with a single to right field, driving home Head with the go-ahead run.

Bryce Stowell preserved the win with a scoreless ninth, as the Aeros picked up their 11th straight win.

Carlton Smith (1-1) was the winning pitcher, as he twirled a scoreless eight. Tommy Hottovy (3-2) suffered the loss, allowing three runs in three and one-third innings. Bryce Stowell picked up his fourth save of the season.

The Sea Dogs and Aeros will play the middle game of their three-game set on Saturday at 7:05. Ryne Miller (2-3, 4.96) gets the nod for Portland, while Akron turns to former Red Sox prospect, Nick Hagadone (1-0, 3.00).

GAME HIGHLIGHTS COURTESY US CELLULAR SEA DOGS RADIO NETWORK