Mets Get Moore in 7-2 Win Over Dogs

Brandon Moore shut down the Sea Dogs offense for six innings, and Brahiam Maldonado led the Mets bats in a 7-2 win over the Portland Sea Dogs.

Moore shook the cobwebs out in the first inning, giving up a lead-off triple to Jeremy Hazelbaker, and hitting Chih-Hsien Chiang with one out. However, as a telling sign for the Sea Dogs all night, they couldn't push a run across, as Will Middlebrooks flew out to left and Tim Federowicz struck out looking to end the inning.

Moore allowed a base runner in every inning, but it wasn't until his sixth and final inning that he allowed a run. He scattered 6 hits, and only gave up one walk, while striking out 4.

Binghamton meanwhile, had no problem finishing rallies. Back to back one-out doubles by Salomon Manriquez and Raul Reyes in the second gave the Mets an early 1-0 lead. They would double that lead in the third when Jordany Valdespin doubled to left-center, and advanced to 3rd when Hazelbaker misplayed the hit. He would then score on an RBI groundout by Josh Satin.

Portland starter Michael Lee only lasted 3 innings, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits, with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. It was his first start since July 5th, which was also against the Mets.

Junichi Tazawa replaced lee, and was shaky in his first inning of work. He gave up a lead-off double to Manriquez. Reyes then dropped a sacrifice bunt down the 3rd base line that Tazawa got to, but threw wide of Jon Hee at first base, putting runners at the corners with no outs. Maldonado then hit a sacrifice fly to right to make it 3-0 Mets. After giving up a single to Eric Campbell, Tazawa would settle down and retire the next 10 batters.

The Sea Dogs finally got themselves on the scoreboard in the sixth. After Moore got two quick outs, Federowicz and Oscar Tejeda hit back to back doubles to make it 3-1. Mitch Dening then grounded out to end the inning, and the outing for Moore.

Binghamton would pull away with a big eighth inning, as they knocked around reliever Kyle Fernandes. Satin led off with a single and Allan Dykstra followed with a double to put runners in scoring position with no outs. After Dusty Ryan struck out, Fernandes intentionally walked Manriquez to load the bases. Reyes then hit a weak fly ball to Dening in right for the second out, giving Fernandes hope of getting out of the inning unscathed. Maldonado had other thoughts, as he lined a bases-clearing triple past a diving Dening. Fernandes then got Campbell to fly out to prevent any further damage.

The Sea Dogs gave the fans something to cheer about in the bottom of the eighth, even if it was not enough in the end. Chiang led off with a double to left-center, which broke the franchise record for career doubles. It was Chiang's 33rd double of the season, and 68th of his Sea Dogs career. The record was formally held by Brandon Moss. Chiang would be rewarded, scoring 2 batters later on an RBI single by Federowicz.

The Mets would score another run in the seventh for good measure, finishing off a forgettable performance by Fernandes.

With the win Moore evened his record at 7-7. he also lowered his ERA to 3.97 in the process.

Lee took the loss, dropping his record to 1-5. He only threw 52 pitches over his 3 innings, trying to increase his pitch count after spending time in the bullpen.

Save his first inning of work, Tazawa showed further improvement from Tommy John surgery. A perfect example was when he struck out Matt Den Dekker in the seventh inning on 3 pitches, with strike 3 being a filthy off-speed pitch.

The two teams will play the rubber game of the 3-game series tomorrow at noon. Brock Huntzinger is slated to take the mound for the Sea Dogs.

Dogs Claw Back, Beat Cats 10-6

The Sea Dogs looked dead in the water for seven innings. A game-tying double by Mitch Dening changed that, and the Sea Dogs kept going, scoring 8 runs in the 8th inning to rally past the New Britain Rock Cats, 10-6. Chih-Hsien Chiang had two home runs, including a 3-run shot in the 8th to give him a team-high 16 on the season.

Brett Jacobson made the Sea Dogs hitters look foolish until he left with a injury in the fourth inning. Chiang was the only batter to record a hit off the lanky righty, getting a single in the first and his first home run of the game, a 2-run shot, in the fourth. Blake Martin came on in relief of Jacobson and picked up where he left off. Martin pitched 3 1/3 innings of 1-hit ball, with 4 walks and 1 strikeout.

Portland starter Brock Huntzinger looked great at the beginning of the game, retiring the first 7 batters he faced, including 3 straight strikeouts looking to start the game. A solo home run by Deibinson Romero in the third seemed to knock him off his game. He gave up back to back doubles in the fourth, and a home run followed by 3 straight walks in the fifth to end his outing after just 4 2/3 innings. Cesar Cabral came on in relief and allowed a run-scoring walk and a 2-RBI single to give Huntzinger 5 earned runs on the night. That was the end of the New Britain offense on the night, however, leaving open a sliver of hope for the Sea Dogs.

The Sea Dogs managed only 3 hits in the through the first seven innings, swinging at many pitches up in the zone that led to fly outs or strikeouts. They then started to calm down and make the New Britain relievers work for outs. Deolis Guerra hit Will Middlebrooks with one out in the eighth, and then walked Tim Federowicz and Oscar Tejeda back to back to load the bases. Jon Hee then lined a single that ricocheted off Guerra and drove home Middlebrooks. Rock Cats closer Tyler Robertson came on in relief, but couldn't manage to end this game like he did the previous night. Dening stayed patient in his at-bat, staying away from breaking balls in the dirt, and dropped an RBI double into left-center. Ryan Dent then lined a single that landed just inside the 3rd-base line, bringing home 2 more runs, and suddenly Portland was out of the doghouse and in the lead. After Jeremy Hazelbaker ground into a force out, Alex Hassan drew a walk on 4 pitches. Chiang then hit what has become a common sight at Hadlock this season: a towering home run out of the stadium. It gave Chiang 5 RBIs on the night, the first time he has done that as a Sea Dogs, and only the 2nd time in his professional career.

Blake Maxwell came on to pitch the ninth, and made it interesting. He gave up a single and a walk before getting his first out. He then gave up another walk and a sacrifice fly to pull New Britain within 4 runs. he then got Michael Hollimon to ground out to first to end the game, and the comeback was complete. it was a complete 180 degree turn from last night's game, when the Sea Dogs committed 3 errors and lost the game on an error in the eighth.

Eammon Portice picked up the win in relief, while only throwing 7 pitches. he is now 3-4 on the season.

Guerra took the loss, and the Twins prospect is now 5-7 with a 7.49 ERA. Robertson picked up his 6th blown save, a night after getting his 10th save.

Chiang went 3 for 5 with 5 RBIs and 2 runs, and was the Sea Dogs only offense for much of the game. He now has 67 RBIs on the season, and bumped his batting average up to .323.

The Sea Dogs are now 36-55 on the season, and maybe tonight's win will start a late-season surge towards .500.

Stephen Fife will take the mound tomorrow against New Britain righty Bobby Lanigan. Fife will be looking for his team-high 11th win of the year.