The Portland Sea Dogs return home tonight after and long road trip, and bring a much anticipated player with them.
Jose Iglesias has been out since May 29th, when he took a fastball off the wrist in a game against the New Britain Rock Cats. Iglesias was diagnosed with a deep bone bruise and slight fracture.
Iglesias has worked with the Sea Dogs throughout most of his stint on the injured list, taking ground balls with his glove hand. Jose regularly made crazy, backhanded plays while flipping the ball to various 2nd baseman.
Iglesias started a rehab stint with the Lowell Spinners a couple weeks ago, finishing with a .350 average.
Iglesias has been a pleasant surprise at the plate, leading the Sea Dogs in hitting when he got injured.
Make sure to head down to Hadlock to see Iglesias and the rest of the Sea Dogs, as they take on the Altoona Curve at 7PM. Good seats still available as hurler Alex Wilson takes the bump for the Sea Dogs, while Tony Wilson (4 - 2, 2.81 ERA) goes for Altoona.
Kyle Weiland overcame a couple early long balls to hold the Senators to 4 runs on 5 hits. Weiland gets his 4th win.
PORTLAND SEA DOGS OFFICIAL GAME WRAP
The Portland Sea Dogs (39-38) collected six doubles as they defeated the Harrisburg Senators 7-4 on Wednesday evening at Hadlock Field in front of 5,555 fans.
Down 3-2 in the fifth inning, the Sea Dogs had six consecutive batters reach base as they put up a four spot to grab a 6-3 lead. Luis Exposito, Anthony Rizzo, and Yamaico Navarro all contributed with RBI doubles in the inning.
The Sea Dogs scored six of their seven runs off the Washington Nationals Opening Day starter from 2010 and 2009, John Lannan. Lannan (1-1) suffered the loss, surrendering six runs on ten hits (six for extra bases) in six innings on the mound.
Kyle Weiland (4-5) picks-up the winning yielding four runs on four hits in five innings of work. Weiland struck out the side in the first and finished the evening with six punchouts.
Jason Rice pitched the ninth earning his ninth save of the year. Santo Luis picked-up a hold tossing three innings of scoreless relief. Luis has only yielded on run in his last 11 outings.
Harrisburg got off to the early lead in the second with a Edgardo Baez two-out two-run double scoring Marvin Lowrance and Jesus Valdez giving the Senators a 2-0 lead. Brad Coon led off the third with a home run extending the lead to 3-0.
Ray Chang collected his team leading 21st double in the third to get the scoring started for Portland. Exposito followed with a single scoring Chang bringing the Sea Dogs within a run 3-2.
The six doubles ties a season high for the Sea Dogs. Chang (2-for-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI, HBP) raised his team leading batting average to .304. Exposito (2-for-3, 2B, 3 RBI, BB) increased his team high RBI total to 56. Nate Spears earned his Eastern League leading 54th walk in the win.
The Sea Dogs travel to Binghamton, New York for a four day/ five game weekend series against the Mets starting Thursday night at 6:35 PM. Casey Kelly (1-3, 5.05) gets the start at NYSEG Stadium for the Sea Dogs. Lefty Mark Cohoon (1-0, 7.94) will be on the mound for the BMets. The Sea Dogs will return to Hadlock Field for an eight game homestand on Monday, July 5th at 6:00 PM, a post-game fireworks show is scheduled for July 5th.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS COURTESY US CELLULAR SEA DOGS RADIO NETWORK
Jose Iglesias takes Hadlock Headlines Player of the Week for week ending May 16th. While Jose slowed at the plate at the end of the week, his opening run of 7-9 in the first two games of the week proved to be the difference.
Offense was not the only reason for the win, as Jose made spectacular play after spectacular play this week.
Highlight of the week by far was Tuesday when Binghamton power hitter Zach Lutz came to the plate. Lutz scorched a ball to the hole that looked like both Yamaico Navarro and Iglesias would miss. Somehow Navarro got the tip of his glove on the ball, changing its directon. Iglesias strecthed, got the ball, twirled and in one motion fired a strike to Nate Spears at 2nd for the force out. The press box all said "WOW" and looked at each other as if to say..did we see that?
Red Sox fans need to remember this is a 20 year old kid who needs some grooming. This is his first venture into pro baseball, so Jose has a long road. If early returns are any indications, Jose will make Sox fans forget the revolving door at shortstop over the last 6 seasons. Please don't missing seeing this special kid, get to Hadlock!
