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.

Errors Early and Late Cost Sea Dogs in 5-4 Loss

A forgettable first inning got the Sea Dogs in an early hole and a key error in the eighth killed what was an exciting rally as the New Britain Rock Cats beat the Sea Dogs 5-4 in the first game after the All-Star break. Miguel Gonzalez allowed 2 runs on zero hits in the first, and Junichi Tazawa received some shaky defense as he was tiring in the eighth, as those were the tell-tale innings in the loss.

Gonzalez promptly started off the game by hitting Brian Dozier with a pitch. He would then walk the next batter, Chris Herrmann. Joe Benson then grounded into a force out, getting Herrmann out at 2nd, but putting men at the corners. The 2 runners would score 2 batters later as Yangervis Solarte ground out and Sea Dogs shortstop Heiker Meneses threw the ball away to first. Gonzalez got Evan Bigley to strike out to end the madness.

After getting a 1-2-3 inning in the second inning, Gonzalez ran into trouble again in the third. Dozier led off with a walk on a full count, and would steal second with Herrmann up. He would score two batters later as Meneses threw it away again. Chris Parmalee would also score when Solarte doubled down the first-base line.

Tazawa came on in relief of Gonzalez to start the fifth, and looked the best he has since Tommy John Surgery in 2009. He got out 10 of the first 11 batters he faced before hitting a wall in the eighth. He struck out 4 with no walks, making mutiple batters look foolish with a plus curveball. His velocity made it into the low 90's as well, showing Sea Dogs fans and Red Sox brass alike that he is making strides in a big way. However, after getting 1 out in the eighth the wheels came off. He gave up back to back singles to put runners at the corners. He then got Nate Hanson to hit a ground ball to 3B Ryan Khoury, but Khoury threw it over the head of 2B Oscar Tejeda, allowing Solarte to score the winning run. Caleb Clay came on in relief, and after walking the bases loaded to start, got a strikeout and groundout to end the inning.

The Sea Dogs got their offense from a pair of 2-run home runs in the fifth and sixth innings. With two outs in the fifth Meneses reached on an infield single. Jeremy Hazelbaker then drilled his 6th homer for the Sea Dogs off a fourth tier sign in right center.

The next inning Alex Hassan led off with a single. After Chih-Hsien Chiang struck out, Will Middlebrooks hit a game-tying round-tripper into the pavilion seats in right field. It was Middlebrooks' 10th homer of the year at Double-A.

But besides the 2 dingers the Portland offense couldn't finish off any rallies. They had runners stranded in each of the last 3 innings, including 2 men on in the bottom of the ninth.

Steve Hirschfeld pitched well to start the game for New Britain. In 6 innings of work, he gave up 4 runs on 5 hits, with 4 strikeouts and 1 walk. Discounting the 2 homers, he only gave up a single to Khoury in the first.

Andrew Albers picked up the win in relief, his first of the year. He had 2 hits and 2 strikeouts in 2 innings in his first appearance of the year with New Britain.

Tyler Robertson picked up his 10th save of the year, pitching the final inning for the Rock Cats.

Tazawa took the loss for the Sea Dogs. in 3 1/3 innings, he gave up the 1 run on 3 hits. His ERA sits at a even 10.00.

The two teams are back at it tomorrow night for game 2 of the 4-game series. Brock Huntzinger will be on the mound for the Sea Dogs, looking for his 6th win of the year. Brett Jacobson will start for New Britain, looking to improve on his 3-4 record.