In a game in which Peoria couldn't lose, Ryan Lavarnway at least attempted to provide an edge.
The Red Sox catching prospect hit a three-run homer in the third inning and finished 2-for-4 as his visiting Peoria Javelinas settled for a 4-4, 11-inning tie with the Peoria Saguaros on Thursday afternoon.
"You're always trying for that victory," Lavarnway said. "Ties aren't something we're used to, but we played a good game."
A tie isn't uncommon in the Arizona Fall League, which stipulates knotted games be called after 11 innings. The clutch homer from Lavarnway also wasn't uncommon in 2010 -- the catcher had 22 longballs and 102 RBIs in the regular season between two Minor League levels. His go-ahead shot gave the Javs a 4-1 edge, but Ben Revere (Twins) scored on a fielding error by center fielder Jay Austin (Astros) in the eighth to tie it up for the Sags.
The Portland Sea Dogs, Double-A Eastern League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, have announced their 2011 schedule. The Sea Dogs will open the 2011 season at home on Thursday, April 7th at 6:00 PM at Hadlock Field against the Reading Phillies. Individual tickets for the 2011 season will go on sale on Saturday, November 6th at 9:00 AM at the Hadlock Field Ticket Office.
The Eastern League season consists of 142 games (71 home and 71 away) against 11 opponents. The 2011 season will be the Sea Dogs 18th year in Portland and ninth as a Boston Red Sox affiliate.
Highlighting the 2011 schedule will be ten home games against the Trenton Thunder, Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. Additionally, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays), the Sea Dogs neighbor to the south will make three trips to Hadlock Field in 2011 for a total of 12 games.
The Sea Dogs will be home on Mother’s Day (May 8th at 1:00 PM), Memorial Day (May 30th at 1:00 PM), and Labor Day (September 5th at 1:00 PM). Although the Sea Dogs will not be home on the Fourth of July, the Sea Dogs are home on Sunday, July 3rd at 6:00 PM; a game that will feature Fireworks.
Standard game times this year will remain the same. April and May weekday games will begin at 6:00 PM, while weekend games will be at 1:00 PM. In June, July, and August weekday games will start at 7:00 PM, Saturday’s at 6:00 PM, and Sunday’s at 1:00 PM. In addition, the Sea Dogs will play six games at 12:00 noon on weekdays; April 28th, May 19th, June 29th, July 20th, August 11th and August 24th.
Congratulations to Nate Spears, Hadlock Headlines 2010 Portland Sea Dogs Player of the Year.
Nate's 2010 campaign showed he absolutely belongs in the Red Sox system. His consistency both in the field and at the plate gave his team a better chance to win night in, night out. Nate scored his 100th and 101st runs on Sunday, making him the 3rd player in Portland Sea Dogs history to score over 100 runs.
It has been a privilege to cover Nate the entire season, treating us and everyone at the park with the utmost respect. Here is to hoping Nate gets a shot at the next level, his performance this season sure warrants it.
CMSB Media proudly awards Nate Spears its inaugural Hadlock Headlines Portland Sea Dogs Player of the Year.
OFFICIAL SEA DOGS GAME WRAP
For the past month and a half, Blake Maxwell has been one of the best pitchers on Portland's staff. On Saturday night, he continued to pitch well, allowing two runs on five hits in five and two-thirds innings, as the Sea Dogs picked up a 5-2 win at MerchantsAuto.com Stadium.
Both starting pitchers were tremendous, keeping the game scoreless through the first five innings of play. Kyle Drabek went those five innings for the Fisher Cats, allowing one hit and four walks, while striking out four.
Once New Hampshire went to the bullpen, the Sea Dogs' offense came to life. With David Purcey in the game, Chih-Hsien Chiang and Nate Spears started the sixth inning with consecutive singles. After a pair of
RECENT CALL UP RYAN LAVARNWAY (PHOTO BY KELLY O'CONNOR)
OFFICIAL PORTLAND SEA DOGS GAME WRAP The New Britain Rock Cats started the four-game series with back-to-back wins, but the last two games belonged to the Portland Sea Dogs. After an 11-3 win on Saturday, the Sea Dogs used six scoreless innings from Stephen Fife, salvaging the split at New Britain Stadium with a 4-2 win on Sunday afternoon.
After three scoreless frames, the Sea Dogs broke through in the top of the fourth. With two outs, Anthony Rizzo sent a towering fly ball down the right field line. The only question was whether it would land fair, which it did, giving Rizzo his tenth home run in Double-A.
The Portland Sea Dogs got off to a tremendous start on Saturday night, scoring six runs on seven hits in the first inning for a 6-0 lead over the Rock Cats. That offensive support was helpful for Alex Wilson, who earned his second win of the season, allowing two runs on six hits in six and one-third innings. With that, the Sea Dogs picked up their first win after the all-star break, smoking New Britain, 11-3.
After two straight tough losses, the Sea Dogs wanted to make sure they got off to a good start. Che-Hsuan Lin and Jeremy Hermida helped that cause with back-to-back hits, putting Portland ahead 1-0. Two batters later, Anthony Rizzo contributed an RBI double, driving in Hermida. As the inning continued, so did the Sea Dogs' bats, as Ryan Lavarnway, Jorge Padron, and Chih-Hsien Chiang all had run producing hits. When all was said and done in the top of the first, the visitors sent eleven men to the plate, scoring six times on seven hits.
OFFICIAL PORTLAND SEA DOGS GAME WRAP Manny Delcarmen started Thursday night's game with a perfect first inning for the Sea Dogs, but it was New Britain starter Tyler Robertson who stole the headlines. Robertson pitched six scoreless innings for his second win of the season, as the Rock Cats blanked Portland 3-0 in the series opener at New Britain Stadium. The big news entering the game for the Sea Dogs was rehab assignments, as Manny Delcarmen and Jeremy Hermida were both assigned to Portland from the parent Red Sox. Delcarmen's stint didn't last long, as he needed just nine pitches (six strikes) to send the Rock Cats down in order in the bottom of the first. The second batter of the inning was Alexi Casilla, who went 1-for-3 with a walk in his first rehab game with New Britain.
Nate Spears continues to have a great season for the Portland Sea Dogs and his 10 RBI, 1 triple and 3 HRs led the way this week. Congrats to a great guy, Nate Spears!
Two Portland Sea Dogs players played prominent roles for the Eastern Squad in the Eastern League All Star Game held in Harrisburg Wednesday night. Nate Spears delivered the 1st runs for the East squad with a double in the 3rd to plate Reading's Matthew Rizzotti.
Ray Chang went 2 for 4 and scored a run in the Eastern squads 10 - 3 loss to the West squad. Sea Dogs pitcher Jason Rice pitched a scoreless 8th for the East.
OFFICIAL PORTLAND SEA DOGS GAME RECAP
The Portland Sea Dogs erased a 2-0 deficit with a three-run fifth inning, but the Binghamton Mets answered with a large rally of their own. Mike Nickeas' two-run home blast capped a five-run inning, as the Mets came back to even the series with a 9-3 win at NYSEG Stadium.
For the third time in four games, the Mets drew first blood in the bottom of the first. Kirk Nieuwenhuis led off the night with a double, moved to third on a ground ball by Sean Ratliff, and scored when Nick Evans grounded into a double play. Nieuwenhuis continued his strong night at the plate in the the third, as he smacked a solo home run to right field.
Expo had another great week at the plate, hitting .381 boosting his average to date to .260. With V-Mart maybe down for a bit..is there a chance Expo gets a call?
Luis Exposito takes home Hadlock Headlines Player of the Week for week 10.
CLICK PHOTO FOR SLIDESHOW BY MR SPARKY AMERICAS ON TIME ELECTRICIAN
Alex Wilson had a rough AA debut tonight in Portland. He allowed 7 runs in 3 innings, but there is no doubt he has plus stuff. No doubt he just need some innings at this level to even things out.
OFFICIAL PORTLAND SEA DOGS GAME WRAP
The Erie SeaWolves snapped an eight game slide by defeating the Portland Sea Dogs 9-3 Wednesday night at Hadlock Field. The Sea Dogs suffer their first loss of the season to Erie and drop to 34-30 on the season.
Erie collected 15 hits and blasted three home runs as they cruised to a 9-3 victory.
The SeaWolves wasted no time spoiling the Double-A debut of Portland starter Alex Wilson scoring three runs in the top of the first inning highlighted by a two run homer by Cale Iorg.
Anyone in Manchester New Hampshire tonight were treated to a dream prospect match-up. The Portland Sea Dogs Casey Kelly and Fisher Cats Kyle Drabek hooked up and didn't disappoint. Unfortunately the Sea Dogs came up on the short end of the stick, losing to the Fisher Cats 5 - 0.
PORTLAND SEA DOGS OFFICIAL GAME WRAP
For the first three games of the series, Adam Calderone has left the Portland Sea Dogs with nightmares. After five RBI in the first two games, Calderone added three more on Saturday night, including a solo home run. Kyle Drabek made those runs stand up, pitching seven scoreless innings, as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats blanked Portland, 5-0, at Merchantsauto.com Stadium.
The story entering the game was the fantastic pitching match-up, featuring Portland's Casey Kelly and New Hampshire's Kyle Drabek. Both starters began with pairs of scoreless innings, before the Fisher Cats scored first in the bottom of the third. Jonathan Diaz and Brian Jeroloman started the rally, receiving back-to-back walks. After Darin Mastroianni's sacrifice bunt, Adam Calderone singled to center, driving in Diaz.
That run was the lone blemish on Kelly's line, as the Sea Dogs' starter allowed just two hits and three walks, while striking out six, in four and two-thirds innings. Kelly's final batter of the night was Mastroianni, who went down on strikes. Tommy Hottovy replaced Kelly on the hill, and was greeted rudely by New Hampshire's hottest hitter. Adam Calderone picked up his second RBI of the night, hitting a solo home run to right-center field.
Two innings later, the Fisher Cats extended their lead. Jonathan Diaz led off the frame with a walk, and advanced all the way to third base on Brian Jeroloman's single to right. Two batters later, Adam Calderone stepped to the plate, and continued his strong night at the plate, singling to right, scoring Diaz. Eric Thames loaded the bases with yet another single, ending Hottovy's outing. Bryce Cox took over for Hottovy, and immediately allowed a two-run double to Brad Emaus. However, that was the only hit allowed by Cox in the seventh, as New Hampshire took a 5-0 lead.
When the top of the eighth inning began, Trystan Magnuson took the mound, putting an end to Kyle Drabek's outing. Drabek was as good as advertised, tossing seven scoreless frames, allowing six hits, while striking out four.
Magnuson completed the shutout, keeping Portland off of the scoreboard in the eighth and ninth innings.
The Sea Dogs and Fisher Cats will play the final game of the four-game series on Sunday afternoon at 1:35. Stephen Fife (2-1, 3.26) will make the start for Portland, while New Hampshire counters with Randy Boone (1-2, 2.70).
POST GAME HIGHLIGHTS COURTESY CELLULAR ONE RADIO NETWORK
Stephen Fife went 6 solid shutout innings, leaving the game with a 7 - 0 lead. He allowed 7 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks and 6 strike outs. Fife's ERA dropped to 3.26. Eammon Portice allowed the only 2 runs the Mets would get, and Jason Rice closed the game for the Sea Dogs win.
Jose Iglesias has developed into the offensive star of the team, going 3 - 5 with 5 RBIs. Iglesias is now hitting .326. Iglesias also was a wizard with the glove Ryan Kalish hit his team leading 5th home run off Mets pitcher Scott Shaw.
PORTLAND SEA DOGS WRAP UP
Stephen Fife (2-1) hurled six scoreless innings and Jose Iglesias drove in a career-high 5 runs as the Portland Sea Dogs (18-12) thrashed the Binghamton Mets (19-13), 7-2 on Tuesday night at Hadlock Field in front of 3,462.
Casey Kelly admittedly left one fastball up and Mets power hitter Zach Lutz made him pay with a 2nd inning HR over the Maine Monster. Kelly pitched effectively again with his fastball touching 94 MPH on the radar gun. He had a season high 7 strike outs, allowed 3 earned runs and threw 82 pitches, 47 which were strikes.
Santo Luis relieved Kelly and promptly gave up 4 runs in the 6th inning.
Youngster Jose Iglasias had his best night at the plate going 4 - 4 including his 8th double of the season.
PORTLAND SEA DOGS OFFICIAL GAME WRAP UP
Casey Kelly struck out a season high seven batters and Jose Iglesias collected four hits but the Binghamton Mets (17-12) defeated the Portland Sea Dogs (19-12) 7-5 Monday night at Hadlock Field in front of 5.039 fans. The loss snapped the Sea Dogs four game win streak.
The Mets scored four times in the top of the sixth inning off Sea Dogs reliever Santo Luis. Jose Coronado and Kirk Nieuwenhuis each chipped it with a two run double. The four run inning put the B-Mets up 7-4 and Binghamton never looked back. Coronado was the offensive leader for the Mets with a 2-for-3 performance with 3 RBI, a run scored and a walk.
Luis (1-1) suffered the loss for Portland allowing four hits on four runs in one inning of relief.
The Sea Dogs took a brief 4-3 lead after scoring three times in the fifth inning led by a RBI single by Ryan Kalish and sacrifice flies by Luis Exposito and Jose Iglesias.
Iglesias had his best offensive night as a professional, collecting a career high four hits and driving in a run. Iglesias raised his average to a team high .308.
Zach Lutz got the scoring started for Binghamton leading off the second with a home run of Portland starter Casey Kelly. Kelly tossed five innings for the Sea Dogs surrendering three runs on five hits. He struck out a season high seven.
Tommy Hottovy held the Mets scoreless over the final three innings.
Despite allowing four runs on four hits in 1.1 innings, Clint Everts (2-0) earns the win for Binghamton. Jose De La Torre picked-up his second save of the season.
The Portland Sea Dogs and Binghamton Mets will continue their series Tuesday night at 6:00 PM at Hadlock Field. Right-handed pitcher Stephen Fife (1-1, 4.07) will be on the mound for Portland. He will be opposed by Binghamton righty Scott Shaw (4-0, 7.06). The first 1,000 fans through the Hadlock Field gate will receive a Daisuke Matsuzaka bobblehead doll, made possible by U.S. Cellular.
POST GAME INTERVIEWS
Casey Kelly
Anthony Rizzo
Arnie Beyeler
GAME HIGHLIGHTS COURTESY US CELLULAR RADIO NETWORK
Nate Spears continues to be nothing but consistent hitting .455 with 10 hits in 6 games. Unfortunately Luis Exposito was a close 2nd yet again with a .364 AVG, 3 RBIs and 5 walks.
WEILAND 1 HITS THROUGH 6 (PHOTO KEVIN PATAKY/MILB.COM)
PORTLAND SEA DOGS GAME RECAP
For the last two days, Chih-Hsien Chiang has defined the word "clutch." After a two-run double in the ninth inning on Saturday, Chiang was the hero again on Sunday. The left fielder drove in both of Portland's runs, as the Sea Dogs completed a three-game sweep of the Rock Cats, with a 2-1 win at New Britain Stadium.
For most of the day, the story of the game was the pitching of Sea Dogs' starter Kyle Weiland. Because of his pitch count, Weiland was limited to just five innings. However, those five innings could not have been much better, as Weiland struck out four, while not allowing a single baserunner.
New Britain starter Mike McCardell also had a nice day on the hill, allowing one run, four hits, and three walks, while striking out four, in six innings of work. McCardell's only blemish of the afternoon came in the top of the fourth. After Yamaico Navarro struck out, Jose Iglesias singled up the middle. Three pitches later, Chih-Hsien Chiang picked up his fourth RBI of the series, doubling to the right-center field gap.
Robert Coello took over for Weiland, and kept the perfect game going through the sixth inning. However, in the bottom of the seventh, the perfection came to an end, and so did Portland's lead. Ben Revere was hit by the second pitch of the frame, and promptly stole second base. Estarlin De Los Santos bunted Revere to third for the first out. After a walk by Steve Singleton, Coello struck out Rene Tosoni for the second out of the inning. Unfortunately for Coello, he was unable to wiggle out of the jam, allowing an RBI single to Juan Portes.
The tie game didn't last long, as the Sea Dogs quickly regained the lead in the top of the eighth. Ray Chang led off with a single, moved to second on a walk by Luis Exposito, and eventually to third on a bunt by Yamaico Navarro. Jose Iglesias' ground ball to third prevented Chang from scoring, but Exposito had little trouble coming around, as Chih-Hsien Chiang drew a bases loaded walk against reliever Chris Province. Portland's go-ahead run was charged to Henry Arias (0-1), who suffered his first loss in Double-A.
Despite allowing the tying run, Robert Coello (4-1) earned the win for the Sea Dogs. Coello pitched three innings, giving up one run, one hit, two walks, and one hit batsman, while striking out three. Bryce Cox pitched a scoreless ninth, recording his fifth save of the season.
On Monday night, the Sea Dogs will begin a three game series against the Binghamton Mets at Hadlock Field. Casey Kelly (0-2, 2.87) will make the start for Portland, opposed by Binghamton's Brad Holt (0-2, 18.69). First pitch is scheduled for 6:00.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS COURTESY US CELLULAR RADIO NETWORK
A much better day a Hadlock. The sun is shining and the wind is blowing out! Could be a big night for the bats!
Casey Kelly Pitch Breakdown
1ST INNING
1st Batter - KL, B, IP - 1-3 1 out
2nd Batter - IP - E6
3rd Batter - B, B, IP - F8 2 out
4th Batter - B, POA, POA - Pick Off 3 outs
2ND INNING
5th Batter - K, B, IP - Double
6th Batter - KFB bunt, IP - F7 1 out
7th Batter - IP - 6 - 3 2 outs
8th Batter - IP - 5 - 3 3 - outs
3RD INNING
9th Batter - KL, KL, KS 1 out
10th Batter - B, FB, FB, IP 1 - 3 2 outs
11th Batter - K, B, B, B, B
12th Batter - B, FB, B, IP 3UA 3 outs
4TH INNING
13th Batter - KL, B, KS, B, FB, IP Double to Left
14th Batter - B, KS, POA, FB, B, IP E6
15th Batter - B, FB, B, B, B
16th Batter - KS, IP SAC - 7 1 out
17th Batter - IP Single
18th Batter - FB, B, KS, FB, FB, KS 2 out
19th Batter - IP F8 3 outs Batter
5TH INNING
20th Batter - KS, FB, B, B, FB, KS 1 out
21st Batter - KL, B, B, KS, FB, KS 2 out
22nd Batter - B, KL, IP HR (Brown) 390 CF Score 2 -1 Phils
23rd Batter - B, IP PO8 3 outs
The name of the game Wednesday at Hadlock was starting pitching as Red Sox prospect Casey Kelly went 5, his longest stint of the year so far, allowing 2 runs, 1 earned. Phillies starter Drew Naylor allowed only 1 run in 7 strong innings.
Kelly had a good mix of fastball and off speed pitches, especially his curve, which ended 2 at bats on looking strikes.
Naylor matched pitch for pitch and then some only allowing only 1 run over 7 innings. The Sea Dogs lone run came on a ground out to short by Luis Exposito plating Juan Apodaca. Exposito continues his hot hitting, going 2 - 4 with a double.
The Dogs best chance came in the 8th when they got 2 men on, including Ryan Kalish extending his on base streak to 15 games. With 2 outs. Luis Exposito worked the count, but got fooled on a great slider by Phillies reliever Matt German for the strikeout.
The Dogs and Phils finish off what was to be a 4 game series tomorrow at noon at Hadlock.
JEFF SCHOOLS HADLOCK HEADLINES/CMSB MEDIA
PORTLAND SEA DOGS OFFICIAL GAME RECAP
Drew Naylor and the Reading bullpen provided the pitching, and Domonic Brown provided the pop, as the Phillies held on for a 2-1 win over the Portland Sea Dogs on Wednesday night at Hadlock Field.
Naylor (2-3) turned in a seven-inning gem to earn the win for Reading, surrendering one run on six hits and a walk, while striking out six. The Reading starter pitched around four doubles - two from both Ray Chang and Luis Exposito, including back-to-back doubles to lead off the fourth, without allowing a run to score.
Despite picking up the loss, Portland starter Casey Kelly (0-2) enjoyed his longest outing of the season, going five innings. Kelly relinquished just four hits, two walks, and two runs (one earned), however he departed on the hook, as the Sea Dogs’ offense could only muster one run against Naylor.
Domonic Brown was a large thorn in Kelly’s side, hitting a double and a home run in three at-bats against the 20-year old righty. Brown would also score on Brandon Pinckney’s sac fly in the fourth to account for both of Kelly’s runs.
Brown’s fifth inning home run proved to be the difference, as it gave the Phillies a 2-1 lead. His run in the fourth was made possible by some shaky defensive work from the usually sure-handed Jose Iglesias, who uncharacteristically committed two of Portland’s three errors on the night.
The Sea Dogs’ lone run came in the first inning, when Juan Apodaca came in to score on Luis Exposito’s ground out to short. Exposito would end the night two-for-four, extending his hitting streak to five games (9-18, .500).
Robert Coello continued his strong start to the season for Portland, tossing three innings of scoreless baseball, allowing two hits and striking out four, in relief of Kelly. The four-strikeout performance is his sixth consecutive outing with at least two punch-outs (20 strikeouts overall in that span).
The Reading bullpen proved to be just as lights out as Naylor. A brief third of an inning out of Matt German bridged the gap to Michael Schwimer, who went the final inning and two-thirds to pick up his third save of the season.
The Sea Dogs will look to salvage the final game of this series, while finishing with a winning homestand, as they play a 12:00 game against the Phillies on Thursday at Hadlock Field. Stephen Fife (1-1, 2.66) takes the ball for Portland, against Reading’s Vance Worley (1-2, 5.40 ERA).
Notes: Ryan Kalish pinch hit for Juan Apodaca in the eighth, and singled, to reach base safely for his 15thconsecutive game….Bryce Cox struck out two in a scoreless ninth, as Portland pitching combined for ten strikeouts…….the paid attendance for tonight’s game was 3,643.
POSTGAME INTERVIEWS
CASEY KELLY
ARNIE BEYELER
COACH ALEX OCHOA
GAME HIGHLIGHTS COURTESY US CELLULAR RADIO NETWORK
Yes Charlie Brown, there is no game today. The game has been postponed due to weather. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader June 5. All starters are bumped a day, so tomorrows matchup will be Casey Kelly for the Sea Dogs and Drew Nayler for the Phils. Pitching Thursday for the Sea Dogs is Steven Fife and for the Phillies Vance Worley.
See you at the park tomorrow!
The view from Hadlock as we speak, possible delay. Stay here and see what’s going on.
