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.
Ryan Kalish continues his hot streak as The Portland Sea Dogs beat the New Britain Rock Cats 8 - 4
POST GAME AUDIO
Ryan Kalish
Kyle Weiland
PORTLAND SEA DOGS OFFICIAL GAME WRAP The Portland Sea Dogs (25-23) used six strong innings from Kyle Weiland (1-4) and a five-run fourth inning to defeat the New Britain Rock Cats, 8-4 on Sunday afternoon in front of 6,930 fans at Hadlock Field. Portland has won two straight in the series and 12 of 15 on the season against the Rock Cats.
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
Ryan Kalish comes through yet again for the Portland Sea Dogs with a 2 out double in the 9th to beat the New Britain Rock Cats 4 - 2 Friday Night.
PORTLAND SEA DOGS GAME WRAP UP
The Portland Sea Dogs were down to their final two strikes, as the New Britain Rock Cats could smell the taste of victory. Thanks to Ryan Kalish, that smell was as close as New Britain would get. With two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth, Kalish launched a three-run double, turning a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead for Portland. The Sea Dogs ultimately hung on to win by that score, winning their fourth straight game at New Britain Stadium.
On this night, it was the Rock Cats who started the scoring in the bottom of the first. Ben Revere led off the game with an infield single, and promptly swiped second base with his eighth steal of the season. After back-to-back strikeouts, Juan Portes reached base with a walk, setting the table for Daniel Rams. The New Britain catcher drove an 0-1 offering over Jason Place's head, easily scoring Revere. Portes also tried to score, but didn't make it, thanks to a perfect relay throw from Nate Spears.
The lead didn't last long, as the Sea Dogs scored their first run in the top of the second. Yamaico Navarro started the threat with a one-out walk, and made his way around on back-to-back singles by Juan Apodaca and Chih-Hsien Chiang. Chiang's hit to left field produced the run, giving him ten RBI on the year.
Both starting pitchers got into grooves from there, as Felix Doubront and Tyler Robertson were both on top of their games. Doubront went five and two-third innings for Portland, allowing two runs, six hits, and two walks, while striking out a season-high of nine batters. Robertson was slightly better for New Britain, going six and one-third innings, allowing one run, seven hits, three walks, and three hit batsmen, while striking out five.
The difference between the two starters came in the bottom of the fifth. Steve Singleton led off with a single, and moved to second on Chih-Hsien Chiang's fielding error in left field. The error ended up being meaningless, as Toby Gardenhire walked, two batters later. However, the Rock Cats did take the lead, when Ben Revere launched a run-scoring double off of the right field wall.
New Britain maintained that lead until the ninth. Jason Place started the Sea Dogs' rally with a walk, moved to second on a single by Will Vazquez, and eventually to third, when Nate Spears accepted a free pass. Ray Chang popped up to first base for the second out of the frame, leaving the game in the hands of Ryan Kalish. The Portland center fielder didn't disappoint, clearing the bases with a long double to the right-center field gap. That hit gave the visitors a 4-2 lead.
The Sea Dogs were able to make their comeback, thanks to the spectacular relief effort of Eammon Portice. Portice pitched two and one-third hitless innings, leaving the game after the
eighth. That performance gave Portice (3-1) the win. Santos Arias pitched well in the seventh and eighth for New Britain, but ran into trouble in the ninth, allowing the three runs that gave Portland the win. The loss drops Arias' record to 0-5. Bryce Cox loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but pitched out of it, picking up his fourth save of the season.
The Sea Dogs and Rock Cats will play game two of their three-game series on Saturday night, with an identical starting time of 6:35. Ryne Miller (1-1, 4.30) will make the start for Portland, while New Britain goes with Deolis Guerra (1-1, 3.91).
The Portland Sea Dogs used solid pitching and timly hitting to beat the New Britain Rock Cats 4 - 1 on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon for baseball.
Sea Dogs starter Felix Dubront went 5 2/3 innings allowing only 3 hits and 1 run. Relievers TJ Large and Bryce Cox only gave up 1 hit the rest of the way, finishing the stellar pitching for the Dogs.
Seems there were a few fireworks left over from the Friday Night display, as Sea Dogs Cartcher/DH Luis Exposito seemed to be a target for Rock Cats pitcher Carlos Gutierrez. During Exposito's at bat in the 2nd inning which resulted in a walk, Gutierrez threw behind Exposito 2 times. Exposito stepped back and the 2 exchanded some harsh glances.
Fast forward to the Sea Dogs 6th with 1 on and no out, Gutierrez came up and in and hit Exposito in the arm. Lots of words were exchanged, but order was kept. "I have no idea what happened". Gutierrez and Exposito played in the same area in high school, but Exposito said "we never saw then so it couldn't be (from that)"
Home plate umpire Tim Eastman warned both benches as the time of the play. Sea Dogs manager Arnie Beyeler stuch around a little longer between innings to get clarification on the warning. On his way back to the dugout, Beyeler was tossed by Eastman. When asked what the ejection was for he said "I have no idea, I was on my way back to the dugout."
The Rock Cats and Sea Dogs finish things off tomorrow at 1pm at Hadlock.
PORTLAND SEA DOGS GAME SUMMARY
Nate Spears hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning to snap a 1-1 tie. The Sea Dogs (12-9) would go on to defeat the New Britain Rocks (4-17) 4-1 on Saturday afternoon at Hadlock Field in front of 6,890 fans.
Portland jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. With Luis Exposito on third and Juan Apodaca on first, Yamaico Navarro hit in to a fielders choice, allowing Exposito to cross the plate.
The Rock Cats instantly tied the game back up at 1-1. Toby Gardenhire doubled to start the inning. Leadoff man Ben Revere put a bunt down to Doubront, but a bad throw kept Revere safe. Mark Dolenc hit in to a double play, but it allowed Gardenhire to scamper home.
Things got heated between the two clubs in the bottom of the sixth inning. After being thrown behind twice in an earlier at-bat, Exposito was hit by a Carlos Gutierrez offering which got both dugouts warned. In-between innings, Sea Dogs manager Arnie Beyeler was ejected by Home Plate umpire Tim Eastman.
Spenser Steedley relieved Guiterrez in the seventh inning and Yamaico Navarro led off the inning with a single. After a Che-Hsuan Lin fly out, Chih-Hsien Chiang got a seeing-eye single through the infield and Will Vazquez drew a four-pitch walk to fill the bases. Nate Spears drove a deep fly ball that stayed in the park, but was able to score Navarro, giving the Sea Dogs a 2-1 lead.
Exposito added some insurance for the Sea Dogs in the eighth inning. With Ryan Kalish on first, Exposito ripped a RBI double that gave Portland a 3-1 lead. After a Juan Apodaca ground out moved Exposito to third, Navarro lifted a fly ball deep enough to score Exposito, giving the Sea Dogs a 4-1 lead.
Felix Doubront pitched a wonderful game for the Sea Dogs but did not factor into the decision. In five and two thirds, Doubront gave up only three hits and one earned run. T.J. Large (1-0) picked up the victory in his relief effort of Doubront. Bryce Cox entered the game in the ninth, picking up his third save of the season.
Carlos Gutierrez pitched a gem for the Rock Cats, going six innings, giving up one earned run. Spenser Steedley (1-2) took the loss for New Britain.
The Sea Dogs and Rock Cats finish up the three game series tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 PM. Ryne Miller (1-1) takes the ball for the Sea Dogs, Tyler Robertson (0-1) is on the bump for the 'Cats.
Notes: Prior to the game 140 dogs paraded around the warning track for the fourth annual "Bark in the Park" day, raising money for the Planet Dog Foundation and the Animal Refuge League.
