1B Jon Still (3-for-5, 2 HR, 7 RBI) homered twice and drove in a career-high 7 runs as the Portland Sea Dogs (45-49) blasted the New Britain Rock Cats (49-46) 19-1 in the series opener on Monday night at New Britain Stadium. Portland now trails the Rock Cats by 3.5 games for the second playoff spot in the Eastern League’s Northern Division.
RHP Adam Mills (7-5) won his fifth consecutive start, hurling seven innings on five hits, one run, two walks and five strikeouts. Mills lowered his ERA to 4.78 and is 6-2, 1.87 ERA (11 ER/53 IP) over his last nine starts. New Britain had one runner reach second base against Mills after the first inning.
The Sea Dogs tied a franchise record for most runs scored in one game – they scored 19 against New Britain on May 24, 1997. Still’s 7 RBI total tied a franchise record (Last by Aaron Bates, May 6 vs. New Hampshire) and the 18-run win was the largest margin of victory in a regular season game – Portland won a playoff game 19-1 on September 7, 1995 at New Haven.
New Britain starter RHP Mike McCardell (0-1) was pounded in his debut with the Rock Cats, allowing 11 runs on 11 hits in just 4 IP. The 24-year old righty issued three walks, fanned seven but yielded two home runs.
Portland roughed up McCardell in his first Double-A inning, scoring three times off the righty. CF Josh Reddick (3-for-6, HR, 2 RBI) led off the game with a single, 2B Ryan Khoury (3-for-5, BB, 4 RS) walked and 3B Jorge Jimenez (3-for-5, HR, 4 RBI, 2 2B, 4 RS) launched a 3-run homer (10) over the right-center field wall. New Britain responded with their lone run in first the first off Mills. CF Brandon Roberts doubled and scored on 2B Steve Singleton’s single.
The ‘Dogs scored three more runs in the third, picking up four hits and sending eight men to the plate. Khoury led off the inning with a single, Jimenez doubled and C John Otness (1-for-5, 2 RBI) produced a run-scoring ground out. With two outs, Still laced a run-scoring single and SS Argenis Diaz (2-for-5, RBI, 2B) nailed a double over the left-fielder’s head.
In the fourth inning, Khoury singled, Otness walked, LF Ryan Kalish (2-for-5, HR, 3 RBI) nailed an RBI double and Still smoked a 3-run homer (12) over the left-field wall. Portland scored four in the next frame on Jimenez’s RBI double and Still’s second 3-run homer (13) to left field. LHP Jose Lugo relieved RHP Carlos Gutierrez after one inning and yielded a 2-run homer to CF Josh Reddick (13) in the sixth inning. Reddick and Still both lead the Red Sox organization with 13 homers.
Kalish added the final runs with a 2-run homer (4) in the ninth inning with two outs off RHP Anthony Slama. LHP Andrew Dobies and RHP Chad Rhoades tossed scoreless innings in relief of Mills.
The Sea Dogs and Rock Cats play a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon beginning at 12:05 from New Britain Stadium. LHP Felix Doubront and RHP Blake Maxwell get the starting nods for the Sea Dogs against LHP Ryan Mullins and RHP Frank Mata for New Britain. Catch all the action on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network beginning at 11:35 AM with the Pre-Game Show built by CorrectDeck.
Notes…Still, Bates, Chad Spann and Jeff Bailey are the four players in franchise history to drive in seven runs...The five homers in one game was the most since they blasted five against the Rock Cats on May 23 vs. New Britain…New Britain has been outscored 33-2 in their last two games at New Britain Stadium…The top three batters for Portland: Reddick, Khoury and Jimenez went a combined 9-for-16, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 11 RS.
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