Dogs Rally Falls Short

1B Ike Davis blasted a game-winning, 2-run homer in the 7th inning off losing pitcher LHP Tommy Hottovy (0-2) as the Binghamton Mets (49-79) defeated the Portland Sea Dogs (61-67) 3-2 on Wednesday night at NYSEG Stadium.

Mets starter LHP Mike Antonini (7-3) tossed seven strong innings on seven hits and two runs to earn the win. The lefty fanned three, walked three and beat Portland for the second time this season.

In the ninth inning, C Luis Exposito lined a one-out single to right field, knocking reliever LHP Roydrick Merritt out of the game. RHP Jose De La Torre issued back-to-back walks but retired 3B Iggy Suarez (strikeout) and LF Daniel Nava (ground out) to end the game. De La Torre picked up his first save in four opportunities.

Hottovy worked a perfect sixth inning but allowed a single to 3B Shawn Bowman and the homer to Davis to start the seventh. RHP Chris Province closed out the game with 1.1 scoreless innings.

RHP Ryne Miller made his professional start and fired five strong innings on two hits, one unearned run, one free-pass but fanned eight. Miller recorded a strikeout to end all five innings he pitched, retiring the final seven batters faced.

The B-Mets grabbed a 1-0 lead with an unearned run off Miller in the second inning. LF DJ Wabick reached on an infield single and advanced to second base on a passed ball. DH Salvador Paniagua hit a slow roller towards the middle which was fielding by SS Yamaico Navarro but a throwing error enabled Paniagua to reach. SS Jose Coronado laced the first pitch to left field for a sac-fly, scoring Wabick.

Portland tied the game in the next half inning off Antonini. Nava singled and move to third base on a double by RF Ryan Kalish. 3B Jorge Jimenez tied the game with a sacrifice fly to left field. 2B Ryan Khoury snapped a 1-1 tie with a run-scoring single to left-center field in sixth inning, scoring Kalish, who doubled with one out.

Wabick left the game with an injury but Jonathan Malo made three outstanding catches in left field, including a leaping grab over the wall in the fifth inning to rob Navarro of a homer.

Portland and Binghamton meet for the final time in 2009 on Thursday night beginning at 6:30 PM from NYSEG Stadium. Catch all the action on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network beginning at 6:00 PM with the Pre-Game Show built by CorrectDeck.

Notes…Miller made his first professional start in his 79th appearance of his career...Nava went 2-for-5 and has 3 consecutive multi-hit games…The Sea Dogs need to win their final six road games to finish .500 overall for the season…Kalish had two doubles after going 0-for-5 in the series opener…Portland and Binghamton will play a rubber game tomorrow night – the ‘Dogs are 2-7 in rubber games.

Sea Dogs Top Mets in Series Finale

C Mark Wagner’s 2-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning was Portland’s (27-26) lone hit as they rallied back to beat the Binghamton Mets (22-29) 3-2 on Thursday afternoon at Hadlock Field. The Sea Dogs were hitless for 7.1 innings until Wagner’s hit off losing pitcher RHP Julio De La Cruz (0-3). RF Reid Engel and CF Bubba Bell both walked and scored the tying and go-ahead runs for the ‘Dogs.

RHP T.J. Large (2-0) yielded 2 hits, fanned two over 1.2 IP and earned the win for Portland. De La Cruz suffered the loss for the second consecutive day, allowing 5 runs over 1.1 IP in the final two games of the series. The Sea Dogs, who took 3 of 4 from Binghamton, received six strong innings from starter RHP Adam Mills. The righty scattered three hits, one run, one walk, fanned three and retired 16 of 17 to start the game (15 straight after a 1st inning single). CF Emmanuel Garcia blasted a solo-homer off Mills in the sixth inning to tie the game at one.

RHP Eric Brown made the spot start for RHP Dylan Owen, who was demoted to High-A St. Lucie and hurled 7 hitless innings on three walks and five strikeouts. Brown allowed a first inning run on a sacrifice fly by LF Aaron Bates. The run was unearned due to a throwing error by C Salvador Paniagua on Bell’s steal of second base.

Binghamton took a 2-1 lead in the eighth inning with a 2-out run that was charged to RHP Richie Lentz (1.1 IP, H, R, BB, 4 SO). LF Nick Evans’ RBI single scored SS Jose Coronado. The hit came off Large, who allowed one of two inherited runners to score.

Portland has matched their season-high win streak at three and hosts the Trenton Thunder (Yankees affiliate) on Friday night beginning at 7:00 PM. Catch all the action on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network beginning at 6:35 PM with the CorrectDeck Pre-Game Show.

Notes…Bates’ 7-game hitting streak was snapped but he picked up his 38th RBI of the season (most in the Red Sox system)…Mills picked up his 2nd quality start of the season – his first at Hadlock Field…Portland was trailing in all three wins in the series – they led 8-4 in the opener but lost 10-8…Large’s ERA dropped 1.01 – the best among relievers in the Red Sox system.

Courtesy Portland Sea Dogs

TAZAWA SHUTS DOWN METS. DOGS WIN 3 - 2

Tazawa shines again (COURTESY TRENTON THUNDER.COM)

RHP Junichi Tazawa (6-3) worked a season-high 7 IP and C Mark Wagner drove in two runs as Portland (25-26) ended a 2-game losing streak at Hadlock Field, beating the Binghamton Mets (22-27) 3-2 on Tuesday night in just 2 hours and 39 minutes. RHP T.J. Large recorded his 4th save of the season by striking out 3B Jake Eigsti to end the game with the tying run at second base.

Tazawa and Binghamton starter RHP Tobi Stoner (1-2) each hurled four perfect frames before the Mets scored the games first run in the top of the fifth inning on a lead-off homer by LF Lucas Duda. Stoner, who suffered the loss, yielded 5 hitless innings (one walk) but surrendered a 3-spot in the sixth inning. SS Argenis Diaz led off the frame with a walk, RF Reid Engel singled and both advanced 90 feet on a sac-bunt by 2B Ryan Khoury. Wagner gave Portland the lead for good with a 2-run double down the left-field line. After 3B Jorge Jimenez flied out, LF Aaron Bates (2-for-4) smacked a run-scoring double to straight away center field, proving to the be the game-winning RBI.

Binghamton scored their final run of the night in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly by DH D.J. Wabick. Tazawa yielded five hits, two runs, no walks and fanned three. RHP Richie Lentz worked around a lead-off walk in the eighth inning to earn his 3rd hold of the season. Lentz fanned two and hit 95 mph on the Hadlock Field radar gun.

The Sea Dogs send RHP Ryne Lawson to the hill on Wednesday night against Binghamton RHP Ryan Coultas in a 6:00 PM start at Hadlock Field. Catch all the action on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network beginning at 5:35 PM with the CorrectDeck Pre-Game Show.

Notes: Bates picked up his 5th multi-hit game in his last six starts. Diaz extended his hitting streak to eight straight but Khoury had his hit streak snapped at nine. Tazawa improved his organization leading strikeout total to 57. Engel returned to the lineup and went 1-for-2, BB and a run scored. LHP Roydrick Merritt worked 1.1 scoreless frames for the B-Mets.

Sea Dogs Fall to Mets

CMSB Photo Courtesy Pierre's of Exchange ST

The Binghamton Mets (13-12) scored six times off RHP Blake Maxwell (0-2) and beat the Portland Sea Dogs 9-7 on Thursday night at NYSEG Stadium.The Sea Dogs (13-13) trailed 9-1 after seven innings but scored six times in the eighth inning off the Mets’ bullpen. In the ninth, Portland had two on with one out but RHP Julio De La Cruz escaped the jam to notch his second save of the year (both in the series). Portland split their 4-game series in Binghamton and finished the week long trip at 4-3.

LHP Mike Antonini (4-1) earned the win by tossing 6.2 innings on four hits, one run, two walks and six strikeouts. Maxwell was touched for six runs on eight hits in 5 IP to suffer his second loss of the roadtrip.

In the ninth inning 1B Lars Anderson and LF Aaron Bates singled. De La Cruz induced a fly out to 1B Jon Still and got C Juan Apodaca to hit into a game-ending fielder’s choice.The ‘Dogs had 4 run-scoring hits and sent 10 men to the plate during their rally in the eighth.

With one out, Anderson (1-for-5) reached on a dropped pop-up by LHP Edgar Alfonzo (.2 IP, 4 R, 3 ER), setting up Bates (4-for-5, 2 RBI) for an RBI single. Still (1-for-5, 2 RBI) smacked a two run double, cutting the deficit to 9-4.

Apodaca (2-for-5) followed with a single and RF Reid Engel (1-for-4, RBI) lined a run-scoring single to left field. SS Zach Borowiak walked to load the bases and chase RHP Nick Abel (2 H, 2 R) out of the game. 2B Ryan Khoury (2-for-4, 2 RBI) blooped a 2-run double down the left-field line, on the play, Borowiak was thrown out at home by 3B Shawn Bowman. Bates, who picked up his second 4-hit game of the season, gave the Sea Dogs a 1-0 lead in the first with a double.

Binghamton scored the next nine runs, taking a 2-1 lead in the second inning on DH D.J. Wabick’s 2-run homer (first in Double-A). The B-Mets added three runs in the third inning on a 2-run double by DH Lucas Duda (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and a run-scoring single by Bowman (3-for-4, RBI). C Josh Thole (1-for-3) added an RBI single in Maxwell’s final inning. RHP Justin Hedrick yielded three runs in 1.2 IP on three hits and RHP Chad Rhoades gave up one run in 2 IP.

Apodaca, Bates and Khoury each had multiple-hit games for the Sea Dogs, who improved their league-leading average to .279.

Portland opens up a 3-game series at Hadlock Field on Friday night with the New Britain Rock Cats beginning at 7:00 PM. RHP Adam Mills (1-1, 6.20) will take the mound against RHP Jay Rainville (1-1, 2.74). Tickets for Sea Dogs Baseball can be purchased at www.seadogs.com or by calling (207) 874-9300.

Notes…The Sea Dogs finished 18-for-45 (.400) with runners-in-scoring position in the series, the B-Mets were 14-for-60 (.233)…16 of 18 starters reached base safely…Bates has reached base safely in 17 straight games, currently the longest streak in the Eastern League.

Recap here

Courtesy Portland Sea Dogs

TAZAWA SHINES IN SEA DOGS 4 - 3 OVER METS

RHP Junichi Tazawa (3-2) scattered five hits, one run over 6 IP and LF Aaron Bates knocked in two runs as the Portland Sea Dogs (13-12) held on to beat the Binghamton Mets (12-12) 4-3 on Wednesday night at NYSEG Stadium. Tazawa has won both starts on the roadtrip and improved to 3-0 on the road.

RHP T.J. Large allowed a single in the ninth inning but secured the win when PH Josh Thole grounded out to Large, ending the game and giving the righty his second save of the season. Binghamton stranded two in the ninth inning and scored a run off RHP Bryce Cox. SS Ruben Tejada tripled and scored on CF Emmanuel Garcia’s run-scoring ground out. After Malo singled, Large relieved Cox, gave up a hit to Wabick but retired Thole to end the game.

RHP Fernando Nieve (0-1) took the loss for the B-Mets, giving up six hits and three runs in 4.1 IP.

Bates knocked in the game’s first run with a 2-out, run-scoring single in the first inning. The ‘Dogs added two runs in the fifth inning on 1B Lars Anderson’s (1-for-4, RBI) double down the right field and Bates’ single to center field. RF Reid Engel’s RBI fielder’s choice in the sixth inning proved to be the game-winning RBI.

Binghamton scored their only run against Tazawa in the second inning. 1B Lucas Duda walked with one out, advanced to second base on a single by 3B Shawn Bowman and scored on RF Carl Loadenthal’s single. Tazawa fanned three, walked one and picked up his second quality start of the season. His only two fly ball outs came to the first two batters faced and finished with 13 ground ball outs.

Portland looks for the series win against the Binghamton Mets on Thursday night beginning at 6:35 PM. Catch all the action on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network beginning at 6:05 PM with the CorrectDeck Pre-Game Show. Tickets for Sea Dogs Baseball at Hadlock Field can be purchased at www.seadogs.com or by calling (207) 874-9300.

Notes…Portland is 6-4 against Binghamton this season and clinched a winning roadtrip with Wednesday’s victory…Bates has reached base safely in 16 straight starts…CF Bubba Bell had two hits and scored twice…Anderson ended an 0-for-15 slump with his double in the fifth.

PORTLAND SEA DOGS DROP A GAME TO THE METS 4 - 1

RHP Ryan Coultas (2-1) fired seven strong innings on one run and CF Emmanuel Garcia added a 2-run triple, aiding the Binghamton Mets (12-11) in their 4-1 victory over the Portland Sea Dogs (12-12) on Tuesday night at NYSEG Stadium. LHP Felix Doubront (2-2) suffered his second straight loss to the Mets, yielding one unearned run in 5 IP on six hits.

RHP Julio De La Cruz worked two scoreless frames to earn his first save of the season for the Mets.

Coultas, who beat Portland for the second consecutive start, scattered four hits, one walk and fanned five. The righty retired 18 of 20 through six innings and retired the first eight batters faced. Portland’s lone run off Coultas came in the seventh inning on SS Argenis Diaz’s 2-out RBI single, scoring LF Aaron Bates.

Doubront escaped trouble in the first 2 innings, hitting into consecutive inning ending double plays – both 6-4-3. Binghamton scored the game’s first run in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by C Josh Thole (1-for-3, RBI). The B-Mets scored an unearned run off RHP Chad Rhoades in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Ruben Tejada. Garcia sealed the victory with his 2-run triple to dead-center field with two outs in the seventh inning off RHP Bryce Cox.

Portland and Binghamton play game three of the series on Wednesday night beginning at 6:35 PM from NYSEG Stadium. Catch all the action on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network beginning at 6:05 PM with the CorrectDeck Pre-Game Show. Tickets for Sea Dogs Baseball at Hadlock Field can be purchased at www.seadogs.com or by calling (207) 874-9300.

Notes…Portland is 5-4 against Binghamton this season and can finish with a winning roadtrip by victories in one of the final two games…CF Matt Sheely had three hits and is 5-for-9 in three games with Portland…Argenis Diaz has 5 RBI in the series.

SEA DOGS USE THE LONGBALL TO BEAT THE METS 6 - 2

RHP Jarod Plummer (1-1) hurled 5.2 scoreless frames and Portland (9-9) smacked three home runs to beat the Binghamton Mets (9-8) 6-2 on Wednesday night at Hadlock Field. The ‘Dogs have won two straight and can sweep the B-Mets with a win on Thursday. Portland improved to 3-3 on the home stand and 4-2 against Binghamton this season.

Plummer stranded seven runners over his start, allowing five hits, three walks and recording six strikeouts. The Mets stranded 11 runners-on-base and finished 0-for-11 with runners-in-scoring position. Binghamton scored two unearned runs in the ninth inning on a 2-out, 2-run error by CF Bubba Bell.

The Sea Dogs beat RHP Jose Sanchez (1-3) for the second time in two weeks. RF Josh Reddick led off the first inning with a solo-homer over the left-center field wall. 2B Ryan Khoury followed with a double and scored on Bell’s two-out, RBI single. 3B Jorge Jimenez opened up the second inning with a towering blast into the U.S. Cellular Pavilion in right field. Sanchez (5 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 4 SO) gave up an unearned run in the third inning when Khoury singled, advanced to third base on an error and scored on Bell’s sacrifice fly.

RHP Chris Province and RHP T.J. Large combined for 2.1 scoreless frames in relief of Plummer. Cox worked the ninth inning, allowing two unearned runs and one hit.

Reddick made his first start in right field and saved two runs with a diving catch to end the third inning. In the sixth, Reddick leaped on the warning track to rob RF Carl Loadenthal of a hit and a potential Binghamton run.

Portland blasted their 3rd homer in the eighth inning when LF Aaron Bates (1st of the year) led off the frame with a shot off the Dunkin Donuts Message Center in left-center field. SS Argenis Diaz tagged a double down the left-field line to score Bell. Portland scored both runs off LHP Adam Bostick (IP, 4 H, 2 R), who entered the game with a 1.64 ERA.

Portland and Binghamton play the final game of their series on Thursday night at Hadlock Field beginning at 6:00 PM. The first 1,000 fans at Hadlock Field will receive a David Ortiz Bobblehead courtesy of Irving Oil. Tickets for Sea Dogs Baseball at Hadlock Field can be purchased at www.seadogs.com or by calling (207) 874-9300. Catch all the action on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network beginning at 5:35 PM with the CorrectDeck Pre-Game Show. .

Notes…Plummer picked up his first win in the Red Sox system and had the longest outing for a starter since RHP Junichi Tazawa went six innings on April 14 vs. New Britain…Khoury has three straight multi-hit games: 7-for-14 (.500)…Bates last home run came on August 29, 2008 vs. New Hampshire…The ‘Dogs have hit 18 home runs this season – 11 have led off an inning.

COURTESY PORTLAND SEA DOGS

SEA DOGS BEAT METS 8 - 4

(Binghamton, NY) – 2B Ryan Khoury smacked a 3-run double and LHP Dustin Richardson (2-0) worked three strong innings in relief, leading Portland past the Binghamton Mets (4-3), 8-4 on Friday night at NYSEG Stadium. Portland evens the series at a game apiece and improved their record to 5-4.

C Mark Wagner ignited the scoring with a solo-homer off losing pitcher RHP Dylan Owen (0-1) in the first inning. Wagner had two hits, including a double and two runs scored. Owen lasted only 3+ innings, giving up seven hits and six runs. Binghamton’s bullpen pitched six innings and allowed just two hits and two runs.

Richardson relieved RHP Blake Maxwell (3 IP, 5 H, 2 R) in the fourth inning and fired three strong frames on three hits, one run and three strikeouts. RHP Chad Rhodes yielded one run over two innings and RHP T.J. Large escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning to secure the win.

Portland scored six runs in the first three innings off Dylan. 3B Jorge Jimenez, who extended his hitting streak to six games, doubled home RF Bubba Bell (2-for-5, 2B) to give the ‘Dogs a 2-0 lead. SS Argenis singled on the next pitch to plate Jimenez and extend his hitting streak to three games. In the third, the Sea Dogs loaded the bases on a double by Wagner, a walk by 1B Lars Anderson and a single by DH Jon Still. Owen fanned Bell but Khoury cleared the bases with a 3-run double down the right-field line.

Anderson accounted for the final two runs with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning and a solo homer over the center-field wall in the ninth. The Portland first baseman picked up his first homer and multi-RBI game of the year.

The Mets didn’t make it easy for Portland, scoring twice in the second inning on consecutive run-scoring doubles by DH D.J. Wabick and C Mike Nickeas. In the sixth inning, LF Josh Peterson closed the gap to 7-3 with a broken-bat RBI single. RF Carl Loadenthal (3-for-5) added an RBI double in the seventh inning for the Mets final run.

Portland’s pitchers held Binghamton to 4-for-15 with runners-in-scoring position. The B-Mets stranded seven runners in the final four innings. The two teams combined for 32 baserunners and were retired in order only once.

The series will shift to a 1:05 PM start on Saturday afternoon at NYSEG Stadium. LHP Felix Doubront (0-0, 4.15) will face off against RHP Jose Sanchez (1-0, 4.50). Catch all the action on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network beginning at 12:35 PM with the CorrectDeck Pre-Game Show. Tickets for Sea Dogs Baseball at Hadlock Field can be purchased at www.seadogs.com or by calling (207) 874-9300.

Notes…Jimenez has an RBI and a hit in six straight starts…Portland has hit nine homer on the season – eight have been solo shots…Khoury’s 3 RBI was his first multi-RBI game of the year…Richardson is the only reliever this season to pitch three innings...Maxwell made his 16th career start and his first at Double-A.

Courtesy Portland Sea Dogs