Kiss Your Baby Day Links

FORMER LEWISTON MAINEIAC JONATHAN BERNIER EARNS 1ST NHL SHUTOUT
(PHOTO JOHN RUSSELL/NHLI)

Kelly look impressive as the Sox and Rays tie 9-9 in spring training action.

Talks with Beckett remain positive.

University of Maine Baseball and Softball players earn weekly America East Awards.

Red sox sign Cuban OF Jordan Pardon.

Tazawa could need elbow surgery.

Patriots intrested in Tim Tebow?

Bruins give the Devils a devil of a time 1-0 in New Jersey.

Former Maineiacs goalie Jonathan Bernier posted his first career shutout against Nashville.

Red Sox Roster Moves for September 1st

Five players added with September roster expansion; First Baseman/Outfielder Jeff Bailey designated for assignment

BOSTON, MA—The Red Sox today added five players with the September expansion of active Major League rosters. The club reinstated catcher George Kottaras from the 15-day disabled list, recalled outfielder Brian Anderson from Triple-A Pawtucket and right-handed pitcher Junichi Tazawa from the Rookie-Level Gulf Coast League Red Sox, and selected outfielder Joey Gathright and infielder Chris Woodward to the active Major League roster from Pawtucket. All five players will be in uniform for tonight’s game at Tampa Bay. Additionally, the Red Sox designated first baseman/outfielder Jeff Bailey for assignment.

The announcements were made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein.

Kottaras, 26, has been on the disabled list since August 1 (retroactive to July 30) with a lower back strain. He has made 10 rehab appearances with Triple-A Pawtucket, batting .292 (7-for-24) with three doubles, six walks and a run scored. In 36 games with the Red Sox this season, he has hit .224 (19-for-85) with one home run and nine RBI and ranks tied for eighth among American League rookies with 10 doubles. Kottaras has made 33 appearances behind the plate for Boston in 2009, including 24 starts. In 39 career Major League games with the Red Sox, he is 20-for-90 (.222) while catching in 35 contests.

The 27-year-old Anderson will be making his second stint with the Red Sox this season. He has appeared in three games in right field (two starts) for Boston while going 1-for-6 (.167) with an RBI and run scored. In 24 games for Pawtucket in 2009, he hit .200 (16-for-80) with four home runs and eight RBI. Anderson was acquired from the White Sox for outfielder Mark Kotsay on July 28 and appeared in 65 games for Chicago earlier this season, batting .238 (44-for-185) with two home runs and 13 RBI. The right-handed hitter owns a .225 average (177-for-788), 20 home runs and 76 RBI in 337 career Major League games since making his debut for the White Sox in 2005. His .991 career fielding percentage ranks ninth among American League outfielders with at least 300 games played since 2005.

Tazawa, 23, was optioned to the Gulf Coast League Red Sox on August 29 but did not pitch with the club. The right-hander is 2-3 with a 6.65 ERA (16 ER/21.2 IP) in five games (four starts) for Boston this season. He combined to go 9-7 with a 2.55 ERA (31 ER/109.1 IP) in 20 starts between Double-A Portland and Pawtucket earlier this year. He was named an Eastern League All-Star and represented Team World in the 2009 All-Star Futures Game in St. Louis. Tazawa is in his first professional season after signing with the Red Sox as an amateur free agent on December 11, 2008.

Gathright, who will wear No. 23, was acquired in a minor league trade with Baltimore on August 29 and has appeared in three games with the PawSox, going 2-for-10 (.200) with a run scored. In 80 games with Baltimore’s Triple-A Norfolk club, the 28-year-old hit .329 (106-for-322) with 20 RBI, 49 runs scored and 24 stolen bases. The left-handed batter began the season with the Cubs and appeared in 11 games in center field (one start) while going 3-for-14 (.214) in 20 games overall. Gathright has a career .262 average (304-for-1,159) with 96 RBI and 170 runs scored in 428 Major League games over parts of six Major League seasons with Tampa Bay (2004-06), Kansas City (2006-08) and Chicago (2009). He has stolen 20 or more bases in three seasons (2005, 2006 and 2008) with 79 career stolen bases overall.

Woodward, who will wear No. 30, went 0-for-4 with a walk in five games for the Red Sox after he was claimed off waivers from Seattle on August 7. In 12 games with the PawSox, he went 4-for-31 (.129) with 5 walks while appearing at second base, third base and shortstop. Woodward, 33, has a career .242 average (404-for-1,669) with 33 home runs and 191 RBI over 632 Major League games with the Blue Jays (1999-2004), Mets (2005-06), Braves (2007), Mariners (2009) and Red Sox (2009) and has played at least three different positions in seven of his 10 Major League seasons.

Bailey, 30, is hitting .264 (58-for-220) with 10 home runs and 25 RBI in 61 games for Triple-A Pawtucket. He also made two stints with Boston this season, batting .208 (16-for-77) with three home runs and nine RBI in 26 games.

With today’s additions, the Red Sox active Major League roster is at 30 players and the club’s 40-man roster is now at 40.

Courtesy:Boston Red Sox communications

Who Does Billy Wagner Bump Off the Roster?

Billy Wagner is coming to the Red Sox on Thursday, now the only question is who leaves to make room for him? Here are some options.

1. Send Daniel Bard down to Pawtucket for a few days until the rosters expand. This would give Bard a chance to breathe a bit in AAA and possibly save the Red Sox some money in later arbitration years, but it weakens your bullpen in the meantime.

2. Dump Brad Penny. Penny could be released or DFA'd, as he has already been claimed and pulled back from revocable waivers this month. With Penny due to back-up Wakefield on Wednesday, this could be the move that gets made.

3. Option Tazawa back to Pawtucket. Tazawa has options, but who starts for him on Thursday? Probably not.

4. Put someone on the DL. Nick Green hasn't been playing alot lately, maybe he has a strained groin. Is Baldelli sore again? This could happen as well.

5. Enrique Gonzalez could be DFA'd and given the Billy Traber/Fernando Cabrera treatment.

WEDNESDAY MORNING LINKS

John Farrell apparently had something to say to Jim Leyland

• The Maine Teams are ousted from various youth tournaments…Bangor Daily…Portland Press.
• The Portland Sea Dogs winning streak was halted at 6 games, losing to the Altoona Curve 10 – 3.
• Tom Brady looks to start Thursday for the Patriots against the E-A-G-L-E-S.
• Junichi Tazawa kept his composure, after a rough 1st inning and a Kevin Youkilis and Robert Porcello battle, going 5 strong to help the Sox to a 7 – 5 win over the Tigers at Fenway.

SATURDAY MORNING QUICK HITTERS

• Check out Oxford Plains.com for all the 250 Weekend information
• Paul Withee still out as Foxcroft Football Coach.
• The Portland Sea Dogs beat the Trenton Thunder 5 – 2 as Junichi Tazawa gets his 9th win
• The Boston Red Sox designate Julio Lugo for assignment.
• Clay Buchholz threw 5 2/3 strong innings to lead the Red Sox to a 4 - 1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Buchholz was sent back to Pawtucket after the game
• Mike Lowell was activated Friday and Jed Lowrie expected to be activated Saturday.

Sea Dogs heading to AA All Star Game Wednesday

The Eastern League in conjunction with the Trenton Thunder has announced that Sea Dogs' right-handed pitcher Chris Province has been added to the 2009 Eastern League All-Star roster. Province replaces Sea Dogs' right-handed pitcher T.J. Large on the roster, Large was promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket on July 12th.

Province will join teammates Lars Anderson, Jorge Jimenez, Dustin Richardson and Junichi Tazawa at the Eastern League All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 15th at Waterfront Park in Trenton, New Jersey. Tazawa will attend the All-Star Game but will not participate due to his participation in the XM Satellite Radio MLB Futures Game.

Province has appeared in 29 games for the Sea Dogs posting a 2-4 record with one save and a 3.29 ERA (19 ER/ 52.0 IP). In his last 14 appearances, Province is 0-0 with a 1.71 ERA (5 ER/ 26.1 IP). He has not allowed a run in seven of his last nine appearances. Last season, he combined to go 9-6 with a 4.82 ERA between Single-A Greenville and Single-A Lancaster. The 24 year-old was selected by the Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

The All-Star Game will feature the Northern Division All-Stars against the Southern Division All-Stars. Each team will consist of 24 players. The All-Star teams were selected through fan voting along with selections from media personnel, club field personnel, and Eastern League administrators. Each Eastern League team has at least three players, including at least one pitcher and one position player.

The Portland Sea Dogs take on the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Monday at 12:00 noon at Hadlock Field; it is the final game before the Eastern League All-Star break. Tickets for most 2009 Portland Sea Dogs' home games are available. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or online at www.seadogs.com.

MONDAY MORNING QUICK HITTERS

• Junichi Tazawa did not get a chance to throw a pitch in the MLB Futures Game in St Louis because of a 4 hour rain delay. Red Sox A Ball phenom Casey Kelly, pitched a scoreless 6th for the US. Tazawa was scheduled to start the game. The World beat The US 7 – 5.
• The New Hampshire Fisher Cats continued the barrage of runs at Hadlock, beating the Sea Dogs 11 – 3 Sunday.
• Terry Francona announced after yesterday's game that Clay Buchholz will start Friday’s Sox game versus the Toronto Blue Jays.
• Josh Beckett looked like the ace of the staff Sunday allowing 3 hits and no runs in the complete game 6 – 0 Red Sox win over the Kansas City Royals.
• Dustin Pedroia dropped out of the All Star Game Sunday, leaving 5 Red Sox to participate…Kevin Youklis, Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield, Jason Bay and Jonathan Papelbon

TAZAWA WINS 7TH IN 10 - 3 WIN OVER THE THUNDER

The Sea Dogs used an 8-run seventh inning to take the series finale from the Trenton Thunder, 10-3 on Sunday afternoon at Hadlock Field. Portland finished 5-2 on the homestand and trail Trenton by 1.5 games for the top spot in the Eastern League’s Northern Division.

RHP Junichi Tazawa (7-3) picked up his league-leading 7th victory of the season, hurling six strong innings on four hits, two walks and six strikeouts. Tazawa’s lone blemish came in the sixth inning on DH Noah Hall’s solo homer to tie the game at one. The Japanese native has recorded 63 strikeouts through 12 starts, which ranks 3rd in the league but the most among Red Sox Minor League pitchers.

RHP Alan Horne (0-3) relieved RHP Ryan Pope in the sixth inning and suffered the loss for the Thunder. Horne yielded 8 runs (7 earned) on six hits during Portland’s 8-run 7th inning.

The Sea Dogs sent 12 men to the plate in the seventh inning with eight consecutive runners reaching base. Portland was leading 2-1 entering the inning and received 2-run singles from 3B Jorge Jimenez (2-for-5) and RF Ryan Kalish (1-for-4). LF Aaron Bates (1-for-5) and CF Bubba Bell (2-for-5) added RBI singles with 1B Lars Anderson (2-for-3) nailing a run-scoring double. Portland scored the first run of the inning on a SS Argenis Diaz’s sacrifice bunt which turned into a throwing error by Horne, enabling Kalish to score.

Bell snapped a 1-1 tie with a lead-off homer in the sixth inning off Horne, giving Portland the lead for good. Bell, who had 6 RBI in May, finished the homestand 9-for-22 (.409), HR, 3 RBI.

RHP Ryan Pope took a no-decision for Trenton, allowing just one run on four hits in 5 IP. The Sea Dogs scored that run in the third inning when 2B Ryan Khoury doubled off the wall and scored on C Mark Wagner’s 2-out single.

The Sea Dogs bullpen closed out the game, receiving 1.2 innings from RHP Richie Lentz, who allowed a 2-run homer to 2B Chris Malec. RHP Blake Maxwell closed out the win with 1.1 scoreless innings and fanned one.

Portland has Monday off and travel to Erie on Tuesday night to play the SeaWolves in the start of a 6-day roadtrip, game time is 7:05 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…Portland will see to go three games over .500 for the first time on Tuesday night – they have been 2 games over .500 six times this season…Wagner has a double in 9 of 12 games and finished the homestand 8-for-20 (.400) with 7 RBI…The ‘Dogs are 4-2 against Trenton and start June by winning 5 of 7 games.

Courtesy Portland Sea Dogs

MONDAY MORNING QUICK HITTERS

Jason Harvey of Bangor takes home the Amateur Title in Orono(Courtesy Bangor Daily News)

• Junichi Tazawa shines again as the Portland Sea Dogs beat the Trenton Thunder 10 - 3.
• Joe Haggerty from WEEI.com is reporting Sea Dogs outfielder and Eastern League Player of the Month Aaron Bates to be called up to AAA Pawtucket today.
• Jason Harvey, down by 3 strokes at the start of Sundays play, takes home the Harris Golf Paul Bunyan Amateur Golf Tournament by 1 stroke.
• Speedway 95 lost a driver Saturday night as regular Ikey Dorr died of a heart attack on the track.
• Dice K continued his inconsistent pitching in the Texas Rangers 6 - 3 win over the Red Sox Sunday at Fenway.
• WEEI's Alex Speier reports on Big Papi's age.

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.

WEDNESDAY MORNING QUICK HITTERS

Mark Recchi scores the 1st goal of the game 2:09 into the 1st(Courtesy Boston.com)

• Junichi Tazawa scattered 4 hits over 6 innings as the Portland Sea Dogs beat the New York Yankees AA Affiliate Trenton Thunder 4 - 1 Tuesday in Trenton. Sea Dogs OF Aaron Bates reached base safely in his 21st straight game.
• The University of Maine Black Bears Women's Hockey Team add 2 players to roster.
• Maine High School Sports results here from the Portland Press Herald.
• The Boston Bruins forced a Game 7 against the Carolina Hurricanes. Mark Recchi and Steve Montador scored 2 goals in the 1st 5:09 of the opening period to start the ball rolling to a 4 - 2 win over Carolina. All news was not great for the Bruins, Marc Savard left the game at the 6:12 mark of the 3rd Period when he had a leg/thigh collision with Carolina's Chad LaRose. Claude Julien said Savard will be ready for Game 7 Thursday Night.
• The Boston Celtics, who looked down and out of gas midway through the 3rd quarter trailing the Orlando Magic by as much as 20, staged a comeback for the ages. Stephon Marbury and Eddie House ignited the comeback, culminating in a free throw contest at the end of regulation leading the Boston Celtics to beat the Orlando Magic 92 - 88 to take a 3 - 2 lead in the series.
• The Boston Red Sox finished off a night of comebacks with one of its own. JD Drew started the Sox 9th with a single, and Jason Veritek drove him home with a gap shot double, putting the Sox up for good with a 4 - 3 win over the California Angels. Jonathan Papelbon finished things off for his 9th save of the season!
• The Boston Red Sox placed Kevin Youkilis on the 15 Day DL with an oblique strain.

TAZAWA SLAMS DOOR ON THE THUNDER

Tazawa scattered 4 hits Tuesday against Trenton (COURTESY TRENTON THUNDER.COM)
RHP Junichi Tazawa (4-2) allowed one unearned run over 6 IP and DH Jon Still (1-for-4) had 3 RBI, aiding the Portland Sea Dogs (16-14) in a 6-1 win over the Trenton Thunder (14-15) on Tuesday night at Waterfront Park. The Sea Dogs had 19 baserunners, including 10 walks and look for their first series sweep on Wednesday.

Tazawa earned his third straight win (all on the road), scattering three hits, and one walk and tied a professional-high with seven strikeouts. Trenton scored an unearned run off Tazawa in the sixth inning on an error by 1B Lars Anderson. The Japanese native was hitless through the first three innings and picked up four strikeouts in his final 2 IP.

Trenton starter RHP Alan Horne (0-2) left the game in the fourth inning due to injury and suffered the loss for the Thunder. Horne, who was the 2007 Eastern League Pitcher-of-the-Year, yielded six hits and four runs over 3+ IP.

Portland’s trio of RHP Blake Maxwell, RHP Chris Province and RHP T.J. Large each worked scoreless frames to wrap up the ‘Dogs second straight win in Trenton.

RF Reid Engel (3-for-5, RBI) gave Portland an early lead with a two-out, solo-homer over the right-field wall. In the third inning, Still’s line drive fell past the dive of right-fielder James Cooper, allowing three to score and give Still his first Double-A triple. The Sea Dogs added a run in the fifth inning on a wild pitch and their final run came on 3B Jorge Jimenez’s (2-for-4, RBI) RBI infield single.

The Sea Dogs had a runner in all nine innings have 36 during the first two games. Trenton had 2 of their 3 hits during the third inning.

Portland looks for a 3-game sweep of the Thunder on Wednesday night at Waterfront Park beginning at 7:05 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. Tickets for Sea Dogs Baseball can be purchased at www.seadogs.com or by calling (207) 879-9500.

Notes…LF Aaron Bates (1-for-4, BB) has reached base safely in 21 straight games – the longest active streak in the Eastern League this season…SS Argenis Diaz had his hitting streak snapped at 10 games…Anderson went 0-for-2 with 3 walks.

Story 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.

Thursday Links

CMSB Photo Courtesy Pierre's of Exchange St

Your Thursday links are brought to you by, "Are you doing the links, Matty?"

• The Bruins fell in overtime to Carolina 3-2. They are now trailing the series 2-1, and Black and Gold nation is worried about whether or notthey may have to shave their playoff beards.
  
• The Celtics layed the hammer down on Orlando last night, and Paul Pierce only played 16 minutes. Rafer Alston may be getting a call from Stu Jackson after this incident last night.
• Carl Pavano did something Yankee fans hoped he would have done for them, beat the Boston Red Sox. Aaron Laffey earned his first big league save.
• Junichi Tazawa pitched well once again, and the Sea Dogs beat Binghamton to improve to the Dogs record to 13-12 on the year.

SEA DOGS BEAT ROCK CATS 4 - 3

Josh Reddick bats in the third (CMSB /Pierre's of Exchange St)

Junichi Tazawa did not disappoint in his 2nd pro start. Tazawa and the red-hot Josh Reddick helped the Potland Sea Dogs to a 4 - 3 win over the New Britain Rock Cats Tuesday night at Hadlock Field.

Sea Dogs manager Arnie Beyler once again liked what he saw from Tazawa.

"I just liked the way he went about things tonight," said Beyeler. "He threw strikes."

It was clear Tazawa was using his devastating curve ball as his out-pitch tonight, as Tazawa completely froze Rock Cats 3B Danny Valencia on a called 3rd strike in the 1st, made RF Juan Portes look at his bat in disbelief on a called 3rd strike in the 2nd and left Yancarlos Ortiz standing and staring after home plate umpire Matt Abbott called a 3rd strike looking in the 4th. Tazawa's final line was 6 IP 4H 1ER 2 BB and 3 strikeouts. Tazawa's ERA for his 2 appearances so far is 1.64.

As for the offense, Josh Reddick got it going quickly. Reddick launched Rock Cats starter Jeff Manship's 7th pitch of the game for a HR to right-center field for his 4th HR in 4 games. Reddick tied a club record for 4 HRs in 4 consecutive games held by fan favorite Kevin Millar, who accomplished the feat in 1997, but he still wasn't satisfied with his performance.

"(I) feel like I need to get more than 1 hit besides that," Reddick said. "I'm trying to see a lot of pitches...worked some pretty good counts and laying off the (pitches) I know I can hit, but try not to get myself out."

The Sea Dogs got on the scoreboard again in the 3rd as Reddick worked a walk and Lars Anderson plated him with a nice left center gap shot on a hitters count 3 - 1 pitch. Reddick scored and Anderson took 2nd on the throw home. Aaron Bates sent Anderson home on a RBI single to right.

The Sea Dogs finished off their scoring for the night in their half of the 4th when Jon Still singled to open the inning. Still promptly stole 2nd and was driven home when 3rd baseman Jorge Jimenez drove him with a single to left center for his team leading 6th RBI.

The Rock Cats did not get on the board until Tazawa gave up a HR to 3rd baseman Danny Valencia to lead off the 6th. Tazawa was not happy with the pitch location.

"I left it high," said Tazawa.

A pair of Sea Dog relievers, Blake Maxwell and newly promoted Justin Hedrick, kept New Britain off the board until late in the 9th when Hedrick got into a little jam. After striking out Cats RF Juan Portes, Hedrick walked 1st baseman Whitney Robbins. Hedrick followed that by striking out Rene Tosoni, and things got interesting. Hedrick walked Ortiz and followed that with giving up a 2 run triple to Brian Dinkelman. Hendrick shut the door on the rally, getting 2nd baseman Steve Tollison to ground to Jimenez for the game ending play.

Manager Arnie Beyeler
Pitcher Junichi Tazawa
Outfielder Josh Reddick

GAME NOTES - Sea Dogs catcher Mark Wagner threw out Rock Cats LF Matt Moses, making him 5 for 7 throwing out runners this season....The Sea Dogs held a Media Home Run Derby prior to the game. No one hit a HR but Biddeford Journal Tribune Sports Editor Chris Brockman walked away the winner by hitting the warning track on the fly....the Sea Dogs wrap up this home stand tommorrow at 6PM in the finale of the 3 game series.

SEA DOGS, TAZAWA FALL IN OPENER

Portland Sea Dogs Manager Arnie Beyeler Postgame Press Conference

Junichi Tazawa on the mound in the fifth inning

Iggy Suarez, Ryan Khoury, and Lars Anderson warming up

It was a beautiful evening for baseball at Hadlock Field in Portland. The game time temperature was 56 degrees with plenty of sunshine. The park was full of fans, a marching band played the National Anthem, and the smell of concession food gave the park that “Opening Day” feel. Unfortunately for the home crowd of over 5700, the Connecticut Defenders pitching staff stole the show. Despite a strong pitching performance from Junichi Tazawa, the Sea Dogs fell to Connecticut 3-0 on Thursday night.

Tazawa, making his first professional start, lasted 5 innings, throwing 66 pitches (44 of them strikes). He allowed 1 run on 4 hits, 7 strikeouts, 1 walk, a balk, and a hit batsman as many of his fellow countrymen watched from the press box. In the fifth inning he allowed a lead-off triple to the Defenders Mike Mooney and retired the next three batters and left Mooney stranded at third. Tazawa was critical of himself after the game.

”(The outing) was so-so,” said Tazawa through his interpreter. “I allowed easy hits tonight."

Sea Dogs manager Arnie Beyeler was much more complimentary of his young pitcher.

“I thought (Tazawa) did a great job,” said Beyeler. “He pitched well. He left a runner stranded on third late (in his outing). He worked ahead of guys, he was aggressive. If he goes out and pitches 5 innings and allows only one run (each time) he is going to be just fine.”

The Defenders pitching staff did a great job keeping the Sea Dogs off the base paths. After Argenis Diaz grounded out with the bases loaded and two outs in the second, the Sea Dogs only had one runner in scoring position for the rest of the game. 5 Connecticut pitchers combined on the 4 hit shutout, as starter Daryl Maday lasted 4 innings. Mike Musgrave got the win, retiring all four batters he faced. Dan Otero got the save by getting the final two outs of the ball game. Beyeler gave a lot of credit to the Defenders pitchers for shutting down his team's offense.

“They did a nice job of pitching,” said Beyeler. “They stayed ahead in the count and pounded the (strike) zone. We didn't get get many guys to third base all night, you have to tip your cap to those guys. They out-pitched us.”

The only run Tazawa allowed came in the fourth inning on a two-out double by Brett Pill, who went 2-4 on the night. Dustin Richardson relieved Tazawa in the 6^th, and after a scoreless frame allowed a long home run to center field to Mooney, who also finished the game 2-4. The final Defenders run came on a Brian Bocock single in the eight inning off of Bryce Cox to score Jackson Williams. Although Tazawa took the loss, Beyeler put it into perspective.

“He'll continue to go out there and get his reps,” said Beyeler. “We will score runs for him. He used alot of his pitches, said he didn't feel a couple (of pitches) and didn't use them. He's a smart pitcher. In five years no one will care about what he did at Double A.”

Box Score

Notes: C Mark Wagner went 1-3 and threw out two runners trying to steal second...Chad Rhoades pitched a scoreless 9^th for the Sea Dogs...This was the first game of a four game series against Connecticut to open the season.