An 8-game roadtrip starts tonight in Reading, Pa.
The Sea Dogs have the second best winning percentage in minor league baseball (see below for Top 5 rankings), and open up an 8-game roadtrip on Thursday night at First Energy Stadium against the Reading Fightin Phils…Portland is 6–4 against Reading this season, but Owens returns where it all began. On Opening Night, Owens tossed a six-inning no-hitter at Reading…Tonight is Portland’s first road game of the second half — and Owens is on the hill. They lefty is 9–3, 1.99 ERA in 14 starts.
Pre-Game Interview: Rich Gedman Part 2
Pre-Game begins at 6:45 PM on 95.9/95.5 and the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network…Listen online at seadogs.com.
Dogs (50–27): Gibson 8, Marrero 6, Swihart 2, Coyle 4, Chester 3, De La Cruz 7, Spring DH, Wilkerson 9, Meneses 5, Owens LH (9–3, 1.99)
Reading (33–41): Alonso 4, Lavin 7, Altherr 8, Fox DH, Ryal 5, Stassi 3, Collier 9, Moore 2, Duran 6, Milner LH (5–3, 3.79)
Notes for today
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Sea Dogs were postponed last night, finishing 4–2 on the homestand…Tonight, the ‘Dogs open up an 8-game roadtrip against the Reading Fightin Phils from First Energy Stadium…LHP Henry Owens made the start on Opening Night in Reading, tossing a 6-inning no-hitter…Tonight, Owens gets the nod in Portland’s first road game of the second half…OF Shannon Wilkerson returns to Portland after hitting .234 in his Triple-A debut with Pawtucket (25 games).
RACKING UP THE K’S: LHP Daniel Norris earned his first Double-A win, fanning 10 batters over 5.2 IP, and leading the New Hampshire Fisher Cats to a 5–1 win on Tuesday night…Norris, who was named to the MLB Future’s Game before Tuesday’s game, yielded three hits and one walk…Portland fanned a season-high 15 times, scoring their lone run in the sixth inning on a bases-loaded HBP from David Chester…RHP Mike McCarthy (6–3) took the loss, giving up four runs on six hits over 4 IP…DH Matt Newman drove in two runs with a homer and ground out for the ‘Cats.
BIG O ON THE HILL: LHP Henry Owens has won five straight and is 5–1, 0.41 ERA (2 ER/43.2 IP) in 7 starts since May 14th…Owens among E.L. Leaders: 9 wins (T-1st), 1.99 ERA (1st), 89 strikeouts (1st), 3 complete games (1st), 2 shutouts (1st), 1.03 WHIP (2nd), .178 AVG against (1st), 9.42 runners-per-9 IP (1st), 9.31 SO-per-9 IP (1st) and 86 IP (2nd)…The lefty has is 12–4, 1.93 ERA in 116.1 innings in 20 Double-A starts…He is 3.2 innings shy of qualifying for the franchise record in ERA, held by Jon Lester for pitchers with more than 120.0 innings pitched…On Tuesday, Owens and former Sea Dog INF/OF Mookie Betts were named to the Sirius/XM Future’s Game.
RANKING THE ‘DOGS: The Top 5 winning percentages in Minor League Baseball: Low-A Savannah 48–25 (.658), Portland 50–27 (.649), Low-A Kane County 49–27 (.645), High-A Dunedin 48–27 (.640) and Double-A Huntsville 49–28 (.636)…The Sea Dogs are 12–9 this month with a .274 team average and a 3.74 ERA.
COYLE CONNECTING AND STEALING: INF Sean Coyle went 1-for-2 on Tuesday night with 2 walks, 2 stolen bases and was involved in both double plays turned by Portland…Coyle is 12-for-12 in stolen base attempts with Portland, and 23 for his last 24, dating back to 2013…He was caught on August 11, 2013 with Low-A Greenville, but when 11-for-11 from April 5–19, 2013 with High-A Salem.
