Back where we started 2014!
The Sea Dogs open up a three-game series on Monday night against the Reading Fightin Phils from First Energy Stadium. RHP Keith Couch makes his second straight start against RHP Mike Nesseth. Couch is 4–0, 2.48 ERA in 5 starts this season.
Portland won the final two games in Binghamton, earning a split of the four-game series…The ‘Dogs are 2–0–3 in road series this season. On Opening Night, they won a rain-shortened 6-inning game over Reading 5–0. Mookie Betts (see notes for Mookie Madness) led off the season with a homer and Henry Owens tossed a no-hitter.
Make sure to follow Slugger on Twitter (@Slugger_SeaDog) as he continues his 114-mile walk from Fenway Park to Hadlock Field. Slugger walked 23 miles yesterday! Keep up the good work.
- Sea Dogs Merchandise remains a top seller in MILB
- Mike McCarthy wins Pitcher-of-the-Week
- Patriots RB Shane Vereen to visit Hadlock on May 8th
Pre-Game begins at 6:15 PM on 95.9/95.5 and the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network…Listen online at seadogs.com.
Pre-Game Interview: All about Slugger
Portland lineup: Betts 4, Marrero 6, Shaw 5, Swihart 2, Rivero DH, Ramos 9, Hissey 7, Wilkerson 8, Couch RHP (4–0, 2.48)
Reading: Alonso 4, Hernandez 5, Perkins 7, Altherr 8, Joseph 2, Collier 9, Stassi 3, Hewitt DH, Duran 6, Nesseth RHP (0–1, 7.88)
A few notes today…Full Game Notes at seadogs.com
WHERE IT ALL STARTED: Portland opened the 2014 season in Reading, PA, and begins a three-game series on Monday night at First Energy Stadium…On Opening Night, Mookie Betts began the season with a homer and LHP Henry Owens tossed a 6-inning no-hitter (Portland win a 5–0, rain-shortened contest)…The Sea Dogs split a four-game series to begin this trip, and have not lost a road series this season: 2–0–3…RHP Keith Couch makes his third start this season against Reading, he’s 12–1, 2.85 ERA in 20 career Double-A starts.
MCCARTHY AND RAMOS LEAD THE WAY: RHP Mike McCarthy (2–2) earned his second straight win, hurling six innings, as the ‘Dogs beat the B-Mets 4–1 on Sunday afternoon at NYSEG Stadium…McCarthy gave up an unearned run in the fifth, yielded five hits, two walks and fanned six (season-high)…RF Henry Ramos picked up his second 4-hit game of the season and drove in the final run in the eighth…2B Mookie Betts and 3B Heiker Meneses delivered RBI singles…RHP Noe Ramirez worked two scoreless frames of relief to earn a hold and RHP Miguel Celestino stranded two in the ninth to grab his second save of the year.
#MOOKIE MADNESS:Betts went 2-for-5 with an RBI yesterday, with both hits in his first 2 at-bats…The Tennessee native has reached base safely in all 26 Double-A starts (15 multi-hit games)…The first-year Sea Dog has reached base safely in 56 straight regular season games dating back to August 2, 2013, but 61 including last year’s Carolina League playoffs…His 17-game hitting streak from April 9–30 was the longest since OF Bret Ronenberg’s 18-game hitting streak from April 27-May 15, 2004…Betts’ .405 average is the 2nd highest in Minor League Baseball behind T.J. Rivera of the St. Lucie Mets.
HONORS FOR WINNING 2: McCarthy was named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week (April 28-May 4) for going 2–0, 0.00 ERA (0 ER/12.0 IP) in starts against Reading and Binghamton…The righty gave up two hits, two walks and fanned eight, earning his first 2 wins of the season.
TRAVIS LIKES NEW YORK: Shaw left Maine with only one double, but collected four straight multi-hit games in Binghamton: 9-for-14 (.643), 3 RBI but had 5 doubles…Shaw’s last 14 games: 26-for-61 (.426), 4 HR, 17 RBI.
HE ALSO HAS TWO: Ramos tied a career-high with his second Double-A 4-hit game on Sunday…The first-year Sea Dog has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games.
