Notes for today…thoughts on Strasburg
After tonight, the Sea Dogs have one more Saturday game at Hadlock Field this season — September 3rd against New Hampshire. Next week, the ‘Dogs and B-Mets will play in the annual Future’s at Fenway. I’ve been asked this question a lot, does it get old after already being at Fenway to broadcast the game? My answer: Never! I’ve been waiting for this day since the winter. I can’t explain in words, the emotions and excitement I have sitting atop the most historic park in the world.
I watched highlights from Stephen Strasburg’s outing in High-A Potomac. The hard-throwing righty doesn’t look like he’s missed anytime. His fastball topped out at 99 and his change-up hit 90. He threw all three pitches (fastball, curveball and change-up) during his 3-inning stint. Strasburg allowed 2 hits, no runs and fanned 5. I talked with someone in the Potomac organization (my first broadcasting gig) and the Nationals want Strasburg to pitch in a home environment. We were looking at the August 22–24 series at Hadlock when the Senators come to down, but that might not happen….Looking forward to Bryce Harper that week. He hit a walk-off homer on Friday night that traveled about 480 feet.
Sea Dogs look to snap a three-game losing streak on Saturday night….Some notes for today.
TWO MORE TO GO: The Sea Dogs and SeaWolves play the second of their three-game series tonight at Hadlock Field…Portland needs to win the final two games to avoid the season-series loss to the ‘Wolves…Their current three-game skid is their longest losing streak since dropping six straight games from June 23–28…The Sea Dogs are currently 6‐9 on their 17‐game stretch against teams from the Western Division
HEY, MR. WILSON: Alex Wilson takes the mound tonight for the Sea Dogs…His 2.93 ERA is fourth best in the Eastern League…Wilson has only allowed more than three earned runs in a start just twice in 20 previous starts this year…Last time out, he surrendered just six hits and one earned run against the Richmond Flying Squirrels…A win tonight, would make him the second Sea Dog with double-digit wins, joining former teammate Stephen Fife (11).
SWING AND A MISS: L.J. Gagnier and Luis Marte combined for 14 strikeouts as the SeaWolves beat the Sea Dogs 6–2 last night…Gagnier’s 10 strikeouts established a new season-high for him at Double-A…It was also only the second time this season that a single pitcher has piled up double-digit strikeouts against Portland…The only other pitcher to do it was Binghamton’s Mark Cohoon (11 K’s) back on April 20.
HERE ON HOLADAY: Bryan Holaday finished 3-for-4 last night for Erie…Holaday had two singles and an RBI double…He also scored a run…The catcher had been 0-for-8 prior to last night’s game…It was Holaday’s first three hit game since June 20th against Reading.
A BIG FLY SHY: Justin Henry also had three hits in the SeaWolves win last night…Henry picked up a single, double and triple in that order, finishing a home run short of the cycle…The outfielder is still looking for his first home run in Double-A this season.
ANOTHER MILESTONE: Ryan Khoury needs to appear in just three more games this season to become the Sea Dogs all-time leader in games played…The Utah native has suited up 302 times for Portland, two shy of Iggy Suarez’ 304…Khoury is already the franchise leader in runs scored (166), walks (154), and plate appearances (1,247)…He is second in at-bats (1,062) and is tied for second with Brandon Moss in doubles (67).
WHAT’S ON DECK: The Sea Dogs and SeaWolves play their final game of 2011 tomorrow afternoon…Portland has Monday off before a four-game, three-day series in Reading (Phillies affiliate)…The Sea Dogs and Binghamton Mets will play at Fenway Park one week from today as part of a six-game homestand against the Mets and the first meeting with the Harrisburg Senators (Nationals affiliate).
