Opening Night from Baseball Town
The Sea Dogs open up their 21st season in the Eastern League, battling the Reading Fightin Phils from First Energy Stadium in Reading, Pa.
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 or watch at MILB.TV.
Pre-Game Interview: Keith Couch
Welcome Back…My broadcast partner from 2012 Dan Acheson returns this season. Dan will join me for every home game.
Portland lineup: Betts 4, Marrero 6, Shaw 3, Rivero 7, Ramos 9, Swihart 2, Coyle 5, Welch DH, Wilkerson 8, Owens LHP
Reading lineup: Cartwright 4, Collier 8, Perkins 9, Dugan 9, Joesph 2, Hewitt DH, Alonso 5, Stassi 3, Duran 6, Biddle LHP
Game Notes
Notes for today…Full Game Notes
HEAVYWEIGHT MATCH-UP TO START: Boston and Philadelphia’s top pitching prospects faceoff in the 2014 opener at First Energy Stadium…LHP Henry Owens is making his seventh Double-A start and the 50th appearance of his professional career…Owens was named the 2013 Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year, leading all minor league qualifiers in ERA (2.67) and batting average against (.177)…LHP Jesse Biddle, a native of Philly, went 5–14, 3.64 ERA in 27 starts with Reading last season…Biddle finished third in the Eastern League with 154 strikeouts and fanned Maikel Franco in the Future’s Game.
GRAND OPENING: The Sea Dogs are 9–11 All-Time in season openers…Last year they suffered a 13–5 loss to the Trenton Thunder (Yankees affiliate) on Opening Day at Hadlock Field…Reading swept the Sea Dogs in an Opening Day doubleheader in 2012 at First Energy Stadium…LHP Drake Britton and RHP Brandon Workman were Portland’s first 2 starters in 2013. INTRODUCING THE TEAM: Portland has six of the Top 30 prospects in the Red Sox system as ranked by Baseball America: Owens (#2), Blake Swihart (#5), Mookie Betts (#7), Deven Marrero (#15), Travis Shaw (#26), and Sean Coyle (#30). · The active roster includes 12 players who have previously played for the Sea Dogs and 17 players with previous Double-A experience. · 15 players originally drafted by the Red Sox and eight will be making their Double-A debut.· Seven players will be making their Red Sox organizational debut: Michael Brenly, Bo Greenwell, Nate Reed, Carlos Rivero, Jose Valdez and Stefan Welch. · Portland’s roster features three players that are sons of former Major Leaguers: Brenly (Bob Brenly), Greenwell (Mike) and Travis Shaw (Jeff).
COACHING STAFF: Former Sea Dog Billy McMillon (1995) begins his first season as the team’s manager…McMillon is the first former player to manage the Sea Dogs and the 11th Manager in team history…Pitching coach Bob Kipper returns for his seventh season and former Red Sox catcher Rich Gedman returns for his second season as the Hitting coach…Trainer Brandon Henry returns for his third season…he’ll be joined by Assistant Trainer Nicholas Kuchwara and Strength Coach Andrew Rasbury.
