Saturday Baseball in New Britain
The Sea Dogs continue their four-game series with the New Britain Rock Cats (Twins affiliate) on Saturday night at New Britain Stadium…The two teams split a twinbill on Friday night.
Roster Move: Right-hander Jeremy Kehrt received from Single-A Lowell…RH Chris Martin was promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket.
Coverage begins at 6:15 PM on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network
Portland Lineup: Hissey 7, Bogaerts 6, Shaw 3, Thomas DH, Linares 9, Almanzar 5, Wilkerson 8, Vazquez 2, Meneses 4, Barnes RHP
New Britain Lineup: Richardson 8, Christian 4, Sobolewski 5, Pinto DH, Ortiz 9, Rodriguez 7, Santana 6, Rohlfing 2, Smith 3, Meyer RHP
BACK TO ONE: Portland and New Britain split a double header on Friday night, and resume their 4-game series on Saturday night at New Britain Stadium…Tonight marks the 13th meeting of the season between the two teams…Portland has not lost a road series this season and holds the best road-record in the Eastern League at 10–4…Connecticut native Matt Barnes (3–1, 5.19) makes his seventh start of the season and his third against the Rock Cats.
THAT’S A SPLIT: Matt Spring clubbed a game-winning, two-run homer in the fourth inning, leading the Sea Dogs to a 6–4 win in game one…Travis Shaw gave Portland a 3–2 lead with a three-run homer in the fourth…Knuckleballer Charlie Haeger earned his first win of the season, working 5.2 innings on five hits and four runs…In game two, Trevor May hurled a two-hit shutout, as the ‘Cats took the nightcap 6–0…Xander Bogaerts and Peter Hissey had singles in game two…Brandon Workman (4–1) took his first loss of the year, giving up five runs on eight hits over 5.1 IP.
DESERVED THE PROMOTION: Right-hander Chris Martin earned the save in the opener, recording the final four outs…Martin extended his scoreless streak to 21 innings, tying Clay Buchholz for the fourth longest in team history…Earlier today, Martin was promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket…RHP Jeremy Kehrt takes Martin’s spot on the roster…Kehrt appeared in three games with Pawtucket earlier this season and was on Lowell’s roster.
THAT MAKES TWO THIS WEEK: Shaw has hit both homers this week…The first baseman hit his first home run of the season on May 7th vs. Reading, a solo-shot with two outs in the fourth…Spring blasted his second homer of the year — both against New Britain…Last night’s homers by Shaw and Spring came against Cole De Vries, who was making a MLB Rehab Assignment (Loss, 5.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO).
NOT BAD FOR ON THE ROAD: Dating back to 2011, the Sea Dogs are 4–0–1 in series at New Britain Stadium…Portland took two of three from the Rock Cats on April 11–14, winning the series opener 9–3…After a rainout on April 12th, the two-teams played back-to-back 10-inning games, with the ‘Cats taking the series finale 6–5…The rainout in the series opener will be made up when Portland returns to New Britain Stadium on July 22–24…The ‘Dogs have three doubleheaders on the schedule.
WHAT’S ON DECK: Portland and New Britain conclude their four-game series tomorrow afternoon beginning at 1:35 PM…The Sea Dogs have a scheduled off day on Monday and open up a three-game series against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays affiliate) on Tuesday night.
