Trot over to Hadlock Field tonight
The Sea Dogs open up a seven-game homestand on Monday night against the Reading Fightin Phils at Hadlock Field…Portland dropped two of three to start the homestand against the Trenton Thunder — their first series loss of the season. Fans at Hadlock Field get a treat tonight, as Trot Nixon will throw out a ceremonial first pitch and sign autographs.
RHP Mike McCarthy makes the start in the series opener and his third career appearance against Reading. McCarthy is 1–0, 4.50 against the Fightins in his career — both appearances last season.
LHP Jesse Biddle, the top pitching prospect in the Phillies system, makes his fifth career start against Portland. On Opening night in Reading, Biddle suffered the loss, allowing 9 hits and 4 runs over 3.1 IP. He gave up a homer to Mookie Betts to lead-off the season. The highly touted lefty has struggled in his career against Portland, going 1–3, 5.64 ERA (14 ER/22.1 IP) in four previous starts — three last season.
Pre-Game begins at 5:40 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 beginning at 5:55 PM.
Pre-Game Interview: Derrik Gibson
Reading: Alonso 4, Stassi 3, Hernandez 5, Perkins 7, Serritella DH, Altherr 8, Moore 2, Hewitt 9, Duran 6, Biddle LHP (2–2, 2.86)
Portland lineup: Betts 4, Marrero 6, Shaw 3, Rivero 5, Coyle DH, Ramos 9, Spring 2, Gibson 7, Wilkerson 8, McCarthy RHP (0–2, 8.59)
Notes for day…Complete notes at seadogs.com
ON TO THE NEXT ONE: The Sea Dogs continue their seven-game homestand on Monday night against the Reading Fightin Phils…Former Red Sox OF Trot Nixon makes a special appearance, throwing out a ceremonial first pitch and signing autographs…Portland dropped their first series over the weekend, as the Thunder took two of three…The series featured 52 runs, 82 hits, but 18 innings pitched by Portland’s bullpen…The ‘Dogs and Fightins split a four-game series in Reading, PA to begin the season.
DECIDED EARLY: Trenton scored six runs in three of four innings to start the game off Henry Owens (3–1) and held on for a 6–5 on Sunday afternoon…Portland’s entire lineup reached base safely, and rallied back from a 5–0 deficit…The ‘Dogs got on the board when Mookie Betts delivered a run-scoring double in the third…Derrik Gibson added a two-run single and Travis Shaw drove in a run with a double in the fifth…Trenton catcher Gary Sanchez finished 2-for-4 with a homer, double and 3 RBI.
MOOKIE MADNESS:Betts went 1-for-5 with an RBI double in the series finale…Betts has a team-high, 14-game hitting streak and has reached base safely in all 19 Double-A starts (11 multi-hit games)…The first-year Sea Dog has reached base safely in 49 straight regular season games dating back to August 2, 2013, but 54 including last year’s Carolina League playoffs…The 14-game hit streak is the longest since OF Chih-Hsian Chiang’s 16-game hitting streak from July 15, 2011 until his promotion to Pawtucket.
TWO OUT MAGIC: Portland’s last 10 runs have been scored with two outs…This season, the ‘Dogs have scored 45 of their 121 runs (37%) with two outs and hitting .291 (23–79) with runners-in-scoring position and two-out.
¡VAMONOS RAMOS!:RF Henry Ramos went 1-for-3 with a walk on Sunday and has a season-high 9-game hitting streak: 14-for-37 (.378) with 7 RBI…C Blake Swihart has hit safely in in nine of has last 10 starts: 23-for-49 (.469), including his first Hadlock Field homer of the season on Saturday, a solo-shot in the 10th inning to tie the game at six.
IT HAPPENS TO THE BEST: Owens allowed six earned runs on Sunday, the most he’s allowed in 11 career Double-A starts…The lefty began the season with a 15.1 scoreless streak, but has given up 16 earned runs in his last 16 IP…LHP Jesse Biddle has yielded just one earned run in his last 18 IP (0.50 ERA).
