EL1 Portland Sea Dogs

\'Dogs Sweep \'Cats 3-0 and 5-1

July 22, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release


(New Britain, CT) - The Portland Sea Dogs (47-49) swept New Britain (49-48) in a doubleheader on Wednesday night, defeating the Rock Cats 3-0 and 5-1 in front of 5,691 at New Britain Stadium. Portland has won the first three games of the series and improves to 4-3 on their 9-game roadtrip and trail the Trenton Thunder by 2 games for the second playoff spot in the Eastern League's Northern Division.

LHP Felix Doubront (6-2) tossed a 4-hit shutout in Portland's 3-0 victory in the twinbill opener over the Rock Cats. Doubront recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts and his 7-inning performance was his longest of the season. The lefty retired 21 of 25 batters faced, including the final eight.

CF Josh Reddick (2-for-4) delivered 2-run scoring singles with two outs. Reddick knocked in the second run in the fifth inning and drove in C Juan Apodaca in the seventh. Apodaca (2-for-3) drove in the first run with a run-scoring ground out to first base and his 2 singles preceded Reddick's RBI hits.

LHP Ryan Mullins (6-9) went the distance for New Britain but took the loss, allowing eight hits, three runs and fanning six. Both pitchers did not issue a walk with Doubront notching his first career complete game in his 89th professional start. The complete-game shutout was the first by a Portland pitcher since RHP Felix Diaz hurled a 1-hit shutout (7-innings) against the Trenton Thunder on August 28, 2007 at Hadlock Field.

In the nightcap, RHP Blake Maxwell (2-6) tossed five scoreless innings on three hits and 1B Lars Anderson (1-for-4, 3 RBI) drove in three with a double to break the game open in the seventh inning. Maxwell, who picked up his second road win of the year, issued two walks and fanned one. New Britain's only threat against the righty came in the fourth inning when they put runners at first and second. Maxwell retired 1B Erik Lis and DH Brian Dinkelman on fly outs.

Portland grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on run charged to losing pitcher RHP Frank Mata (3.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, BB, 4 SO). 3B Jorge Jimenez led off with a single and stole second base with two outs. DH Jon Still drove in his organizational-leading 62nd run with a bloop single to left-center field. In the fifth inning, Reddick walked and LF Ryan Kalish drove an RBI double over the centerfielder's head. Anderson's 3-run double in the seventh inning was misplayed by LF Matt Moses, who broke in late and made a diving attempt near the left-field line.

RHP Ryne Miller allowed a run-scoring single to 2B Steve Singleton in the seventh inning but earned his first Double-A save with two innings of work.

The Sea Dogs and Rock Cats play a doubleheader for the second consecutive day on Thursday night from New Britain Stadium beginning at 5:05 PM. RHP Junichi Tazawa and RHP Jarod Plummer get the starting nods for the Sea Dogs against RHP Deolis Guerra and RHP Cole DeVries for New Britain. Catch all the action on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network beginning at 4:35 PM with the Pre-Game Show built by CorrectDeck.

Notes...SS Argenis Diaz was traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for 1B Adam LaRoche...Greenville RHP Hunter Strickland was part of the deal, which took place before Portland's doubleheader...The Sea Dogs have four team shutouts on the season and Doubront picked up the team's second complete game...Portland scored 6 of 8 runs in the doubleheader with two outs...New Britain has been outscored 41-4 in their last four home games.

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Eastern League Stories from July 22, 2009


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