EL1 Portland Sea Dogs

Almanzar and Auggie Silence 'Cats 6-2 in Finale

Published on July 14, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release


Portland, Maine - The Portland Sea Dogs (63-34) scored early and matched the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (44-52) the rest of the way, winning the finale of the five-game series 6-2 Monday afternoon at Hadlock Field. The Sea Dogs took four of five from the Fisher Cats with the win and improved to 33-15 at home this season.

Portland went in order in the first, but jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second against Casey Lawrence of the Fisher Cats. Michael Almanzar began the inning with a walk and a stolen base and scored on Jonathan Roof's single to right, putting the Sea Dogs in front -0.

After a Meneses double moved runners to second and third, Danny Bethea stepped to the plate for his first Double-A plate appearance. The designated hitter knocked a check swing chopper in front of the plate and was retired 1-3, but drove home Roof for his first RBI and made it 2-0 'Dogs.

Mike Augliera took the hill for Portland and worked through the first two innings in perfect fashion before giving a run back in the third. The righty had two down in the frame, but left a pitch up to Andy Fermin and he put it into the Portland bullpen for a solo homer, his third, and cut the lead in half, 2-1.

The Sea Dogs would respond with another run of their own in the bottom of the third. Peter Hissey began the rally with a bunt single and scored with two outs on a single to center by Almanzar.

Almanzar contributed again with an RBI double in the fifth, which plated Blake Swihart from first and made it 4-1.

Augliera (4-8) continued to pitch well and had a stretch of five in a row retired before Matt Newman doubled with one out and moved to third on a single before scoring on a sac fly to center by Andy Burns which made it 4-2.

Portland continued to respond and tacked on a run in the sixth and eighth innings. Heiker Meneses, the hero from Sunday, hit a solo home run, his first since June 23, 2013 at Trenton, and made it 5-2. Ryan Dent added an RBI single in the eighth to make it the final margin of 6-2.

The starter Augliera worked into the eighth inning for the 'Dogs and was lifted after retiring the first two he faced. His final line went seven and two-thirds innings, he gave up two runs on six hits, a walk and four strikeouts. Robby Scott and Noe Ramirez pitched one and one-third innings of scoreless relief to close out the win.

Lawrence (6-5) went the first five innings, tossing 104 pitches, and allowed four runs on seven hits; he walked two and struck out six. Scott Gracey and Gregory Infante gave up a run each in relief.

The Eastern League All-Star break spans across Tuesday and Wednesday, before play resumes on Thursday. The 'Dogs and 'Cats will open up a four-game series Thursday night at 7:05 PM from Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. Starters have yet to be announced for either side. Radio coverage begins at 6:45 PM on the WPEI U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network. MiLB.TV coverage begins at 7:00 PM.

Check out the Portland Sea Dogs Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from July 14, 2014


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