O Boy: 'Dogs Sweep Away Curve 4-2, 3-0
Published on June 20, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release
GAME ONE RECAP
PORTLAND, Maine -- On Friday night, prior to starting a seven-game homestand, the Sea Dogs and Altoona Curve concluded a suspended game from Peoples NaturalGas Field on June 11th. Since the 'Dogs don't go back to Altoona, the game had to made up in Portland.
RHP Mike McCarthy (6-2) relieved RHP Keith Couch, and worked five strong innings on five hits and one run to earn the win.
In addition to a strange first game, with the Curve the home team at Hadlock Field --history was made by 2B Sean Coyle. In the fourth inning, he hit a homer over the Maine Monster, but into the hole of the tire on the Sullivan Tire sign. With that accomplishment, Coyle and Norm Harmon of Cape Elizabeth, Maine will split $10,000 dollars.
Coyle's homer made it 4-1 Portland; they built a 2-0 lead on 1B Stefan Welch's two-run shot in the second. Altoona added an unearned run off Couch in the second and a run-scoring fielder's choice by Alen Hanson in the seventh.
RHP Miguel Celestino retired the final six batters to earn his fifth save in seven chances. Altoona starter RHP Adrian Sampson (4-4) took the loss, giving up two runs on two hits.
GAME TWO RECAP
PORTLAND, Maine - The Portland Sea Dogs (47-25) scored early and used a complete game shutout to down the Altoona Curve (26-45) 3-0 in the night cap of the two games Friday at Hadlock Field.
The Sea Dogs wasted no time in the night-cap and jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning against Joan Montero and the Curve. Jonathan Roof sparked the rally with a one out single; Blake Swihart followed with a walk and Sean Coyle loaded the bases with a single to center.
David Chester was next to bat against the Altoona righty and he ripped a sharp ground ball off the glove of the third baseman and into left field for a two-run single. The RBI were number six and seven for the first baseman and came in his first official at-bat at Hadlock Field.
That would truly be all Portland's lefty Henry Owens (9-3) would need on the night. The southpaw threw a complete game shutout and allowed five hits and two walks, while striking out six Altoona hitters.
Owens came out and worked around a one out error in the first and a single and a walk in the second, keeping the Curve off the board.
Altoona had its best chance of the night in the third inning when Junior Sosa led off the inning with a double to right and Alen Hanson backed him up with a single to put runners at the corners with no outs. Owens buckled in and induced a foul pop to first and a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat and kept the Curve at bay.
The offense gave its starter one more run to work, thanks to an RBI single off the bat of Keury De La Cruz with two down in the third off the starter Montero (2-2), which made it 3-0.
Owens took over in the fourth, pitched around a leadoff walk, struck out two and ended the inning with a fly out to right. The first two reached in the fifth, but again, the lefty battled back and retired the next two to end the inning. Owens remained perfect for the final eight hitters of the game and wrapped up his complete game, shutout with back-to-back swinging strikeouts.
The Sea Dogs and Curve get back to action with a doubleheader Saturday night at Hadlock Field. Game one is scheduled to start at 5:00PM and will feature LHP Brian Johnson (5-1, 1.71) for Portland and LHP Joely Rodriguez (3-5, 4.22) of the Curve. Game two's pitcher for Portland has not been announced, RHP Matt Benedict (0-4, 8.35) will go for Altoona. Radio coverage begins at 4:40PM on the WPEI U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network. MiLB.TV coverage begins at 4:55PM.
Eastern League Stories from June 20, 2014
- Reading overpowered by New Britain - Reading Fightin Phils
- O Boy: 'Dogs Sweep Away Curve 4-2, 3-0 - Portland Sea Dogs
- Portland Leaves Curve Feeling Seasick on Friday - Altoona Curve
- Crouse, Fisher Cats Fade in 8-5 Loss to Trenton - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
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- Senators Fall Late to RubberDucks - Harrisburg Senators
- Rock Cats Host Good Deed Game on Tuesday - New Britain Rock Cats
- B-Mets Game Notes: Game #73 - B-Mets (41-31) at Bowie Baysox (37-34) - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Altoona Curve Game Information: June 20, 2014 - Altoona Curve
- Sea Dogs Game Notes June 20 vs. Altoona (Games 71, 72) - Portland Sea Dogs
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