Portland remains two games ahead of Binghamton and Connecticut
August 13, 2008 - Eastern League (EL1)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release
(Portland, ME) -- Starting pitcher Kris Johnson gave up one earned run and outfielders Mickey Hall and Josh Reddick homered to lead the Sea Dogs(64-57) past the Altoona Curve (55-70), 5-3, Wednesday night. The win is the second straight for the Dogs and gives them their first home series victory since July 4-7 against Reading.
Johnson (8-7) earned his first victory since July 1st by throwing 5.2 innings against the Curve. He gave up just three hits before giving up two runs (one earned) in the top of the 6th inning. Johnson wouldn't make it out of that inning, but he did finish with eight strikeouts and didn't walk a batter for just the second time at home this season. The win was Johnson's first at Hadlock Field since he threw five shutout innings against the Fisher Cats May 8th.
Daniel Bard retired all four batters on strikeouts to earn his 4th save of the season. In the ninth inning, Bard hit 100 mph on the Hadlock Field radar gun, getting Steve Lerud to swing through a fastball.
The Dogs offense, meanwhile, got to Altoona pitcher Derek Hankins (1-9) right away. Mickey Hall led off the bottom of the first inning with his 10th homerun of the season to give Portland a 1-0 lead.
Portland added two more runs in the last of the fourth inning against Hankins. Aaron Bates, Lars Anderson, and Mark Wagner would deliver consecutive one-out singles to load the bases. Reddick would strikeout for the second out of the inning, but Argenis Diaz would smack a 2-run single to center field to make it 3-0 Portland.
Altoona scored twice in the 6th against Johnson, thanks to an RBI infield single by Jose Tabata (4-for-4)and a 2-out double from Jonel Pacheco. Only one of those runs was earned as Jamie Romak reached on an error which would have resulted in three outs before Pacheco's single.
Once TJ Large got the final two outs with runners at second and third base, the Dogs offense quickly got those two runs back with the first three batters of the bottom of the 6th. Anderson doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a Mark Wagner sacrifice fly to right field. Reddick then followed with his 3rd homerun of the season, a moon shot that landed in the Sea Dogs bullpen for a 5-2 Portland lead.
Altoona scored their final run on Bard's wild pitch in the eighth inning.
Portland pitchers matched a season-high with 16 strikeouts - a franchise record for Altoona.
The Sea Dogs look for a 3-game sweep on Thursday afternoon beginning at 12:00 PM. LHP Dave Gasnner looks for his fifth straight win. Catch all the action on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network beginning at 11:40 AM.
Notes...Portland had a hit from eight of nine starters...Johnson earned his first win at home since early May...Altoona went 2-for-15, 9 SO with runners-in-scoring position.
• Discuss this story on the Eastern League message board...
Eastern League Stories from August 13, 2008
- Thunder offense stagnant in loss - Trenton Thunder
- Four Run First Propels Mets To Win - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Seven Game Win Streak Ends - Erie SeaWolves
- Curve falter against Portland - Altoona Curve
- Portland remains two games ahead of Binghamton and Connecticut - Portland Sea Dogs
- Maroul's Home Run Does in Aeros - Akron RubberDucks
- Defenders capture fifth straight - Connecticut Defenders
- Martinez, Barfield to Rehab this Weekend; Barfield Arrives Thursday, Martinez Friday - Akron RubberDucks
- Sandoval & Rohlinger Headed to the Bay Area - Connecticut Defenders
- Jason Stephens sent back to Tampa from Trenton - Trenton Thunder
- Billy Wagner To Rehab With B-Mets - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Erie SeaWolves vs. New Britain Rock Cats...Game Two of Three...Game Notes - Erie SeaWolves
- Fisher Cats blank Harrisburg 4-0 Wednesday afternoon - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Aeros Notes - Akron RubberDucks
- Senators Blanked by Fisher Cats - Harrisburg Senators
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
