Sea Dogs Beat the Heat and the 'Cats 6-2
Published on July 21, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release
Manchester, New Hampshire- The Portland Sea Dogs excelled in all three phases of the game in their 6-2 win over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Thursday night. Chris Balcom-Miller (2-4) provided the pitching, tossing six and two-thirds scoreless innings in his best Double-A start this year. Jeremy Hazelbaker displayed the defense with a highlight-reel catch in the fourth inning. Chih-Hsien Chiang and Mitch Dening came through offensively with a pair of home runs.
Despite 90-plus degree weather in Manchester, nothing could faze Balcom-Miller. The California native allowed back-to-back singles to Anthony Gose and Adeiny Hechavarria leading off the game. Then, Mike McDade grounded right back to the mound, allowing Balcom-Miller to start a double play that erased both Gose and McDade. The righty then got Moises Sierra to ground out to end the inning.
The offensive boost started in the second inning when Jon Hee singled in Will Middlebrooks following the third baseman's leadoff double. Portland made it 3-0 after the third inning when Middlebrooks doubled in a run and Tim Federowicz brought in another with an RBI groundout.
Hechavarria tried to ignite the Fisher Cats offense leading off the fourth inning. The New Hampshire shortstop drove a ball deep to left-center field. However, Hazelbaker made a perfect read and went crashing into a rotating billboard to rob Hechavarria of extra bases. The catch highlighted a seven straight batters retired by Balcom-Miller.
The big bats came out to play for Portland after that. Chiang smacked his 17 home run of the season in the fifth inning off of Chad Beck (7-4). The Taiwan native now ranks in the top five in the Eastern League's triple crown categories (average, home runs, and RBI). Dening followed up his walk-off home run yesterday with another solo shot tonight. His blast in the sixth inning made it 5-0 Portland and chased Beck from the game. Ryan Dent added an RBI double in the eighth for the Sea Dogs sixth run.
Caleb Clay relieved Balcom-Miller and closed out the seventh inning with runners on first and third for New Hampshire. Clay would go on to close out the game, but did allow the only two New Hampshire runs on a one-out, two-run homer by Yan Gomes in the ninth inning. Clay got strikeouts on four of the seven batters he retired.
The Sea Dogs and Fisher Cats will play the second of their four-game series tomorrow night. The four-game set wraps up Sunday afternoon. After that, the Portland road trip continues with three games in Binghamton. The Sea Dogs return to Hadlock Field on Thursday, July 28 for the start of a four-game series against the Altoona Curve. That night will feature Mike Piazza's Dog Tricks and the second Bark in the Park night this season. For tickets, log on to www.seadogs.com or call 207-879-9500.
Eastern League Stories from July 21, 2011
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- B-Mets Bombard Baseballtown with Homers in 11-1 Win - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Perez Powers Squirrels Past Senators, 8-5 - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Sea Dogs Beat the Heat and the 'Cats 6-2 - Portland Sea Dogs
- Yan Gomes Homers, But Fisher Cats Fall to Sea Dogs 6-2 - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Seven-Run Sixth Vaults Curve to Victory - Altoona Curve
- Erie SeaWolves Vs. Akron Aeros...Game One of Four...Game Notes - Erie SeaWolves
- Richmond Flying Squirrels Game Notes - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Meet Larry Bowa Tonight, Get a Free Autograph - Reading Fightin Phils
- Baysox Celebrate Girls Baseball Night - Chesapeake Baysox
- Aeros Return to Canal Park on Monday - Akron RubberDucks
- Baysox Celebrate Navy Night - Chesapeake Baysox
- Pirates' Ohlendorf to Rehab in Altoona on Sunday - Altoona Curve
- Sea Dogs to Host Picnic in the Park on July 30th - Portland Sea Dogs
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