EL1 Portland Sea Dogs

Sea Dogs Can't Match Trenton's Thunder in 8-3 Loss

April 9, 2012 - Eastern League (EL1)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release


Portland, Maine - The Trenton Thunder (2-2) continued its hot hitting and beat the Portland Sea Dogs (0-5) 8-3 on Monday night at Waterfront Park in Trenton, New Jersey. The loss sends Portland to the worst start in franchise history.

Portland starter Billy Buckner allowed the first four Thunder hitters to reach and score in the first inning setting the Sea Dogs back 4-0. David Adams drove home the first run for Trenton with an RBI single and Zoilo Almonte followed with an infield single to short that scored another run. Melky Mesa and Gustavo Molina capped off the four run frame with a pair of RBI singles, before the ninth hitter of the inning, Walter Ibarra grounded into an inning ending double play.

Trenton lefty Josh Romanski couldn't shut down the Sea Dogs as they put a pair on the board in the next half inning. With one out, Dan Butler smacked a solo homerun to left field and Jon Hee followed with a double to left. Portland shortstop Heiker Meneses brought Hee home on an RBI single to right field before he was thrown out trying to advance to second on the throw home.

After the shaky first and with two runs of support, Buckner (0-1) tossed a perfect second before Zoilo Almonte tagged a solo shot to center on the first pitch of the third. Leading 6-3 heading into the eighth, Gustavo Molina powered a two-run homerun out of Waterfront Park and put the Thunder up by five.

Romanski (1-0) rode the support of his offense into the sixth inning before being lifted following an RBI single by Butler. The 'Dogs went quietly in the final three frames, stymied by the Thunder bullpen.

Offensively for Portland, Dan Butler led the way with his solo home run, single, and two RBI. For the Thunder, it was the three big bats of Abraham Almonte, Zoilo Almonte, and Gustavo Molina that combined to go 8-for-13 with 6 RBI, and three runs scored that led the charge in the win.

Prime Motor Group Player of the Game: Dan Butler 2-4, HR, 2RBI

The Sea Dogs and Thunder return to the diamond Tuesday Night at 7:05 PM for game two of the three game series. The Sea Dogs will send right-handed pitcher Chris Balcom-Miller (0-0, 1.80) to the mound. Trenton will counter with righty Craig Heyer (0-0, 0.00). The Sea Dogs can be heard on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs radio network with 95.5/95.9 FM WPEI serving as the flagship station.

The Sea Dogs will return home for their home opener on Thursday, April 12th at 6:00 PM against the Binghamton Mets. Tickets are available for all Sea Dogs' home games. Tickets can be ordered by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or online at www.seadogs.com.

Check out the Portland Sea Dogs Statistics



Eastern League Stories from April 9, 2012


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