Sea Dogs Split Opening Day Twinbill
Published on April 11, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release
PORTLAND, MAINE - The Portland Sea Dogs kicked off their 22nd season with an Opening Day split of a doubleheader with the Reading Fightin Phils, winning game one 4-2 and dropping game two 9-0.
The Sea Dogs offense got off to a quick start, with Keury De La Cruz hitting a three-run home run off of Reading starter Aaron Nola. The home run marks the second straight season a Sea Dogs player has homered in the first inning of Opening Day - last year Mookie Betts led off the season with a home run off Fightin Phils' starter Jesse Biddle.
After Reading plated a run in the top of the 2nd to cut the Sea Dogs lead to 3-2, Portland answered right back in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single from Mike Miller. Miller, who was making his AA debut, played both games in the twin billing and finished 4-for-5 with a double, RBI, run scored, stolen base, and was also hit by a pitch.
Sea Dogs starter Luis Diaz went four innings and allowed 2 runs on 5 hits with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts, and received no decision. Jonathan Aro (1-0) picked up the win, going the final 3 innings in relief and allowing just 1 hit while walking 1 and striking out 1. Aaron Nola (0-1), the #2 prospect in the Phillies system according to Baseball America, got the loss. He threw 4.2 innings and allowed 4 earned runs on 5 hits, while walking 1, striking out 2, and hitting 3 batters.
The Fightin Phils dominated game two with a 9-0 victory. Jesse Biddle (1-0), who struggled against Portland in last year's season opener, picked up the win with an impressive performance, going 5 innings and allowing just 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4.
Reading batted around in the 3rd inning and knocked Sea Dogs starter Justin Haley (0-1) out of the game after just 2.1 innings pitched. Haley allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on 4 hits, while walking 3 and striking out 3. The Fightin Phils also sent 9 batters to the plate in the 7th inning off of Sea Dogs reliever Pat Light, with Brock Stassi and Roman Quinn each homering in the inning.
The Sea Dogs and Fightin Phils wrap up their series tomorrow afternoon at Hadlock Field. Mike Augliera will get the start for Portland, while Zach Eflin will be making his organizational debut in the Phillies system for Reading. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM. Tickets are still available for purchase through the Sea Dogs website at www.seadogs.com or at the Hadlock Field box office prior to the game.
Eastern League Stories from April 11, 2015
- Squirrels' Tank Runs Empty in 14th, 7-6 - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Glasnow Tosses Five Scoreless Innings in 4-1 Loss - Altoona Curve
- Four-Run Eighth Fuels Harrisburg Win over Altoona - Harrisburg Senators
- Newman Walks Fisher Cats off in Tenth - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Sea Dogs Split Opening Day Twinbill - Portland Sea Dogs
- Fightin Phils Split Opening Day Twin Bill - Reading Fightin Phils
- RubberDucks Shut down Saturday - Akron RubberDucks
- You Know It: Ynoa Baffles Ducks in 2-0 Win - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Flying Squirrels Game Notes: vs. Bowie - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- B-Mets Game Notes: Game #3 - B-Mets (1-1) at Akron RubberDucks (1-1) - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Sea Dogs Game Notes April 11 vs. Reading (Games 1, 2) - Portland Sea Dogs
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.
