Results and Highlights from 5/20/12

Binghamton (21-20) – 11
Portland (15-27) – 7
WP: Peavey (3-1)
LP: Chris Balcom-Miller (2-4)
HR: Binghamton – Jefre Marte (3)
Portland – Reynaldo Rodriguez (9), Jeremy Hazelbaker (2)

HIGHLIGHTS: Reynaldo Rodriguez tied a Sea Dogs record with his eighth home run in the month of May. Josh Roskos and Kevin Millar in 1997, John Hattig in 2004 and Ryan Lavarnway in 2011 are the four prior Portland players to accomplish this feat. Rodriguez has eleven games left in the month to make the record his own … The BMets stole two more bases on the day, giving them 7 in the series, all on catcher Matt Spring. On the year the Portland backstop has allowed 29 stolen bases and only thrown out 3 runners … Right fielder Bryce Brentz went 4 for 5 with a double and two runs. He is batting .452 over his last ten games … Despite having a league-high 4.65 team ERA, they have fired 314 strikeouts, good enough for third most in the Eastern League.

New Britain (25-17) – 4
Reading (24-17) – 10
WP: Jonathan Pettibone (3-4)
LP: Brad Thompson (0-1)
HR: Reading – Darin Ruf (7)

HIGHLIGHTS: In his first start since 2010, Brad Thompson allowed 4 earned runs and 7 hits in 2 1/3 innings … Center fielder Aaron Hicks went 1 for 4 and stole his second base in as many games … Deibinson Romero came into the game with only 1 hit in his last five games, but managed a 2 for 3 day at the plate, with two walks … The Rock Cats have a team batting average of .238, worst in the Eastern League.

Trenton (22-16) – 8
New Hampshire (16-25) – 3
WP: Shaeffer Hall (4-4)
LP: Joel Carreno (0-1, 6.14)
HR: Trenton – Dan Brewer (1)
New Hampshire – Mike McDade (6), Sean Ochinko (1)

HIGHLIGHTS: Starter Joel Carreno went 4 1/3 innings, allowing 2 earned runs on 3 hits and 2 walks. All four Fisher Cats pitchers allowed 2 earned runs … Catcher Sean Ochinko went 1 for 3 and blasted his first AA home run … Brian Van Kirk went 1 for 4 to extend his hit streak to eight games … John Tolisano and Ryan Goins both went 2 for 4. Goins is batting .368 over his last ten games and Tolisano .351. Both are in the top-10 in the Eastern League for batting.

Pawtucket (27-18) – 3
Norfolk (19-24) – 6
WP: Brad Bergesen (2-2)
LP: Brandon Duckworth (5-1)
S: Stuart Pomeranz (2)
HR: Pawtucket – Scott Podsednik (1)

HIGHLIGHTS: Starter Brandon Duckworth picked up his first loss of the season after allowing 4 runs on 9 hits over 5 innings. For the second time this season the PawSox are in the midst of a four-game losing streak … Reliever Mark Melancon allowed a run on 2 walks and a hit in the eighth inning. It is the first run he has allowed 14 innings of work with Pawtucket … Jose Iglesias went 1 for 4 to extend his hitting streak to six games … Scott Podsednik went 1 for 4 with his first home run of the year. In 22 games with Lehigh Valley, he had 15 hits, 0 home runs and 4 RBIs. In 8 games with Pawtucket he has 9 hits, 1 home run and 6 RBIs.

Results and Highlights 5/15/12

Portland (14-24) – 8
Reading (22-15) – 5
WP: Jeremy Kehrt (1-0)
LP: Drew Naylor (2-1)
S: Caleb Clay (3)
HR: Portland – Reynaldo Rodriguez (7), Matt Spring (3)
Reading – Sebastian Valle (2), Miguel Abreu (2)

HIGHLIGHTS: In his first start of the season Portland’s Anthony Ranaudo threw 4 innings, allowing 4 runs, 4 hits, 2 home runs, 3 walks and 2 strikeouts … Shortstop Derrik Gibson stole 2 bases, giving him 4 in his last three games. He was 1 for 4 with 2 runs scored, extending his hit streak to eight games … Juan Carlos Linares went 1 for 3 with 2 walks and has hit safely in 24 of 32 games … Bryce Brentz went 2 for 5 in the DH slot. He is batting .441 over his last ten games … With seven wins in the month of May the Sea Dogs have equaled their win total from the entire month of April.

Pawtucket (26-14) – 8
Durham (15-25) – 2
WP: Brandon Duckworth (5-0)
LP: Matt Torra (2-5)
HR: Pawtucket – Jose Iglesias (1), Kroeger (4)
Durham – Matt Mangini (3), Leslie Anderson (2)

HIGHLIGHTS: Starter Brandon Duckworth worked 6 innings, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits for his fifth win of the season … Reliever Garrett Mock pitched two scoreless innings and over his last 6 appearances he has thrown 8 2/3 scoreless, compiling a 1-0 mark with 2 saves, 4 hits, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts … Jose Iglesias went 3 for 5 with 2 runs and 2 RBIs and hit the second home run of his professional career … DH Josh Kroeger went 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, a home run, 3 RBIs and 2 runs … Mark Melancon pitched a perfect ninth inning and still has yet to yield a run or a walk in 11 relief appearances for the PawSox … In his first minor league apperance since 2008, Durham DH Hideki Matsui went 0 for 4 and struck out once. The 37-year-old former Yankees, A’s and Angels outfielder is looking to catch on with Tampa Bay signing as a free agent at the end of April.

New Hampshire (14-21)
New Britain (22-14) – DH PPD

HIGHLIGHTS: These two teams will play a doubleheader on Wednesday starting at 5:05 p.m.

Results and Highlights from 5/14/12

Columbus (18-19) – 5
Pawtucket (25-14) – 3
WP: Eric Berger (1-1)
LP: Justin Germano (4-2)
S: Chris Ray (6)
HR: Columbus – Matt LaPorta (10)
Pawtucket – Lars Anderson (2)

HIGHLIGHTS: Pawtucket starter Justin Germano picked up his first loss since April 13th despite not allowing 1 earned run. He lowered his ERA to 1.99, fourth best in the International League … Junichi Tazawa pitched a perfect two innings of relief, striking out 3 batters … Scott Podsednik went 2 for 3 with a triple and a run scored in his second game with the PawSox … Alex Hassan went 0 for 3 with 3 strikeouts and a walk. It was the first time in more than four games that he struck out … In the thirteen games since Will Middlebrooks was called up to Boston, replacements at the third base position have a combined .256 batting average with 1 home run, 4 RBIs and 8 runs.

Portland (13-24) – 2
Reading (22-14) – 1
W: Chris Martin (3-3)
L: Jonathan Pettibone (2-4)
S: Josh Fields (2)

HIGHLIGHTS: Sea Dogs’ starter Chris Martin pitched five innings, allowed 5 hits, 0 walks, struck out 6 and did not allow an earned run … After a 5 for 5 day at the plate on Sunday, Bryce Brentz proceeded to collect hits in his first three at-bats on Monday before striking out in the ninth inning to halt his consecutive hit streak at 8 at-bats … Left fielder Oscar Tejada went 1 for 4 with a double and a run scored. He extended his hit streak to eight games … Kolbin Vitek went 1 for 4 with his first triple of the season. Of his 33 hits this year, 8 have been for extra bases.

Results and Highlights from 5/9/12

New Hampshire (13-18) – 4
Portland (11-21) – 5
WP: Stolmy Pimentel (1-0)
LP: Fernando Hernandez (0-1, 4.15)
S: Charle Rosario (2)
HR: New Hampshire – Brad Glenn (4)
Portland – Bryce Brentz (3)

HIGHLIGHTS: In his 18th start with Portland Stolmy Pimentel picked up his first AA win. He went 6 innings and allowed 1 earned run on 5 hits and a walk … Sea Dogs DH Bryce Brentz went 2 for 4 and hit his second home run in as many days. It was his fourth multi-hit game in his last seven … Portland’s Juan Carlos Linares went 3 for 5 with 2 doubles, 2 RBIs and 2 runs. He is now batting .341, fourth best in the Eastern League … New Hampshire’s Mike McDade went 3 for 4, raising his batting average to .318, good enough for ninth in the E.L.

Rochester (14-18) – 2
Pawtucket (21-13) – 5
WP: Justin Germano (4-1)
LP: Cole DeVries (0-3)
S: Mark Melancon (2)
HR: Rochester – Joe Thurston (2)

HIGHLIGHTS: Starter Justin Germano threw 6 innings and allowed 6 hits, 2 walks and 2 runs en route to his fourth win of the season … Mark Melancon gave up two hits and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning. He has yet to allow a run or a walk in nine appearances (9 2/3 innings) and has struck out 17 batters … Daniel Nava went 3 for 4 with a double and 2 RBIs, raising his batting average to .316, 12th best in the International League. As recently as April 27th his average was .228 … Jose Iglesias went 2 for 5 with a run scored and 2 strikeouts. It is the sixth two-hit game in his last seven … Mauro Gomez snapped an 0 for 13 streak with a 2-RBI single in the bottom of the first.

New Britain (20-12) – 5
Binghamton (14-17) – 1
WP: Luis Perdomo (3-2)
LP: Erik Turgeon (1-3)
HR: New Britain – Wilkin Ramirez (1)

HIGHLIGHTS: Luis Perdomo pitched a scoreless seventh inning to pick up his third win in his last four appearances. He hasn’t allowed a run in his last 10 1/3 innings .. Reliever Caleb Thielbar struck out 3 and allowed only 1 hit over the final two innings. Since being called up from Ft. Myers he has made 4 appearances and has not allowed a run in 6 2/3 innings … Wilkin Ramirez went 3 for 5 with a double and his first home run as a Rock Cat. Of 8 games with New Britain, four have been multi-hit … Joe Benson went 1 for 5 and is 1 for 9 in the two games played with New Britain since being demoted from AAA Rochester.

Results and Highlights from 4/27/12

Reading (14-6) – 5
Portland (6-16) – 4
WP: Jordan Whatcott (1-0)
LP: Aaron Kurcz (0-2)
S: Justin Friend (4)
HR: Reading – Miguel Abreu (1)
Portland – Juan Carlos Linares (4)

HIGHLIGHTS: In his first start of the season, Stolmy Pimentel lasted 5 innings for the Sea Dogs, allowing 2 earned runs on 7 hits while striking out 7. He ran into trouble in the third inning when three runs scored, but he managed 1-2-3 innings in the second and fourth. He induced 5 ground ball outs and 1 fly out … Aaron Kurcz – one of two players sent to the Red Sox by the Chicago Cubs as compensation for Theo Epstein – blew his second save of the season, allowing two runs over the last two innings, including the game-winning home run by Miguel Abreu with two outs in the top of the ninth … Portland shortstop Juan Carlos Linares went 2 for 4 with a solo home run, his fourth of the season … Bryce Brentz came into the game batting .198, but went 2 for 4 with 2 doubles and 2 runs scored and raised his average to .212.

New Britain (13-8) – 4
Richmond (10-11) – 5
WP: Daryl Maday (2-1)
LP: Bobby Lanigan (1-2)
HR: New Britain – Aaron Hicks (4)

HIGHLIGHTS: The Rock Cats were down to their last out, trailing 2-0 in the top of the ninth when Aaron Hicks drove in Chris Herrmann with a single and Diebinson Romero followed up with a double to plate Hicks, who went on to hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the top of the 13th. The Flying Squirrels clawed back in the bottom of the 13th and Juan Perez hit a walk-off, two-run homer off of Bobby Lanigan … Rock Cats right fielder Evan Bigley went 1 for 4 and has hit safely in seven straight games … New Britain shortstop Estarlin De Los Santos stole his third base and was caught stealing for the second time this season … New Britain batters struck out 14 times.

Trenton (9-11) – 1
New Hampshire (9-11) – 2
WP: Ryan Tepera (2-1)
LP: Shaeffer Hall (2-3)
S: Ronald Uviedo (5)

HIGHLIGHTS: New Hampshire starter Ryan Tepera allowed 5 walks in 5 innings, but only let up 1 run and earned his second win of the season … Ronald Uviedo worked a scoreless ninth for his league-leading fifth save of the year .. Fisher Cats left fielder John Tolisano went 3 for 3 with 3 doubles, an RBI, a run and a stolen base. He came into the game with 3 doubles on the season … After reaching base in his last 10 games, first baseman Mike McDade’s streak ended when he went 0 for 4 with no free passes … New Hampshire reliever Clint Everts pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless ball. In four appearances with the Cats he has pitched 6 innings, allowing 0 runs, 4 hits and 4 walks  to go with 11 strikeouts … It was the seventh time the Fisher Cats won by two runs or less this year.

Pawtucket (15-7) – 1
Columbus (11-10) – 4
WP: Zach McAllister (2-1)
LP: Ross Ohlendorf (3-1)
S: Chris Ray (4)
HR: Pawtucket – Josh Kroeger (1)
Columbus – Matt LaPorta (6)

HIGHLIGHTS: Only three PawSox players collected hits on the night, Jose Iglesias (1 for 4), Ryan Lavarnway (2 for 4) and Josh Kroeger (1 for 3, solo HR) … Pawtucket starter Ross Ohlendorf let up a season-high 10 hits over 6 innings … Andrew Miller pitched an inning in relief and served up a two-run homer to Matt LaPorta, but also recorded three strikeouts … Reliever Mark Melancon pitched a scoreless eighth in his fourth appearance with the PawSox since being demoted. He has tossed 6 1/3 innings with Pawtucket and has not allowed a run or a walk and has struck out 8 … Left fielder Alex Hassan went 0 for 2 and is now 3 for his last 16 after hitting a grand slam – his only HR of the year – back on April 20th.

Results and Notes from 4/17/12

Pawtucket (8-5) – 1
Syracuse (3-9) – 0
WP: Brandon Duckworth (2-0)
LP: Josh Wilkie (0-1)
HR: Pawtucket – Ryan Lavarnway (2)

HIGHLIGHTS: Justin Germano (7 innings) and Brandon Duckworth (2 innings) combined for a five-hit shutout, allowing no walks and striking out 8 … PawSox catcher Ryan Lavarnway went 2 for 4 and blasted his second home run in as many games … Shortstop Jose Iglesias went 0 for 4, his sixth game without a hit this season … Jonathan Hee made his AAA debut at third base for the PawSox. He went 0 for 2 with a walk.

New Britain (10-3) – 6
Portland (3-10) – 3
WP: Bobby Lanigan (1-1)
LP: Brock Huntzinger (0-3)
HR: New Britain – Chris Colabello 2 (4)
Portland – Jeremy Hazelbaker (1)

HIGHLIGHTS: New Britain has won six straight games, all on the road, and are now tied with Reading for the best record in the Eastern League. Portland, losers of three straight, possess the worst record in the league … Rock Cats first baseman Chris Colabello went 2 for 3 with 2 home runs, 3 RBIs and 3 runs. His 4 home runs and 11 RBIs – all coming in the last six games – are tied for second in the E.L. … Sea Dogs right fielder Bryce Brentz went 2 for 4 with a triple and 2 RBIs. He is batting .304 over his last six games … New Britain reliever Deolis Guerra made his fifth appearance on the year, tossing two scoreless innings while striking out 2.

Binghamton (5-6) – 10
New Hampshire (4-8) – 6
WP: Collin McHugh (2-1)
LP: Chad Jenkins (1-2)
HR: Binghamton – Josh Rodriguez (1)
New Hampshire – Mark Sobolewski (1), Brad Glenn (2)

HIGHLIGHTS: New Hampshire starter Chad Jenkins saw his ERA balloon to 8.04 after allowing 8 earned runs over 2 2/3 innings … Fisher Cats center fielder Justin Jackson hit leadoff for the first time this season, going 2 for 5 with a run scored … Shortstop Ryan Goins went 3 for 5 with a single, double, triple and 3 RBIs.

Results and Notes from 4/13/12

New Britain – 6
New Hampshire – 1
WP: Steve Hirschfeld (2-0)
LP: Deck McGuire (0-2)
HR: New Britain – Chris Colabello (1)

HIGHLIGHTS: Rock Cats starter Steve Hirschfeld threw 5 scoreless innings, striking out 4 while allowing 4 hits and 2 walks. For the Fisher Cats, starter Deck McGuire allowed three earned runs in 5 innings of work, with 5 Ks, 7 hits and no walks … Prior to the start of the game pitcher Evan Crawford was called up to Toronto for his first shot in the Majors. The lefty reliever pitched four scoreless innings this season and will become the 53rd Fisher Cats player to hit the bigs … Former Worcester Tornado and current Rock Cats first baseman Chris Colabello hit his first home run and collected his first 4 RBIs of the season … After five straight games without a hit, New Britain catcher Chris Herrmann went 3 for 5 with 2 doubles, 2 runs scored and his first stolen base of the season … The Fisher Cats have scored more than 3 runs only once all season – 5 in the season opener – and their 2.6 average runs per game is an Eastern League low.

Binghamton -3
Portland – 4
WP: Caleb Clay (1-1)
LP: Erik Turgeon (0-1)
S: Aaron Kurcz (1)
HR: Binghamton – Eric Campbell (1)
Portland – Bryce Brentz (1), Juan Carlos Linares (3)

HIGHLIGHTS: Binghamton took a 3-0 lead in the first inning, but Portland battled back, scoring once in both the sixth and seven innings before Juan Carlos Linares hit the go-ahead, two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning … Linares went 2 for 4, extending his hit streak to five games and raising his average to .417, third best in the Eastern League … Oscar Tejada filled Portland’s designated hitter role for the third time this season and went 2 for 4 with an RBI. The former-shortstop-turned-outfielder has hit safely in seven of the eight games played this season … Bryce Brentz launched his first AA home run for the Sea Dogs. The left fielder had 30 home runs between Greenville and Salem last year … Aaron Kurcz notched his first save since 2010 when he was pitching for the Class-A Short Season Boise Hawks.

Pawtucket – 4
Rochester – 3
W: Aaron Cook (2-0)
LP: Carlos Gutierrez (1-1)
S: Clayton Mortensen (1)
HR: Pawtucket – Will Middlebrooks (2)
Rochester – Mike Hollimon (1)

HIGHLIGHTS: Will Middlebrooks’ 3-run, sixth inning home run served to be the game winner as the PawSox clawed back after being down by two runs on two separate occasions … The top five hitters in the PawSox lineup went a combined 0 for 17 with six strikeouts … Pawtucket’s 1.42 ERA is the third best at any Minor League level. Only New Orleans of the Pacific Coast League (0.91) and Myrtle Beach of the Carolina League (1.17) have been more efficient this season … Junichi Tazawa was dominant once again in relief for Pawtucket. He tossed two scoreless innings, allowed only 1 hit and struck out 5. In three appearances this year his line is: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K … Daniel Nava was hit by a pitch twice in the game. He has been plunked three times so far this season.

Results and Notes for 4/11/12

Harrisburg – 8
New Britain – 4
WP: Erik Davis (2-0)
LP: Bobby Lanigan (0-1)

HIGHLIGHTS: Harrisburg scored four runs in the fifth and seventh innings to sink the Rock Cats who finished their season opening home stand with a 4-3 record … Shortstop Pedro Florimon was bumped up to the second spot in the Rock Cats order and for the first time all season he failed to get at least one hit in a game. Florimon had batted in either the seventh or eighth slot in the prior six games … Outfielder Darin Mastroianni swiped his fourth base of the season for New Britain … Aaron Hicks doubled and scored a run as the DH for the Rock Cats. He has scored 5 runs in the last three games and is tied for the league lead with 6 … New Britain reliever Lester Oliveros made his third appearance of the season and did not allow a run in one inning of work. In 3 1/3 innings this year, Oliveros has yet to allow a run and has yielded 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 4.

Portland – 1
Trenton – 10
WP: Shaeffer Hall (1-1)
LP: Chris Martin (0-2)
HR: Trenton – Ronnier Mustelier (1)

HIGHLIGHTS: Up 4-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, Trenton put 6 more runs on the board to put the game out of reach for Portland. The Sea Dogs return to Hadlock Field on Thursday for Opening Day after a dismal 1-6 start to the season on the road … Left fielder Juan Carlos Linares went 1 for 4 for Portland. His .407 batting average if fifth best in the Eastern League … Shortstop Derrik Gibson got his first start of the year for the Sea Dogs. The 2008 Red Sox second rounder went 0 for 4 and made an error on a Gustavo Molina grounder in the fifth inning … Bryce Brentz went 0 for 4 and is now 1 for his last 20 with 8 strikeouts and 3 walks … Catcher Matt Spring got his third start and for the third time he went 0 for 4 at the plate.

New Hampshire – 2
Reading – 4
WP: Tyler Cloyd (1-0)
LP: Matt Daly (0-1)
S: Justin Friend (3)
HR: New Hampshire – Brian Van Kirk (1)

HIGHLIGHTS: The RPhils tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, then broke that tie with two more in the sixth thanks to a Cesar Hernandez 2-RBI single … The Fisher Cats had a season high 3 errors on the day, bringing their season total to 10 … Brad Glenn has hit safely in four straight games and Mike McDade in five straight. Both players have 8 hits to lead the Fisher Cats … Brian Van Kirk hit the first pitch that he saw from Tyler Cloyd over the left field wall for his first AA home run, a 2-run shot … Koby Clemens and Justin Jackson struck out a combined five times and were the only two hitless Fisher Cats … The Fisher Cats will raise their 2011 Eastern League Championship banner prior to tomorrow’s home opener against New Britain. Ceremonies are slated to begin at 6:00 p.m.

Pawtucket – 1
Rochester – 2
WP: Scott Diamond (2-0)
LP: Justin Germano (1-1)
S: Anthony Slama (3)

HIGHLIGHTS: Despite picking up a run in the top of the eighth, the PawSox could not catch up to the Red Wings early 2-0 lead. Pawtucket is now 3-4 on the year … Alex Hassan’s struggles continue as the PawSox left fielder went 0 for 3 and is now hitless in 14 at-bats. On the bright side he has picked up 5 walks in his last three games … First baseman Lars Anderson struck out 3 times and has now whiffed at least once in the last six games … After back-to-back 0 for 4’s, PawSox catcher Ryan Lavarnway notched his first multi-hit game of the season … Pawtucket left 9 men on base. It is the sixth time this season that they’ve stranded 7 or more runners.

Results and notes for 4/6/12

Richmond – 2 GAME 1
New Britain – 5
WP: Steve Hirschfeld (1-0)
LP: Stevenson (0-1)
HR: New Britain – Evan Bigley (1)

Richmond – 1 GAME 2
New Britain – 4
W: Logan Darnell (1-0)
L: Craig Westcott (0-1)
S: Bobby Lanigan (1)

HIGHLIGHTS: The Rock Cats found themselves down, 2-0, in the second inning of game one, but Evan Bigley’s grand slam in the fifth inning put them on top for good. Bigley went 2 for 3 with a triple and 5 RBI in the game … New Britain reliever Luis Perdomo pitched two flawless innings, throwing 14 of 16 pitches for strikes, whiffing four of the six batters he faced … Game two starter Logan Darnell allowed only two hits and one run over five innings of work … Catcher Chris Hermann led the Rock Cats in the nightcap, going 2 for 3 with a double and 3 RBIs … After going hitless with three Ks in the season opener, New Britain first baseman Nathan Hanson went 2 for 2 with a walk and run scored in game two … Rock Cats pitchers have only walked 5 batters while striking out 24 in the first 23 innings of play this season.

Buffalo – 2
Pawtucket – 1
WP: Dylan Owen (1-0)
LP: Tony Pena Jr. (0-1)
S: Fernando Cabrera (1)

HIGHLIGHTS: Pawtucket starter Brandon Duckworth went 6 2/3 innings, allowing 1 run, 5 hits and 4 walks … PawSox left fielder Alex Hassan has gone hitless in eight at bats to start the season, stranding 11 runners on base. The team has left 11 men on base in each of their first two games … Will Middlebrooks collected two more hits … Omar Quintanilla drove in the game winning run for the Bisons on a two out single in the top of the ninth, driving in Raul Reyes. It was Quintanilla’s first hit of season … The PawSox will host Lehigh Valley in a Saturday doubleheader starting at 4:05 p.m.

New Hampshire – 3
Trenton – 1
WP: Chad Jenkins (1-0)
LP: Ryan Pope (0-1)
S: Aaron Loup (1)
HR: Trenton – Abe Almonte (1)

HIGHLIGHTS: Fisher Cats starter Chad Jenkins allowed a lead off home run to Abe Almonte, then settled down and allowed only four more hits in six innings of work … Jon Diaz and A.J. Jimenez both stole two bases … New Hampshire first baseman Mike McDade went 3 for 4 with a double and 2 RBIs … The Fisher Cats have used seven relievers in the first two games and they have combined for 7 innings, allowing 1 run, 4 hits, 3 walks, with 12 strike outs.

Portland – 4
Reading – 9
WP: Trevor May (1-0)
LP: Brock Huntzinger (0-1)
HR: Reading – Jiwan James (1)

HIGHLIGHTS: The Sea Dogs took a four run lead in the top of the second inning, but the RPhils tied it in the bottom half of the inning, then put up one run in each of the next five innings to pull away … Juan Carlos Linares went 2 for 5 with a double and 3 RBI to lead Portland. He is 6 for 12 on the season … After drawing only 3 walks in yesterday’s double header, Portland batters earned 8 free passes … Sea Dogs right fielder Bryce Brentz struck out three times, bringing his season total to five.

Sea Dogs Preview

Sea Dogs (2011: 59-83, Last place, E.L. Eastern Division) – After suffering through the worst season in the franchises’ 18 year history, Portland will be looking to capture their first winning season since 2008, the last time they reached the postseason.

The Sea Dogs roster has 18 names that have spent some time in Portland and second-year skipper Kevin Boles will have a solid core of prospects at his disposal that could be capable of big turnaround.

Bryce Brentz – ranked No. 5 in the Sox system by Baseball America – saw his stock skyrocket after he hit 30 home runs and drove in 94 runs between Greenville and Salem last year. Now in his third season of pro ball, the outfielder will need to work on his plate patience after striking out 115 times in 2011.

Oscar Tejada returns to Portland after a tough season both at the plate (.249 AVG) and in the field at shortstop (24 errors). The 24^th ranked Sox prospect will switch to the outfield this season.

More BA ranked prospects will litter the infield – third baseman Kolbrin Vitek (No. 19), shortstop Derrick Gibson (No. 25) and utilityman Heiker Meneses (No. 30).

The pitching staff may not be so much about who is currently on the roster, but who is expected to arrive in the coming days after some extended spring training.

Top organizational pitching prospect Anthony Ranaudo – ranked as the No. 2 Red Sox prospect overall by SoxProspects.com – will land in Portland after only one year of professional baseball where he went 9-6 between Greenville and Salem. The former Cape Leaguer checks in at 6’7” and will be one of the most watched prospects at Hadlock this season not just for his size, but for his electric arm.

Another name of note that will join the squad in the coming weeks is Stolmy Pimentel, who started the season with the Dogs a year ago, but proceeded to go 0-9 with a 9.12 ERA in 15 starts. He went 6-4 after being demoted to Single-A Salem, instilling a bit of confidence back in the 22-year-old. Pimental ranks as the No. 23 prospect in the Sox system by Baseball America, so expectations are still high.

Brock Huntzinger, Jeremy Kehrt, Michael Lee, Eammon Portice and Chris Balcom-Miller all return to the pitching staff after making 15 or more appearances for the Sea Dogs last year.

If Pimentel can put last year’s stint with Portland behind him and Ranaudo lives up to the hype, the rest of the pitching should fall in line.

This is a well balanced team that could make some noise if their rated prospects do what they are capable of.