Offensive explosion in the Bronx

September 24 2010,
Well here we are, the last baseball game for me in 2010. Yankee Stadium Bronx New York, NY. Red Sox vs Yankees. Dosn't get better than this. With the Sox struggling this season with half of the infield, and 2/3 of the outfield out with season ending injuries the Sox come to New York hoping to play spoiler for the playoff bound Yankees. Pitching matchup for the game is Josh Beckett and Andy Pettite. Both pitchers have been hit with the injury bug this season. (Beckett coming into the game with a 5-5 record, Pettite 11-2)
Things started of very well for the Sox. After a double from Big Papi and a error from Nick Swisher, Jed Lowire hit a 3 run homerun in the rightfield bleachers. 3-0 Sox! It was clear that Andy Pettite did not have his best stuff that night. He lasted only 3 1/3 innings giving up 7 runs. Darnell McDonald hit a 2 rbi double then Marco Scutaro followed with a rbi single. After a single from JD Drew the night for Andy Pettite was over.
As far as Josh Beckett goes he looked great for the first 5 innings, only giving up a solo homer from Curtis Granderson. In the top of the 5th inning Bill Hall hit a 3 run homer into the leftfield seats. The score stood at 10-1. Easy win huh? It wasn't that easy. In the bottom of the 6th Mark Texeria hit a home run.
(10-2 Sox) Then Alex Rodriguez hit career homer #609. (10-3 Sox) So far through 6 innings despite giving up 3 homers Beckett still looks good. In the bottom of the
7th after 2 quick outs Beckett walked Derek Jeter then Nick Swisher launched a homer into the seats in right field. (10-5 Sox)....Getting a little nervous but things are still in control.
After the Swisher homer Tito removed Beckett and brought in righthander Scott Atchison. Atchison who was a late addition to the team in spring training has had a really good season. Meanwile after a walk to Mark Texeria Alex Rodriguez came up and launched homerun #610. (That homer passes Sammy Sosa for 5th all time in Major League History.) The score now still at 10-7 Sox. I'm thining to myself at this point.... "We had a 10-1 lead!!!" Yikes! After a scoreless top 9th inning. Tito brings in Johnathan Papelbon to close out the game. Pap who has had a rough year with 9 blown saves.
Leadoff hitter Derek Jeter strikes out! One out. Nick Swisher flies to center. Two out!!! Mark Texeria...... Homerun to right! Doh!!! (10-8 Sox...Nail biting time) Up next Alex Rodriguez walks. Robinson Cano up next representing the tying run.............strikes out! Game Over!!! That one just too crazy. But its a win we'll take it. So thats it after 19 Sea Dogs games 3 Red Sox games the season is over for me.
Next up: Sea Dogs Home Opener April 7, 2011.......Are we there yet?

Dogs finish season with a win

September 6 2010- Sea Dogs vs New Hampshire
Well the last game of the season for the Sea Dogs ended with a win. Also the 19th game for myself (ties my 2005 record). With Portland trailing 2-0 in the first inning Nate Spears hit a leadoff homerun that was also his 20th homerun of the season. Starting for the Sea Dogs on the mound was right-hander Alex Wilson. Wilson who has a up and down season with Portland since being called up from Salem. Entering the game he has gone 3-5 with a 6.63 era. Wilson in this game pitched 5 innings giving up 4 runs on 9 hits.
Portland bats came alive in the 3rd and 4th inning, when Anthony Rizzo hit his 20th homerun of the season. That gave him 25 homers and 100 rbi's between both Salem (single A) and Portland. (20 homers with Portland) With the score 6-4 Portland. Dogs went to the bullpen bringing lefthander Kyle Fernandes. Fernandes (who is from Westport, MA) just called up from Salem pitched very well. 2 2/3 innings, 2 hits, 2 strikeouts. I would expect him to be in Portland's bullpen on opening day 2011. So going into the 9th inning Daniel Turpen recorded the side in order to end the game. The Sea Dogs finished well in 2010 winning their last 5 and 9 of 10. They finished the season 70-71 (third place in the eastern league).
The next Sea Dogs game April 7 2011. Can't wait!
Next game: One more game this season Boston at NY, Fri Sept 24 Yankee Stadium

Pitching and offense

September 5 2010 - vs New Hampshire #18,
Nice cool "fall-ish" day at Hadlock Field. Sea Dogs took on the New Hampshire FisherCats in the next-to-last game of the season. Starting for the Sea Dogs was right hander Stephen Fife. Entering the game Fife had a 7-6 record with a respectable 4.80 era. After pitching a scoreless inning and a 1-0 lead for Portland Fife got into trouble in the 2nd with a bases loaded walk. Next batter for New Hampshire Johnathan Jaspe hit into a 4-6-3 double play (a run did score on the play). Portland however in the 3rd inning would return the favor with their own bases loaded walk of their own from Anthony Rizzo. With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 5th (w/ 2 out) Ryan Khoury stroked a double scoring Rizzo who was the runner on second. That made the score 3-2. Next inning Nate Spears launched his
19th homer of the season. A 2 run shot that made it 5-2 Portland. In the bottom of the seventh Portland batted around the order scoring 4 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks. Jason Rice closed out the 9th inning for Portland.
Next up: September 6, last game of the season.