April 4 2013 Opening Day- Sea Dogs vs Trenton Thunder

Well the long anticipated Sea Dogs season opener has arrived. After a long snowy winter in Maine baseball season is back. That also means summer is not too far off. It was a frosty 40 degree night at the ballpark but the 5,447 in attendence that night didn't mind. Few interesting notes going into this game- Stephen Drew a free agent shortstop the Red Sox signed during the off season suffered a concussion during spring training was sent to Portland to rehab on his way back. He is likely to be in a Sea Dogs uniform for the first 2 to 3 games. Also Daniel Bard star setup relief pitcher for the Sox who had a historically bad 2012 season for Boston was sent to Portland at the end of Spring Training in hopes to regain the confidence and stuff to get him back to Boston. So he is a work in progress. So on to the game. The pitching matchup was Nik Turley for Trenton and Drake Britton for Portland. Trenton scored first on a 3 run homer by first baseman Kyle Roller. But thats how a night it was for Portland Britton did not last long on this cold night lasting only 3 innings giving up 5 hits 7 runs (only 3 earned, Dogs defense was sloppy on this cold night making 5 errors). Sea Dogs had a lead briefly in the 2nd after Heiker Meneses hit a 3 run homer to centerfield. But that did not last long with Trenton catcher JR Murphy and then third baseman Rob Segedin homered in to the night to give Trenton a 7-4 lead. A lead they did not give up. In the 7th inning Daniel Bard came in to pitch for the Sea Dogs. While his velocity was up to 95 mph his location was off he gave up a 2 run homer to Trenton dh Neil Medchill. I had moved down to the lower section behind home plate to get some pictures. He just seems lost out there still. Hopfully he'll make it back. Other notibles Stephen Drew went 0-3 with an rbi ground out. Red Sox top prospect Xander Bogaerts went 0-4 with 3 strike outs. So not so impressive on opening night but its only game one. Next game: April 5 Sea Dogs vs Trenton