Rainy, Cold day at Fenway

May 25, 2013 Well after a week of alumni game, Sea Dogs game, a game in Pittsburgh it was all wrapped up in Boston for a game againsed Terry Francona and the Cleveland Indians. I was a little nervous going into this game. It was very cold and rainy so there was a little question if they game would get in. (I'be never had a major league game postponed) Thankfully the rain held up and the tarp came off with no delay. So off I went to section 36 row 5 seat 13 in the mist and fog. But that's alright. I'm at Fenway and I'm happy. Interesting pitching matchup for the game. Jon Lester who was 6-1 going into the game was opposed to former Tampa Bay Rays lefty Scott Kazmir. Kazmir once a dominate pitcher has been hurt and was pitching last season for the Independent League's Sugarland Skeeters. But he has been givin a shot by the Indians. Indians scored first by 2 out rbi double from Nick Swisher. Red Sox bounced back in the bottom of the second when Pedro Ciriaco lined a hit scoring Jose Iglesias. While Jon Lester had a nice bounce back start from last year, he did struggle with his command during the game. It was however like I said very cold. Of corse typical Memorial Day weekend weather. (Not really) He gave up 2 more runs in the 3rd when Asdrubal Caberera and Carlos Santana got singles off him. The highlight of the inning came when Caberera was thrown out at home plate from Jonny Gomes in left field. So with the Indians leading 3-1 Sox got another run when Daniel Nava scored on an error from right fielder Ryan Rayburn. Sox tied it in the 6th on a Jonny Gomes sac fly to center field. Kazmir did a good job on the mound. He pitched 5 innings giving up 5 hits, 2 runs, 4 walks on 6 strike outs. On the other side Jon Lester settled in pitched a scoreless 4th, 5th, and 6th. Manager John Farrell kept him in there the 7th innings when he threw a 2 out wild pitch that allowed the go- ahead run to score for the Indians. Joe Smith pitched a scoreless 7th inning for Cleveland. In the 8th Tito brought in righty Vinnie Pastano. At the end of the inning he wishes he didn't. Sox went on to score 4 runs. It was highlighted by a big pinch hit double from Mike Carp which tied the game. Dustin Pedroia followed that with a double of his own to put the Sox ahead for good. Going into the 9th inning Andrew Bailey came in to record the save to give the Sox a 7-4 win. So a wet wild day at the old ballpark. It was interesting sitting in the bleachers again. Haden't sat up there since 2002 ironically vs Cleveland. Its kinda the frat section of the ballpark I think. Next up: June 3: Sea Dogs vs Altoona

Cubs vs Bucs at PNC Park

May 22 2013 Well, first off this was my first trip to Pittsburgh. We drove from my aunt and uncles house from Connecticutt. I did not realize how long a state Pennsylvania is. It very green, lots of hills and overall a very pretty state. But did not realize how long of a state it is. Oh well. So before I get into the game I'll talk about the ballpark. What a fantastic park! This is the 9th ballpark/stadium I've been to. So far I think this one ranks near or at the top. First off you park across the Allegheny River. Parking was only 5 bucks! Then you walk over the Roberto Clement Bridge which they close to for people to walk across on game days. Once your across the ballpark opened hour and a half before game time. I walked in there the mail enterence behind home plate. Walking up to the grandstand is a fantastic view of the ballpark with the Pittsburgh skyline from left center to the foul pole in right. After that I went to explore the ballpark and its features. I will say the staff and people at PNC Park could likely be some the most nice people I've ever met! Everyone was real welcoming, asking how my day was... so on and so on. You don't get that in Yankee Stadium. lol. So just walking around the ballpark the sight lines are fantastic. Where ever you go you got a great view of home plate and the entire field. I walked up to the 2nd deck. Fantastic View! Wow! Its even better then I saw in the pictures I saw online. Now it had been raining off and on through out the day. I was confident that the game would go on as scheduled but I was a little nervous about a possible delay. There was a delay to start the game but it was only 10-15 minutes. As far as our seats were. Great Seats! In the lower bowl section. Right above the dug out. Only 35 bucks! Wow! So not a bid deal. Now the Pirates are playing the Cubs. Interesting pitching matchup. Former Twins fireballer Francisco Liriano was the starter for them. Nice pick up for them. He was coming off arm surgery last year. He threw a no hitter a few years back. For the Cubs was there opening day starter Jeff Samardzija. Pittsburgh got on board in the bottom of the 1st on a 2 out double by Garret Jones. That scored Andrew McCutchen. And that was it for scoring in the game. Both pitchers brought their best stuff. Liriano pitched 7 innings only allowing 2 hits 0 runs 1 walk 9 k's. Former Sox right hander Mark Melancon got the save in the 9th. Samardzija was just as good. 7 innings 3 hits 1 run 1 walk 8 k's. Tough loss for the former Notre Dame quarterback. Overall great visit to Pittsburgh would love to go back for another game. Perhaps when the Red Sox come back in interleague. Definetly would like to see more of the city too next time.

Mets down the Dogs 8-5

May 18 2013 It was a sunny turned blustery chillie day in Portland as the Sea Dogs played the Binghamton Mets to wrap up a 3 game series. Now I was hoping to see Matt Barnes pitch for the Sea Dogs, but he pitched two days before. Oh well, instead pitching for the Sea Dogs was south-paw Drake Britton who at times has been very good. But at other times he has been inconsistent. So this was an important start for him to prove he can advance to the next level. Mets got going in the first inning on a rbi single by Mets designated hitter Corey Vaughn. Then in the second inning the Mets got two more on a single by left fielder Jon Bonfe (who went 4-4 in this game). Daniel Muno followed up with a rbi double to give the Mets a 3-0 lead. So far Britton not too impressive but he did manage to settle down in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings. Portland got the bats going in the 3rd inning after a single by Heiker Meneses Peter Hissey double to right center driving in Menesses. Hissey advanced to third after the Mets centerfielder bobbled the baseball trying to get it back to the infield. Next up Xandier Bogaerts lined a single to score Hissey. So the Sea Dogs started to get to Mets starter Cory Mazzoni who at this point was throwing in the mid 90's with a good curveball. After a balk and a wild pitch. Micheal Almanzar hit a sac fly to right to score Bogaerts to tie the game. The tied game did not last long though. The Mets went on to score 3 runs in the 6th inning. After for a walk then a hit by pitch Jon Bonfe lined a base hit to score both runs. Third baseman Josh Rodriguez got a hit scoring Bonfe to give the Mets a 6-3 lead. Portland did get one back in the 7th on a rbi single from Xandier Bogaerts. That would however be all the Sea Dogs would be scoring for the day. The Mets got two more runs on a error from Sea Dogs left fielder Tony Thomas. So at the end the game the Mets had defeated the Sea Dogs 8-5. Next Up: Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park!

Alumni Saturday

May 18 2013 Well it was that time of year again. It was Alumni Saturday at Belfast Area High School. Always great to go back and play up on the field where I played when I was in High School. It's always interesting to see who comes back to play. My buddy Brandon Hurd and Jeff Mosher were there. This year there was 10 of us coming back. Which turned out good for me, that ment I got to play the whole game. Now I graduated in the year 2000 so, as always the batting order starts from oldest class to most recent. I was batting 5th this year. (In the past I have batted cleanup) Top of the first I took my position in right field. What do you know the first batter hit a flyball out to me in right. No problem. Other than a base hit it to me in the 6th inning that was all the action for me in tight. Now my friend Jeff (class of 91) who on the mound did pitch well. There were a couple of errors in the field behind him but he had good stuff. Now my first at bat. I opened up my stance a bit, it seemed to help I saw the ball pretty well coming out of the pitchers hand. I worked it to a 1-1 count. The next pitch I made real good contact. It looked like it was going to sneak through in between the shortstop and third baseman but the shortstop made a nice play and threw me out. My second at bat came in the 4th inning. First pitch was a strike I took a nice healthy cut but didn't make contact. Second pitch was a ball in the dirt. So again worked to a 1-1 count. I'm thinking to myself get geared up for the fastball. He went into his whined up. And smack! Not a hit but a hit by pitch on the side of my stomach! Ouch! Luckly there is a little more padding there now so it didn't hurt too bad. But hey I got on base! Next batter fellow class of 2000 alum Brandon Hurd lined a hit to right I advenced to 3rd and then scored on a sac fly. Not bad. At that point that run was the trying run. (4-4) The scored remained the same until the 6th when the Varsity scored three 2 out runs on a couple errors by the alumni. (Myself included in that, oh well) So my last at bat on the first pitch I grounded up the middle but the secondbaseman got it and threw me out. It looked like we would rally in the 7th and last inning but was not ment to be. We lost 7-4. But thats alright, its a great time to go back and see everyone that we played with. My kind of reunion!

Sox Finish Off The Astros

April 28 2013 It was Maine Day at Fenway and the Houston Astros now on the American League West are in town. Funny thing happened while my Aunt and I were waiting to go in the park. We came across a woman with a sign indicating that she was from Belfast Maine. How about that! That where I am from. Its a small world after all. After more than 50 years in the National League the Astros have come over to the AL. The last time they were in Boston was in 2003 during interleague action. Pitching for the Sox was John Lackey. This was the first home start for Lackey who of corse left his only other start this season early with a bicep strain. Now turn back the clock a bit the last game I saw in Portland I saw Lackey pitch for the Sea Dogs. He pitched very will for 3 2/3 innings in very cold weather. So with temps in the low 60's I'm expecting Lackey to pitch a fine game. After a run in the 1st inning Lackey settled in a good rhythm pitched 6 innings. In the end it was a 6 inning performance allowing 1 one on just 5 hits. Now the Astros are in "re-building mode". But they do have a few notible in their lineup. Carlos Pena who is a all time homerun leader for Tampa Bay is the dh/first baseman for Houston. Once "top prospect" for the Cubs Ronny Cedeno normally and infielder is the dh for this game. Also former pitcher turned outfielder Rick Ankiel was in the lineup for Houston. On the bump pitching for Houston was their opening day starter Bud Norris, he also pitched 6 innings giving up 5 runs (3 earned). Offensivly for the Sox Daniel Nava was again a standout going 2-4 with 3 runs scored. After he doubled in the 1st David Ortiz knocked him in with a single to right. They big hit of the game probley came in the 4th with when Stephen Drew tripled down the right field corner to score Mike Carp and Jarrod Saltamacchia. The Sox scored 3 more runs in that game to win 6-1. Daniel Nava made the defensive play of the game by diving all out to end the game. So a good day for the Sox. Next Up: May 19- Sea Dogs vs Binghamton Mets