The Portland Sea Dogs had a mixed bag of a week.
Amidst a split series, an All-Star Game and dizzying roster moves, the Boston Red Sox’ Double-A affiliate revealed its maturity, despite still lagging in the Eastern League Northern Division standings.
The Sea Dogs’ seven-day period started with a four-game set against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. The series began nicely with a 4-0 shutout of the Fisher Cats, but this success did not continue. New Hampshire took the second and third games by scores of 4-2 and a very one-sided 11-3 as right-hander Ryne Lawson failed to control his sinker.
"When [Lawson] is not locating and has to come up belt high because he's behind in the count, his stuff flattens out and he gets whacked,” Sea Dogs manager Arnie Beyeler told the Portland Press Herald. “If you don't work ahead in this league, everybody can hit."
Portland came roaring back in final game and won 9-2. Right-hander Adam Mills continued to dazzle as he pitched six shutout innings, allowing only two hits while fanning five, walking three and winning his fourth straight start. That’s a far cry from his April and May, when he went 1-3 with an 8.92 ERA.
"Everything was working," Mills told the Portland Press Herald. "The first inning, I felt so amped up and left every [pitch] up. I had to dial it back."
So the Sea Dogs were able to cruise into the Eastern League’s All-Star break on a high note, despite splitting the series with their division rival. After this week’s play, Portland still finds itself in fourth place in the Eastern League Northern Division, sandwiched between the third-place Trenton Thunder, who beat them 9-6 on Thursday night, and the fifth-place Fisher Cats.
The Eastern League Northern Division played the Eastern League Southern Division on Wednesday night in their All-Star Game, which the Southern Division won 5-3. Portland sent four representatives: first baseman Lars Anderson, left-hander Dustin Richardson, third baseman Jorge Jimenez and right-hander Chris Province.
This is where the roster moves come in. Originally, Anderson and Jimenez were to be joined by right-hander Junichi Tazawa and right-hander T.J. Large at the All-Star Game. But due to Tazawa’s participation in the MLB XM All-Star Futures Game on Sunday in St. Louis, which rendered him temporarily inactive, he was unavailable to pitch for the Eastern League Northern Division, so Richardson was added to the roster. Tazawa still attended the All-Star Game and supported his teammates.
Then, T.J. Large was promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket. To replace him on the Sea Dogs’ roster, right-hander Ryne Miller was promoted from the Salem Red Sox, and right-hander Ryne Lawson returned from the Lowell Spinners. Chris Province replaced Large on the All-Star roster.
The Sea Dogs also welcomed the Boston Red Sox’ 2006 first-round draft pick, outfielder Jason Place. He was promoted from Salem to fill in for outfielder Matt Sheely, who has been placed on the disabled list.
Thus concludes a very busy week in Portland, Maine. The Sea Dogs had their ups and downs over the past seven days, but it revealed the maturity of the young club. The squad was able to welcome new teammates and congratulate others as they moved upward through the farm system, all while not skipping a beat. Even if they did drop two of four to New Hampshire.
Who’s hot?
The Lowell Spinners have some of the most creative promotions in the minor leagues. Saturday night at LeLacheur Park is Star Wars Night. The team will wear Star Wars-themed jerseys, Star Wars characters will attend and Darth Vader may even throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The Spinners are on a roll. June 23 featured Politically Incorrect Night. Women received pink potholders, men received road maps so they wouldn’t need to ask directions and kids received a B.O.S. – short for “bag of [plastic] poop.” Politically Incorrect Night followed Politically Correct Night. There’s always something interesting happening at LeLacheur Park.
Who’s not?
The Pawtucket Red Sox dropped both of their games with the Syracuse Chiefs before heading into their All-Star Game. Pawtucket’s league won, but the team continued its downwards spiral as it lost to the Indianapolis Indians 9-5 on Thursday night.
Injuries and absences
Portland Sea Dogs right-hander Richie Lentz and outfielder Matt Sheely were both placed on the disabled list with undisclosed injuries and will be out indefinitely.
Salem second baseman Aaron Reza is on the disabled list (retroactive to May 18) with a broken wrist but is expected to return to action later this month.
Right-hander Tyler Wilson of the Gulf Coast League Red Sox experienced a heart complication in April. He began rehab in May 22, but it is uncertain of when he will return.
Quote of the week
"I thought we had something going, but you know what? It was fun regardless."
–Outfielder Chad Huffman of the Portland Beavers and the Pacific Coast League All-Stars, in the Providence Journal, on his All-Star Game experience. The International League beat the Pacific Coast League 6-5.
Upcoming series
The Pawtucket Red Sox continue their four-game series with the Indianapolis Indians, and this is a fantastic opportunity for them to advance in the standings. Pawtucket (43-45) sits in fourth place but is only a half-game behind the third-place Rochester Red Wings. Portland is also in the midst of a four-game set with the Trenton Thunder. Perhaps with a solid performance in this series, the Sea Dogs can generate some consistent, positive momentum.
