The Result
Sea Dogs - 9 to 1

Sea Dogs - Year-to-Date
9 wins - 14 losses

Brett's Position and the Batting Order
Playing rightfield
Batting #3

At the end of the Game
2 hits from 4 at-bats - 2 x singles, 1 x RBI, 2 x runs scored, 1 x strike out, 1 x walk

Brett's at-bats
First at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Bases empty - two down
Called strike - on the outside corner
Swing&miss - fast ball
Ball - outside
Swing&miss - fast ball
Strike out
Second at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Runner at second base - two down
"Jumped on the first pitch and lined it into left-centrefield"
Single
......and 1 x RBI
Left stranded at the end of the innings
Third at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Bases empty - one down
Called strike - on the outside corner
Called strike - breaking ball
Foul ball - wide of first base
Line drive up the middle but "fielded by the shortstop who was playing Roneberg to pull"
Out 6-to-3
Fourth at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Runner at third base - one down
Intentional walk - "the Sea Dogs are leading 2-to-1 and the Senators are looking for the double-play to end the innings"
To third base on an error (see below under "Heard during the Game")
Scored on a wild pitch
Fifth at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Runner at second base - two down
"High chopper up the middle" which was fielded by the shortstop but his "one-hopper throw" to first base was not in time
Infield single
......and the runner advanced to third base
Went to third base on a hit
Scored on another Sea Dogs' hit

Heard during the game
After Brett was walked intentionally in his fourth at-bat, the Sea Dogs had runners at first and third base with one down
The next batter hit a "bloop-fly-ball" into shallow rightfield
The runners had advanced off their bases but both were returning thinking that the ball would be caught
However, the ball was "short-hopped" by the Senators rightfielder and in the commentator's words, "they had Roneberg un-avoidably 'hung up' and 'out cold' at second base" - but the fielder's throw to second base was "wild and way off-line" and Brett was able to go to third base

Email from Brett
Well, tonight was a tough night.
and I was very happy to get two hits, that's for sure.
Crap load of "K's looking" as you heard so it made you chase a lot of bad pitches.
Was a hard night for everyone until their bullpen came into the game.
Bye, bye.

Game Reports
Dogs go the rout route

The Portland Sea Dogs took one of those midnight runs Sunday down I-95 toward Pennsylvania, the start of another weeklong trip to the Eastern League's Southern Division.
They arrived here not knowing if they were more like the team that routed Norwich 12-2 on Sunday or the team that had been routed by Norwich 16-0 the day before.

They found out a little more Monday night, routing the Harrisburg Senators 9-1 before a crowd of 1,536 at Commerce Bank Park.

The Sea Dogs (9-14) broke open the game with seven runs over the final two innings, distancing themselves from the tight 2-1 pitchers' duel between Portland's Abe Alvarez (2-2) and Shawn Hill (1-3) over the first seven innings.

Alvarez went six innings, giving up six hits and one walk, striking out seven.

Bo Donaldson carried the Sea Dogs (9-14) into the eighth, loading the bases with two outs before Joe Nelson struck out John Wilson.

The Senators scored first on Larry Broadway's homer in the first off Alvarez, who allowed two more hits in the inning before giving up just two more singles over the next 5 1/3 innings.

Portland took a 2-1 lead in the third on consecutive pitches off Hill.
Mike Campo lined a two-out RBI double to right-center and scored when Brett Roneberg followed with a bloop single to center.

"We were struggling in the first inning to get the bats around," said Portland Manager Ron Johnson.
"That's when you need pitchers to help hold them down."

The Sea Dogs broke open the game in the eighth with four runs off relievers Ryan Douglass and Ignacio Puello on two hits, two walks, two hit batters and a throwing error by right fielder Juan Camilo.
Two runs came on a wild pitch by Douglass and Puello hitting Joe Kilburg with a pitch with the bases loaded.

The ninth wasn't much better for Puello, who allowed three two-out runs on a couple of infield hits, another hit batter and a two-run double by a former Senator, Jeff Bailey.

"It was one of those games where you have to keep going at it," Bailey said.
"I think we figured out some things (in Sunday's victory against Norwich). Our young guys are figuring out what to do. I think we're going to be all right."

Alvarez, Donaldson and Nelson amassed 12 strikeouts, the first seven on called third strikes.

"He was consistent all night," Johnson said of Art Stewart, the plate umpire, "and that's all you can ask for. Look, you end up with 21 hits and 10 runs in the ballgame. I don't think anybody got beat by an umpire."

NOTES
Jesus Medrano had three of the Dogs' nine hits, marking his fifth three-hit game of the season.
One of those three hits was an RBI triple during the Dogs' four-run eighth.
Bailey reached twice, getting hit by a pitch in the eighth and doubling home the Dogs' final two runs in the ninth.
He has reached base in 18 of his last 27 plate appearances.
The Sea Dogs have allowed the first run in 14 of their last 15 games.
Bailey and Roneberg were pivotal members of the 2002 Harrisburg team that reached the Eastern League finals.

Eastern League Game Summary - Portland at Harrisburg

Brett Roneberg scored two runs and Abe Alvarez pitched six strong innings to lead the Portland Sea Dogs past the Harrisburg Senators, 9-1 in Eastern League action.

Roneberg finished the game 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Jesus Medrano went 3-for-5 with a triple, a run scored, and an RBI.

Jeff Bailey chipped in with two runs batted in of his own.

Alvarez evened his record at 2-2 by allowing one run on six hits, a walk, and seven strike outs.

Joe Nelson pitched 1 1/3rd innings of perfect baseball to pick up his fourth save of the season.

Shawn Hill allowed two runs on seven hits over 6 2/3rd innings to take the loss.
Hill (1-3) also struck eight and walked one in the loss.

Larry Broadway went 2-for-4 with a solo home run for the Senators.

SEA DOGS SCORE ANOTHER WIN
Dogs Roll to 9-1Win at Harrisburg

Abe Alvarez tossed six strong innings and Sheldon Fulse went 3-for-3 with a walk and three runs scored as Portland scored a 9-1 win at Harrisburg on Monday night.

Alvarez retired 15 of the final 18 batters he faced, fanning seven in his second straight win.

Portland took the lead for good in the third inning on consecutive run-scoring two-out hits from Mike Campo and Brett Roneberg.

The Sea Dogs sent only two runners past first base in the first seven innings off starter Shawn Hill and scored them both.

The Sea Dogs added four runs in the eighth inning and three runs in the ninth frame against the Senators bullpen.

The two sides play again on Tuesday night with Chris Smith (1-0) facing E.L. ERA leader Jason Stevenson (2-1).

Senators One-Game Streak Ends

The Sea Dogs blew up open a 2-1 game with four runs in the eighth and three more in the ninth to run away from the Senators, 9-1 on Monday night Commerce Bank Park.

The Senators took a 1-0 lead in the first on Larry Broadway's (3) solo home run.

Portland came back in the third.
Mike Campo doubled home Sheldon Fulse to tie the game and Brett Roneberg gave Portland the lead for good with a RBI single to center.

It stayed tight until the eighth.
Jesus Medrano's triple scored Fulse for a 3-1 lead.
Portland added three more in the eighth and piled it on in the ninth.

Abe Alverez (2-2) got the win while Shawn Hill (1-3) was the tough luck loser for Harrisburg.

Same two teams Tuesday night at 6:05 PM.
LHP Jason Stevenson (2-1) pitches for Harrisburg and RHP Chris Smith (1-0) goes for Portland.

Senators falter late

Do not be deceived by the final score.
This game -- a 9-1 loss to the Portland Sea Dogs -- really was a close one.

At one time, anyway.

For six-plus innings behind another strong start from Shawn Hill, Harrisburg was trailing just 2-1.

Then came the bullpen that, combined with the trapezoid-like strike zone of umpire Art Stewart, led the Senators to their hellish finish.

By the time relievers Ryan Douglass and Ignacio Puello, as well an error by right fielder Juan Camilo, finished the eighth inning, Harrisburg went from a 2-1 deficit to a 6-1 hole.

Three more runs in the ninth guaranteed the Senators (9-14) their 10th loss in 13 games and another day of leasing last place in the Southern Division of the Class AA Eastern League.

Helping them there were 12 more strikeouts, the first seven of which were called third strikes by Stewart.
The eighth called strikeout on designated hitter Eric Storey in the eighth inning led to Stewart ejecting Storey, who like most of the crowd of 1,536 at Commerce Bank Park was perplexed by the seemingly floating strike zone.

"All I can say," said Senators manager Dave Machemer, who knows enough never to say anything about umpires, "is that it was the same thing for both sides."

"He was consistent all night," Portland manager Ron Johnson said, "and that's all you can ask for.
Look, you end up with 21 hits and 10 runs in the ballgame. I don't think anybody got beat by an umpire."

No, formally, the Senators beat themselves since they never adjusted (i.e. swung the bat) to the offerings of Portland starter Abe Alvarez (2-2) and relievers Bo Donaldson and Joe Nelson.

Then Harrisburg's bullpen turned a tight game into a rout during an eighth inning in which Portland (9-14) scored four runs off Douglass and Puello on two hits, two walks, two hit batters, a wild pitch and a throwing error by Camilo on an easy forceout at second base.

For details, see the Sadist's Guide to Scorekeeping.

Trailing 6-1, the Senators loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth before Nelson, the former Atlanta Brave, replaced Donaldson and struck out John Wilson to end Harrisburg's last threat.

The ninth inning was not much better for Puello, who allowed three two-out runs on a couple of infield hits, another hit batter and a two-run double by former Senator Jeff Bailey.

"It was one of those games where you have to keep going at it," Bailey said.
"I think we figured out some things [in Sunday's 12-2 victory over Norwich]. Our young guys are figuring out what to do. I think we're going to be all right."

The game started promisingly enough for the Senators, who used a two-out homer in the first inning by the struggling Larry Broadway for a 1-0 lead.

The lead lasted less than two innings as the Sea Dogs used a pair of two-out hits in the third inning to go ahead 2-1.
Sheldon Fulse started the rally with a one-out bloop single to right-center.
He stole second two pitches later and waited out Hill's strikeout of Jesus Medrano before scoring when Mike Campo ripped an 0-2 pitch into right-center for a double.
Campo scored when Brett Roneberg, another former Senator, dumped Hill's next pitch into center field for an RBI single.

Other than that, Hill (1-3) was outstanding, striking out eight and walking one before leaving with two outs in the seventh.

By the time the Senators recorded the second out in the eighth, the Sea Dogs were comfortably ahead.

NOTES
Hill's eight strikeouts were the most by a Senators starter this season.
Hill helped himself with a pair of pickoffs, giving him three for the season.
The Senators are 0-3 in games in which Stewart has called balls and strikes.
In those losses, the Senators have struck out 32 times with 16 of those coming on called third strikes.