The Result
Sea Dogs - 3 to
2
Sea Dogs - Year-to-Date
16 wins - 24 losses
Brett's Position and
the Batting Order
Playing leftfield
Batting #3
At the end of the Game
0 hit from 3 at-bats
- 1 x walk, 1 x GIDP
Brett's at-bats
First at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Runner at first base - one down
Called strike - right down the middle
"A bouncer to the Rock Cats first-baseman who was able to
turn the twin killing"
Out 3-to-6-to-3 double
play
Second at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Bases empty - one down
Popped-up the first pitch to shallow right-centrefield and the
second-baseman went back to make the catch"
Out F4
Third at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Led off the innings
Ball - high and away
Called strike - curve ball
Called strike - change-up - on the outside corner
Ball - outside
Foul ball - back
"And that pitch is hit very, very deep to centrefield but
the fielder back-pedalled to rope it in"
Out F8
And the commentator said - "Roneberg hit that one right on
the screw!!!"
Fourth at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Runners at second and third base - one down
......and the score was tied at two in the top of the eighth innings!!!
"And Roneberg is going to get a free pass here and you can
only agree with that decision as it will create the force and
as well set up a righty-v-righty situation"
Intentional walk
Left stranded at the end of the innings
Heard during the game
(1) As Brett was coming in for his first at-bat, the commentator
said that "Brett has had a fine four game series so far
against the Rock Cats. He is 4 from 15 (0.267) with a double and
driven in four runs"
Email from Brett
N/A
Game Reports
Sea Dogs get needed shot
in the ... back
Dogs nip Rock Cats
New Britain Rock Cats reliever Beau Kemp would have been fine
150 years ago.
On a sacrifice bunt by Sheldon Fulse in the eighth inning, Kemp
fielded the ball and plunked the Portland Sea Dogs runner in the
back.
In baseballs formative years, Fulse would have been out,
but in 2004, it goes down as an error.
Fulses effort led to a game-winning sacrifice fly by Sean
McGowan Thursday night as the Sea Dogs nipped the Rock Cats, 3-2,
before 3,211 at New Britain Stadium.
Portland (16-24) took the five-game series by winning three times.
The Rock Cats (18-21) have dropped five of the eight games on
the homestand.
"These guys always play us tough. There have been games like
this all four years that Ive been up here," Rock Cats
manager Stan Cliburn said.
"Weve won our share of those games but it was unfortunate
we lost this series. Weve got to pick it up."
Edgar Martinez led off the crucial frame with a single to center.
Fulse pushed his bunt down the first-base line and the throw by
Kemp (3-1) glanced off his back.
Both runners were safe.
"When Kemp threw the ball, he tried to make an off-balance
throw," Portland Manager Ron Johnson said.
"(Fulse) was in the lane so I figured we'd have an opportunity.
When it comes down to games like this, they're won or lost on
fundamentals. It's whoever can execute situational baseball and
we were fortunate."
After another sacrifice by Raul Nieves, McGowan lifted a long
fly to center that enabled Martinez to score an unearned run.
"Youve got to get an out on a bunt," Cliburn said.
"That was a good bunt but youve got to clear yourself
by catching the ball and taking a step back or moving across the
line and throwing around the runner. When you dont get outs
on bunts, youre going to lose close games."
The Rock Cats loaded the bases on walks in the eighth but Joe
Nelson (7th save) got Kevin West to hit into an inning-ending
double play.
"West got a little overanxious on 2-1 and swung at a ball
in the dirt," Cliburn said.
"(Nelson) came back with a great pitch, a slider that was
down and away on the black. West used his two-strike approach
but the pitcher made his pitch."
Jason Howell (2-2) allowed a hit and walk in 1 1/3 innings but
earned the win.
Rock Cats starter Rick Helling was on the spot and turned in a
solid start.
Helling, who won 20 games with the Texas Rangers in 1998, was
signed by the Minnesota Twins as a free agent in January.
He was on his way to notching the fifth slot in the rotation when
a line drive fractured his shin bone.
After two starts with the Rock Cats, Helling was told there was
no room on the big-league roster so he was showcasing his talents
in the hope of attracting attention.
He turned in seven strong innings, allowing two runs on five hits
and a walk while fanning five.
"It wasnt as good as I can throw and wasnt as
bad as I can throw. It was in between," Helling said.
"I didnt feel as good as I felt my last start but my
command was better.
"Im not going to get to the big leagues by impressing
scouts. Somebodys going to want me basically for what Ive
done in the past. I think Ive proven that my legs
fine."
Portland right-hander Chris Smith was brilliant through five innings.
Luis Maza roped a one-out triple in the first, then Smith set
down the next 14 hitters.
John Hattig staked him to a 1-0 lead with a homer leading off
the fifth, but the Rock Cats, who had managed just three runs
in the previous 30 innings, caught up with Smith in the sixth.
Seth Davidson led off by spanking a double off the right-field
wall.
With two out, Maza smacked a two-run homer, his fourth of the
season.
Smith yielded just four hits, walked none and struck out nine
in six innings.
All told, Portland pitching fanned 13 Rock Cats hitters.
Portland tied the game against Helling in the seventh.
Sean McGowan singled with one out, Hattig drew a walk and Eric
Johnson came through with a clutch single.
Eastern League Game Summary - Portland at New Britain
Sean McGowan's sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth innings
propelled the Portland Sea Dogs over the New Britain Rock Cats,
3-2.
The Rock Cats (18-21) have lost two straight games, while the
Sea Dogs (16-24) are winners of their last two.
McGowan's sacrifice plated Edgar Martinez to give the Sea Dogs
a 3-2 lead.
John Hattig went 2-for-3 with a run scored, a home run and an
RBI in the win.
McGowan finished the night 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Portland starter Chris Smith was solid in six innings of work.
He allowed four hits, two earned runs and struck out nine in a
no-decision.
Jason Howell picked up the win in relief to improve to 2-2.
Joe Nelson picked up his seventh save of the season.
New Britain's Beau Kemp suffered the loss.
In 2 innings of relief work, he allowed two hits, one run, a walk
and struck out two.
He is 3-1 on the season.
Luis Maza provided the offense for the Rock Cats after he went
2-for-3 with a run scored, a triple, a home run and two RBI.
CATS FALL SHORT
Rick Helling turned in a sterling performance and Luis Maza had
a triple and two-run homer for the Rock Cats, but it wasn't enough
as Portland came back to win 3-2 on Thursday night.
Helling limited the Sea Dogs to two runs on five hits and one
walk.
He struck out five in seven innings.
Beau Kemp (3-1) suffered the loss as he allowed the winning run
in the eighth inning.
For Portland, reliever Jason Howell (2-2) took the win and Joe
Nelson picked up his seventh save.