The Result
Sea Dogs - 3 to 2

Sea Dogs - Year-to-Date
28 wins - 31 losses

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

At the end of the Game
0 hit from 3 at-bats - 1 x sacrifice fly, 1 x RBI, 1 x error

Brett's at-bats
First at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Runner at third base - one down
Called strike - on the outside corner
Called strike - "and that is a 'generous' call by the umpire as it appeared to be low and away"
Ball
Ball - up and away
"And that is smacked deep into rightfield and is plenty deep enough to score the runner"
Sacrifice fly
......and 1 x RBI
Second at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
THE BASES ARE LOADED!!! - NONE DOWN!!!
Ball - low
A high pop-up at home plate and caught by the third baseman about ten feet from home and two feet off the line in foul territory
Out F5
Third at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Bases empty - two down
Called strike
Broken-bat hit towards the shortstop
Out 6-to-3
Fourth at-bat
???handed pitcher
(did not listen)
Bases empty - one down
Ground ball to second base
Out 4-to-3

Error
In the top of the fifth innings, the Rock Cats had a runner at first base with two down - the next batter hit a shallow fly ball into rightfield - the commentator said "both Roneberg and Kilburg (second-baseman) converged on the ball and Roneberg called for it ...... and then he dropped it!!!"
The comments then were:-
"that is not a difficult play"
"a very easy catch but the ball just popped in an out"
"Roneberg made a second grab at the ball but it was at his feet"
"that is the fourth error charged to Roneberg this season"
"the Sea Dogs outfield has now made seven errors which is a high total"
The runner at second base advanced to third, and then scored on a hit by the next Rock Cats batter making the score 3 runs to 2 in the Sea Dogs favour - and in the commentator's words "that unearned run certainly hurts"

Heard during the game
(1) As Brett was coming in for his first at-bat, the commentator said "Brett went 2-for-11 in the three game road trip without an RBI"

(2) After his sacrifice-fly in his first at-bat, the commentator said "that is Brett's thirty-ninth run-driven-in for the season and he is in the Top 5 in that category in the Eastern League"

(3) As Brett came in for his second at-bat, the commentator said that "Brett is 1-for-5 for the season when batting with the bases loaded" (he is now 1-for-6!!!)

Email from Brett
N/A

Game Reports
Rock Cats lose to the Sea Dogs

Starter Abe Alvarez allowed two unearned runs over five innings and Erik Glaser picked up his second save as the Portland Sea Dogs defeated the New Britain Rock Cats 3-2 on Thursday in the Eastern League.

The win lifted Portland (28-31) into fifth place in the league’s northern division and dropped New Britain (27-30) into sixth.

The Sea Dogs scored a run in the first inning on Brett Roneberg’s sacrifice fly and added two in the third inning on George Lombard’s sacrifice fly and an RBI single by John McGowan.

Portland errors allowed the Rock Cats to score a run in the fourth inning and another in the fifth.

Glaser faced only nine batters, striking out four, as he pitched the last three innings.

Alvarez (6-4) got the win, while New Britain starter Jim Abbott (1-5) pitched five innings and took the loss.

A win is a win ... but it was ugly

The catcher took out the pitcher with his warm-up throw to second base.

The right fielder watched the ball land in his glove, and bounce out.

And a couple of wild infield throws highlighted one inning.

But, by late Thursday night, the Portland Sea Dogs could chuckle about it - because they still won.
Portland overcame its goofs to beat the New Britain Rock Cats 3-2 at Hadlock Field.

Brett Roneberg and newcomer George Lombard hit sacrifice flies, and Sean McGowan fisted through a single for the winning RBI.

Pitching carried the Sea Dogs.

Starter Abe Alvarez (6-4) moved to third place in wins among Eastern League pitchers.
He allowed seven hits and two runs (both unearned) in five innings.

Colin Young pitched an inning of scoreless relief, and Eric Glaser got the save, retiring nine straight batters.

"We did some good things," Portland Manager Ron Johnson said.
"But that was the kind of game we were very fortunate to be on the upside."

Perhaps the strangest play came after Young warmed up before the seventh inning.
Catcher Jeff Bailey made his customary throw to second base, but the ball smacked Young in the back of the right shoulder.
Young had to leave the game.
"I'll talk about anything but that," said Bailey with a smile in the clubhouse.
He could grin because Young entered the clubhouse and began kidding Bailey.
"It felt like I was shot," said Young, now sporting a bruise.
"I thought I cleared the mound. But I guess I didn't. I think it will be fine."

The Sea Dogs, too, continue to look fine, at times.

Portland (28-31) tied New Britain (27-30) for fifth place in the Northern Division, 2-1/2 games out of second place.

Alvarez again showed why the Red Sox believed he could handle Double-A batters in his first full pro season.
He gave up hits, but he also had the Rock Cats missing (four strikeouts) or mis-hitting.

"He kept the ball down and changed speeds," Rock Cats Manager Stan Cliburn said.

Portland led 3-0 when New Britain got a run in the fourth, on a walk, throwing error and infield single.
Another throwing error put runners on first and third, but Alvarez struck out James Tomlin to end the threat.

In the fifth, Tommy Watkins singled in a run with two outs - after the inning was kept alive when Roneberg, the right fielder, camped under a fly ball and dropped it.

"Pure and simple stupidity," Roneberg said.

But Alvarez still had the lead, and Portland's bullpen preserved it.

Glaser struck out four in his perfect three innings - "outstanding command," said Bailey.

The Sea Dogs' relievers have retired 34 of the last 36 batters.

Portland scored in the first on Joe Kilburg's single and stolen base, Mike Campo's bunt, and Roneberg's sacrifice fly to right.

In the third, Portland loaded the bases on two walks and a Campo single.
Lombard's fly to left scored one, and McGowan's single to right field made it 3-0.

Lombard, 28, a major-league veteran of 124 games with the Braves, Tigers and Devil Rays, signed with Boston in the off-season and is coming off shoulder surgery.

Lombard helped boost the Sea Dogs' depleted roster.
Second baseman Jesus Medrano returned to the disabled list with a slight fracture in his shoulder, and third baseman John Hattig missed his fourth straight game with back spasms.

NOTES
Former Red Sox pitcher Luis Tiant will throw out the first pitch today.
The Sea Dogs' monthly luncheon is today at noon in the picnic area.
Joe Nelson is the guest speaker.
Admission is $8.

Rock Cats Lose To Sea Dogs, Drop Into Last Place

Starter Abe Alvarez allowed two unearned runs in five innings and Erik Glaser pitched the final three innings as the Sea Dogs defeated the Rock Cats 3-2 Thursday in Portland, Maine.

The Sea Dogs (28-31) moved out of last place into fifth in the Northern Division.

The Rock Cats (27-30) dropped into last.

The Sea Dogs scored a run in the first inning on Brett Roneberg's sacrifice fly and added two in the third on George Lombard's sacrifice fly and an RBI single by John McGowan.

Errors allowed the Rock Cats to score a run in the fourth and another in the fifth.

Glaser faced nine batters, striking out four.

Rock Cats starter Jim Abbott (1-5) pitched five innings.

Eastern League Game Summary - New Britain at Portland

Sean McGowan's RBI single in a two-run third inning propelled the Portland Sea Dogs past the New Britain Rock Cats, 3-2.

The Sea Dogs (28-31) have won two straight games, while the Rock Cats (27-30) are losers of their last two contests.

George Lombard started the scoring in the inning when his sacrifice fly plated Raul Nieves.
McGowan followed with his single that scored Joe Kilburg.

Brett Roneberg drove in the other run of the game in the first inning.

Kilburg finished the game 1-for-3 with two runs scored.

The Sea Dogs' Abe Alvarez earned the win in five innings of work.
He allowed two runs - none of them earned - on seven hits and two walks.
Alvarez struck out four to improve to 6-4.

Eric Glaser notched his second save of the season in the win.

The Rock Cats' Jim Abbott allowed three earned runs, five hits and two walks in five innings to absorb the loss.
He is 1-5 on the year.

Tommy Watkins and Elvis Corporan each drove in a run in the loss.

SEA DOGS TOP ROCK CATS, 3-2
Strong Pitching From Alvarez, Bullpen Keys Win

Abe Alvarez fired five innings to earn his third straight win and Eric Glaser tossed three perfect innings of relief for his second save as the Portland Sea Dogs topped the New Britain Rock Cats, 3-2 on Thursday evening before 6,837 fans at Hadlock Field.

Glaser won the Allied Big Dog of the Game with his three perfect innings of relief.

In the last three games, Sea Dog relievers have retired 34 of 36 batters faced.

Alvarez became the third Eastern Leaguer to win six times, allowing only two unearned runs on seven hits in five innings.

George Lombard made his Red Sox organizational debut by going 1-for-2 with a triple, sacrifice fly and a walk.
Lombard, who played for parts of five seasons with the Braves, Tigers and Devil Rays, was activated from the disabled list prior to the game.

Sean McGowan added two hits and an RBI for the Sea Dogs, who remain 2-1/2 games out of second place in the Eastern League's Northern Division.