The Result
Sea Dogs - 6 to 4

Sea Dogs - Year-to-Date
39 wins - 45 losses

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

At the end of the Game
2 hits from 3 at-bats - single, double, 2 x runs scored, 2 x walks

Brett's at-bats
First at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Runner at second base - one down
And the radio disconnected - and when the broadcast started again the count was "3xballs and 2xstrikes"
Foul ball - down the first base line
Foul ball - "hammered down the rightfield line but foul by about ten feet"
Ball - outside
Walk
Went to third base on a hit
Scored on a fielder's-choice grounder
Second at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Bases empty - one down
Ball - down and in
Called strike - on the outside corner
Ball - check swing
Called strike - fast ball - on the outside corner
"A fly ball into left-centrefield and the fielder made a diving attempt but couldn't come up with it and the ball rolls towards the wall ...... Brett turned and went twenty feet past second and was looking at third base but retreated as the play was backed-up and it was a good throw in"
Double
Scored on a hit
Third at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Bases empty - two down
Called strike - change-up
Swing&miss - "a check swing and Roneberg doesn't like that call and it did not look like he was even remotely close to going around"
Ball - low
Ground ball to the second-baseman who fields and throws to first base
Out 4-to-3
Fourth at-bat
Lefthanded pitcher
Bases empty - two down
Ball - low
Called strike
Ball - high
Swing&miss - "a check swing and Roneberg has a few words with the umpire"
Ball - low
Ball - low
Walk
Left stranded at the end of the inning
Fifth at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Bases empty - one down
Called strike
Foul ball - out of play to the left
Ball - low
Ball - outside
Ground ball back up the middle
Single
Out at second base on a double-play hit by the next Sea Dogs batter

Heard during the game
(1) As he gave out the starting line-ups, the commentator mentioned that "Brett is leading the Sea Dogs with fifty-four runs-driven-in"

(2) As Brett came in for his first at-bat, the commentator said that "Roneberg has reached base at least once in twenty-one of his last twenty-two games"

(3) Sea Dogs leading 3 runs to 1 - during the bottom of the fifth inning, the Thunder had a runner at second base with none down - the next batter hit a single into rightfield which Brett fielded - and the commentator said "the runner has been held at third base but Roneberg's throw air-mailed the cut-off man and the catcher had to go down the third base line to field the throw and this allows the tying run to move into scoring position ...... a poor throw by Roneberg"
The reason the runner was as second base was due to a misjudged fly ball in leftfield, and the commentator said "they were two crucial plays by the corner outfielders and this is where statistics are very misleading as neither of these will appear as errors but are critical mistakes allowing runners to reach and advance on the bases"

NOTE - both runners scored on a single by a following Thunder batter, tying the game at three runs apiece (see note in the game report below)

Email from Brett
(written before the game)
Our game is against Trenton tonight.
I have been "scratchy" the last few days - even though I am hitting the ball hard.
Will fix it here!!
Bye.
(...and after the game)
Hi there.
Decent day!!
Bye.

Game Reports
Dogs keep their cool, and get away with a win

The first baseman got thrown out.
So did the third baseman.
Not to mention the mild-mannered pitching coach.

Think the Trenton Thunder didn't quite agree Tuesday night with umpire D.J. Reyburn's strike zone?

The Portland Sea Dogs weren't complaining, especially after coming away with a 6-4 victory before 5,712 at Waterfront Park.

While the Thunder (40-42) were convinced Reyburn was squeezing pitcher Chien-ming Wang on the inner and outer portions of the plate, Abe Alvarez benefited from what appeared to be high strikes en route to five strikeouts and no walks over five innings.

"I just tried to stay with my plan," Alvarez said.
"Whatever was going on with (Reyburn's) strike zone was out of my control.
I wasn't trying to overpower anyone. I just wanted to throw strikes down in the zone and get ground balls."

Each of Wang's two first-inning walks scored thanks to an RBI single by Jeff Bailey and a fielder's choice by John Hattig, who drove in four runs.

Hattig hit a two-run homer in the sixth to straightaway center field to give Portland a 5-3 lead, and singled in Brett Roneberg in the third.
It was Hattig's first multiple-RBI game since May 13.

Alvarez (8-5) retired 12 of the first 13 he faced until allowing four consecutive hits by the Thunder to begin the fifth.
Craig Wilson, Mitch Jones and David Parrish singled before a two-run single by Omar Fuentes made it 3-3.
But Alvarez caught a break when Kevin Thompson was called for batter's interference after leaning into the throwing path of Bailey, the Portland catcher, after striking out while Tommy Winrow was attempting to steal second.
The play was ruled a double play and Alvarez was out of the inning.

Hattig's homer came after a leadoff single by Bailey in the sixth and was his first since May 23.

Wang (5-5) then yielded a single to Mike O'Keefe, but finished strong by striking out two of the final three hitters and getting the other, Kenny Perez, to tap back to the mound.

The three ejections were the most in Thunder history for a game that didn't feature a benches-clearing brawl.

Tossed for the second time this season, first baseman Aaron Rifkin heaved his helmet - just as he did after getting thrown out at Harrisburg last month - then his bat from the outer reaches of the first-base dugout.
After the Thunder batboy retrieved both items, Rifkin hurled another bat toward the plate and in the general direction of Reyburn, who was getting another earful from Thunder Manager Stump Merrill.

Also ejected were third baseman Bronson Sardinha and pitching coach Gary Lavelle.

Sea Dogs reliever Ryan Cameron used inning-ending strikeouts to tiptoe out of trouble in the sixth and seventh before Portland (39-45) tacked on a run in the eighth on Joe Kilburg's two-out single off Tim Adkins.

Ryan Larson closed out the ninth for his third save, but not before an opposite-field solo home run by Mitch Jones.

"It's always fun coming back here," Johnson said.
"Alvarez did a nice job. He doesn't get flustered and he never seems to lose his focus."

Trio ejected in Thunder loss

If last night's strike zone was home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn's idea of home cooking, Portland manager Ron Johnson may wish the parent Boston Red Sox had never moved their Double-A affiliate from Trenton to Maine following the 2002 season.

Verbally assailed by the home team throughout the series opener for implementing what Thunder dugout personnel alleged were two wildly different interpretations of balls and strikes - one for Sea Dogs left-hander Abe Alvarez and another, far less liberal zone for Trenton prospect Chien-ming Wang - Reyburn ejected Thunder rookie third baseman Bronson Sardinha, mild-mannered Trenton pitching coach Gary Lavelle and veteran first baseman Aaron Rifkin at various intervals of Portland's 6-4 victory in front of a paid crowd of 5,712 at Waterfront Park.

"(Reyburn) said he wasn't having the best of nights," Thunder manager Stump Merrill responded when asked what the umpire said to him during their heated exchange on the field following the ejection of Rifkin in the sixth inning.
"The worst thing is he'll go home and sleep well tonight - a coach and two players later."

With the Thunder (40-42) convinced Reyburn was squeezing their man Wang, particularly on pitches on the inner and outer portions of the plate, Alvarez benefited from what appeared to be one high strike after another en route to five strikeouts and no walks over five innings.

Wang, meanwhile, had nowhere near the same dazzling stuff he used to shut down Bowie Wednesday at Prince George's Stadium, but his linescore was far worse than his performance.
Wang (5-5) walked three of the first eight batters he faced, although at least three of the pitches in those sequences were (loudly) questioned by Lavelle, Merrill or catcher Omar Fuentes.

"(Reyburn) made Wang pitch to a different strike zone and that took away his strength," Merrill added.
"It was a fiasco."

Each of Wang's two first-inning walks came around to score thanks to an RBI single by Jeff Bailey and a fielder's choice by John Hattig, who enjoyed a big night with four RBIs, including a searing two-run home run that ricocheted off the 37-foot wall in straightaway center-field in the sixth inning to give Portland a 5-3 advantage.

Alvarez (8-5) retired 12 of the first 13 he faced until four consecutive hits by the Thunder to begin the fifth inning curtailed his evening.
Safeties by Craig Wilson, Mitch Jones, David Parrish and a two-run single by Fuentes enabled the Thunder to tie the game at 3-3, but Alvarez caught a break when Kevin Thompson was justifiably flagged by Reyburn for batter's interference after leaning into the throwing path of the Portland catcher Bailey upon striking out, just as Tommy Winrow was attempting to steal second with one out.
The play was ruled a double play and Alvarez was out of the inning.

The homer by Hattig came after a leadoff single by the Eastern League All-Star Bailey in the sixth and was his first since May 23.
Wang then yielded a single to Mike O'Keefe, but he finished strong by striking out two of the final three hitters and getting the other, Kenny Perez, to tap back to the mound.

The three ejections were the most in Thunder history for a game which did not feature a benches-clearing brawl and ranged from the understated (Sardinha), to the downright angry (Rifkin).

Tossed for the second time this season, Rifkin heaved his helmet (just as he did after getting thrown out at Harrisburg last month), then his bat from the outer reaches of the first-base dugout.
After the Thunder batboy retrieved both items, Rifkin hurled another bat toward the plate and in the general direction of Reyburn, who was getting another mouthful from Merrill.

Sea Dogs reliever Ryan Cameron used inning-ending strikeouts to dance out of trouble in the sixth and seventh innings, before Portland (39-45) tacked on an insurance run in the eighth on Joe Kilburg's two-out, run-scoring single off Tim Adkins.

Frustration is mounting

Bronson Sardinha went quietly, jawing at home-plate umpire D.J. Reyburn after getting ejected in the first inning.
Gary Lavelle and Aaron Rifkin would not go gently into the Trenton night.
Lavelle was tossed in the top of the fifth inning after barking from the dugout.
He ambled to the plate to voice his dissatisfaction, and emerged in the stands by the bottom of the inning.
Wearing street clothes and a Yankees cap, he took a seat in the fourth row behind home plate.
That gave the normally placid pitching coach a bird’s-eye view for Rifkin’s ejection, which came in the sixth.
After getting thrown out, Rifkin stormed to the Thunder dugout.
Once inside he launched his helmet and bat - followed shortly after by another bat - onto the field while manager Stump Merrill argued with Reyburn at home plate.

By the end of their 6-4 loss to the Portland Sea Dogs last night at Waterfront Park, the Thunder had no position players left on their bench, had moved their second baseman to third, their shortstop to second base and their right fielder to first base.
The only players left at their original positions were left fielder Kevin Thompson, center fielder Tommy Winrow and catcher Omar Fuentes.

No one was happy.

Afterward Merrill called the game a "fiasco," and said that when he challenged Reyburn, the umpire replied, "I’m not having the best night."
"The worst thing is that he’ll go home and sleep well tonight," Merrill said, "a coach and two players later."

Still, for all of Merrill’s efforts, none of the protestation served the Thunder (40-42) well.

The offense did not advance a runner past first base until the fifth inning and, aside from a four-hit surge that briefly tied the game, 3-3, was largely ineffective, often watching as preposterous strike threes were called.

The Thunder went down looking on four of their 12 strikeouts.
Three of those four ended innings.

Only the Altoona Curve have struck out fewer times than the Thunder among the 12 teams in the Eastern League.

"I think the chaos got to us tonight and took us out of our ballgame," said Mitch Jones, who provided the offense by going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and two RBIs.

The most affected by the poor umpiring was starter Chien-ming Wang.

The right-hander turned in his worst performance since he was shelled against Harrisburg in early June, a series that marked Rifkin’s only other ejection of the season (a helmet toss also accompanied that ejection).

Reyburn appeared to squeeze Wang (5-5) on a number of calls in the first inning, when Wang issued two walks.
Both walks came on full counts, provoking Lavelle’s ire, and both base runners came around to score.

"He didn’t really squeeze me," reliever Tim Adkins said of Reyburn, "but where it was a problem was in the first inning and it cost us two runs.
It changed the whole swing of the game."

Things would unravel from there for Wang, who was 3-0 with a 1.65 ERA in his four starts prior to last night.
After walking just four in 27-2/3 innings coming in, he walked three last night.
He also surrendered seven hits, needed 62 pitches to make it through three innings and fell behind 10 of the first 19 batters he faced.

The turning blow came after the Thunder tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Wang allowed a single to Jeff Bailey to lead off the sixth, and John Hattig followed with a monstrous two-run home run that clanged off the facade in center field and put the Sea Dogs (39-45) ahead to stay.

"He made Wang pitch to a different strike zone and took away his strengths," Merrill said, referring to Wang’s ability to pitch on the corners and down in the strike zone.
"That made him pitch up in the zone, and of course it’s going to get hit there."

Eastern League Game Summary - Portland at Trenton

John Hattig crushed his 11th homer of the year and drove in four runs as the Portland Sea Dogs ousted the Trenton Thunder 6-4 Tuesday night.

Hattig went 2-for-4 with one run scored in the game.
He hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning to break a 3-3 tie and give Portland a 5-3 lead they would not lose.

Abe Alvarez (8-5) earned the win after he gave up three earned runs in five innings.
Alvarez allowed five hits and struck out five Trenton batters.

Ryan Larson struggled in the ninth but recorded his third save.

Chien-Ming Wang (5-5) took the loss for Trenton after he gave up five earned runs in six innings of work.
He allowed seven hits, walked three, and struck out five batters.

Brett Roneberg chipped in two hits, including a double, and scored two runs to help Portland's offense.

Mitch Jones led the Trenton offense as he went 3-for-4 with a double, homer, knocked in two runs, and scored two runs.

The series resumes Wednesday night with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM (ET).

LATE RALLY JUST FALLS SHORT AS PORTLAND TOPS TRENTON 6-4
Jones Hits 21st Home Run In Defeat

John Hattig hit the go-ahead 2-run homer in the sixth inning and collected 4 RBI to help Portland top Trenton 6-4 in Eastern League play on Tuesday night.

Hattig's long home run over the center field wall broke a 3-3 tie.

Portland (39-45) added an insurance run in the eighth inning on a two-out RBI single by Joe Killburg to increase the lead to 6-3.

Trenton (40-42) made things interesting in the ninth on a solo home run by Mitch Jones.
Jones, who had home runs in consecutive games, picked up his 21st home run of the season.

After a one-out single by Jake Weber, Ryan Larson closed the door on Trenton pick up his third save of the season.

The Thunder had to play most of the game shorthanded.
Third baseman Bronson Sardinha, first baseman Aaron Rifkin and pitching coach Gary Lavelle were ejected during the course of the game for arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn.

After falling behind 3-0, Trenton came back to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth.
The key hits in the inning were an RBI double by Jones and a 2-run single by Omar Fuentes.

Starter Chien-ming Wang (5-5) battled but suffered his first loss since June 3rd.
He went six innings and scattered seven hits and five earned runs.
He struck out five and walked three in defeat.

The series will continue on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. as Ramon Ramirez (1-2) will take the ball for Trenton against Portland's Josh Stevens (4-6).