The Result
Rock Cats - 10 to 5

Sea Dogs - Year-to-Date
54 wins - 61 losses

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

At the end of the Game
2 hits from 4 at-bats - single, home run, 1 x RBI, 1 x run scored, 1 x walk

Brett's at-bats
First at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Runner at first base - one down
Ball - outside
Ball - change-up - high
"A mile-high pop-up on the left side of the infield ...... Brett went after a pitch that was down in the zone"
Out F6
Second at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Bases empty - one down
Ball - outside
Ball - high
Ball - outside
Called strike - "right in there"
Ball - outside
Walk
Out at second base on a ground ball by the next Sea Dogs batter
Third at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Bases empty - two down
Ball - high
Called strike
Fly ball into rightfield
Out F9
Fourth at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Bases empty - one down
Ball - low
Called strike - fast ball
Ball - fast ball - up and away
"And that is driven deep into rightfield"
HOME RUN
......and 1 x RBI (click here for all the home run details)
Here is what the commentator said -
"A deep drive ...... and there it goes!!! - home run number fifteen for Brett Roneberg"
"That was a bomb!!!"
"A definite no-doubter"
"With that shot Brett becomes the nineteenth player in Sea Dogs franchise history to hit fifteen home runs in a single season"
Fifth at-bat
Runners at first and second base - two down
Ball - down and in
Ball - outside
Called strike - at the knees
"Roneberg hits a high chopper of the plate and it will be a difficult play for the fielders ...... the second-baseman came down with it but has no play and Brett has an infield hit and the bases are loaded"
Infield single
Left stranded at the end of the innings

Heard during the game
(1) As Brett came in for his first at-bat, the commentator said "Brett is leading the Sea Dogs in most offensive categories including -
------hits - 116
------doubles - 25
------extra-base hits - 42
------total bases - 189
------runs driven in - 68
------runs scored - 59
------walks - 51
and is second on the team with 14 home runs"
*** Brett hit a solo home run in his fourth at-bat - this added to his hits, extra-base hits, total bases, runs driven in, and runs scored totals

(2) Brett reached base on a walk in his second at-bat - the next batter hit a 'double-play-ball' to the Rock Cats second-baseman - Brett was out at second base but "Roneberg's hard slide took out the Rock Cats shortstop and broke up the double play because he wasn't able to get much on the throw to first base"

Email from Brett
N/A

Game Reports

Jones, Rock Cats pound Sea Dogs

Few teams have been spared during Garrett Jones’ breakout season in the Eastern League.

The Portland Sea Dogs pitchers have been particularly inviting targets for the strapping New Britain Rock Cats first baseman.

Jones stepped up his onslaught against the Sea Dogs with three hits and four RBI Sunday as the Rock Cats ripped their way to a 10-5 win before 4,782 at New Britain Stadium.

The victory propels New Britain (54-60) out of last place and into fourth in the Northern Division, one-half game ahead of Portland (54-61) and Trenton.

The clubs split the four-game weekend series after the Sea Dogs won the first two.

Jones, released by the Atlanta Braves in May 2002, had two doubles, a single and a sacrifice fly in New Britain’s 13-hit assault on three Portland pitchers.

"A lot of it is comfort," Jones said.
"I’m learning my swing, feeling comfortable with it and trusting that it’s going to be there every day, not changing my mechanics like I have in the past.
I’m keeping it simple, getting a good pitch to hit and swinging at it."

Jones drove in a run with a double in a three-run third that erased a 1-0 Portland lead.
His two-run double against Josh Stevens (6-8) off the right-field wall in the fifth inning was the key blow in a four-run rally that extended the Rock Cats’ lead to 7-2.
His sacrifice fly came in a three-run seventh that gave New Britain an eight-run lead.

"He’s turning himself into a very interesting player," Portland manager Ron Johnson said.
"I saw him last year and didn’t really think much of him.
Earlier in the year I didn’t think much of him, but the more I watch him, the more I see him do damage."

In 15 games against Portland, Jones is batting .393 with 11 doubles, three homers and 11 RBI.
His perfect day at the plate raises his season average to .294, way beyond the .223 he was hitting through his first five minor-league campaigns.

"When Billy Munoz retired, he took over and it was a big challenge for him coming out of the (Class A) Florida State League," Rock Cats manager Stan Cliburn said.
"He’s aggressive in the zone, he’s been right on the fastball and it’s good to watch.
He’s a smart kid.
He doesn’t say much but he lets that bat do the talking."

Matt Scanlon had a triple, two singles and drove in two runs.

Bryan Kennedy drove in two runs, one on his fourth homer of the season.

Luis Maza and James Tomlin each had two hits and scored twice.

Portland got solo homers from Hamden native Mike O’Keefe, Raul Nieves and Brett Roneberg.
Joe Kilburg added a two-run homer in Portland’s three-run eighth-inning surge.

O’Keefe leads the Sea Dogs with 16 on the year.

Nieves’ blast, his first of the year, was just his second in over 1,400 professional at-bats.

Stevens, who came into the game with two wins and a 2.05 ERA in his previous three starts, yielded seven runs on nine hits in 4-1/3 innings.
He is now 0-5 with a 7.35 ERA on the road.

"He’s a command guy and he was getting behind too many guys," Johnson said.
"He was having trouble commanding his offspeed stuff.
He had a lot of early ‘takes’ the second time through the order and usually he doesn’t get hitters to lay off stuff immediately.
It was one of those days."

New Britain spot starter Erik Lohse (1-0) allowed two hits - both solo homers - in five innings.
Lohse walked three and struck out one.

"He’s a bullpen guy," said Cliburn, whose staff was taxed due to Saturday’s doubleheader.
"He gives us a spot start when these doubleheaders back us up.
He goes out there and pitches on guts and with his heart.
He pitches down and mixes his breaking ball in there.
He’s not overpowering but he’s a winner.
That’s twice he’s given us a good start when our bullpen was short."

Victor Moreno gave up three runs in 2-1/3 innings.

The Sea Dogs battled back to within one swing of making it a one-run game.
They loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, but Travis Bowyer escaped trouble when he handled a line drive back to the mound by cleanup hitter Stefan Bailie.

"This club has come back 26 times for victories and every time we battle and give an energy effort, I consider it a success," Johnson said.

CATS TALES
Since July 1, Jones is hitting .341 with 11 homers and 38 RBI.
He’s more than doubled his home run and RBI numbers in that time.

SEA DOGS FALL IN SERIES FINALE AT NEW BRITAIN
Portland Falls 10-5 Despite 4 Home Runs

Garrett Jones went 3-for-3 with four RBI to lead New Britain to 10-5 victory over the Portland Sea Dogs in Eastern League action Sunday afternoon.

Matt Scanlon went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI for the Rock Cats in support of Erik Louse (1-0), who earned his first Double-A win with five innings of two-run ball.

Portland received home runs from Joe Kilburg, Raul Nieves, Brett Roneberg and Mike O'Keefe.

Cats Win, Set Record

The Rock Cats may be a long shot for the playoffs, but they did set a team attendance record Sunday against the Portland Sea Dogs after drawing 4,782 in a 10-5 victory at New Britain Stadium.

They have now drawn 272,893 through 59 home games this season, eclipsing last year's total attendance of 271,143.
They also set a three-day weekend attendance record of 23,296, topping the previous record of 19,409 in their June 18-20 series with Norwich.

"This weekend has been unbelievable," Rock Cats president and general manager Bill Dowling said.
"We've obviously captured the imagination of the people in the Greater Hartford area."

The next milestone for the Rock Cats - who are drawing more than 4,500 a game - is to draw 300,000, which is a strong possibility with 10 games remaining.

Garrett Jones led the Rock Cats (54-60) Sunday, going 3-for-3 with four RBI.

Matt Scanlon went 3-for-4, including a triple, with two RBI.

Erik Lohse (1-0) gave up two runs on two hits, with one strikeout and three walks in five innings.

Portland's Brett Roneberg went 2-for-4, including a home run, his second of the four-game series.

A Dog-day afternoon - a 10-5 loss

Garrett Jones went 3-3 and drove in four runs to lead New Britain to 10-5 victory over the Portland Sea Dogs in Eastern League action Sunday afternoon.

Jones hit an RBI doubles in the third and fifth innings to drive in three runs.
He followed that up with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

For New Britain Matt Scanlon went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI.

James Tomlin and Luis Maza each had two hits.

Bryan Kennedy hit a home run and drove in two runs.

Portland's Brett Roneberg had two hits, including his 15th home run.

Portland's Joe Kilburg and Mike O'Keefe each hit a home run.

Erik Lohse earned his first victory for New Britain pitching five innings and giving up two earned runs.

Tomorrow Portland heads home to take on the Trenton Thunder.

ROCK CATS' BATS COME ALIVE IN 10-5 WIN

Erik Lohse picked up his first Double A win as the Rock Cats defeated Portland 10-5 on Sunday to break even on a four-game series.

Portland made things interesting with three runs in the eighth (off Victor Moreno) and then loading the bases in the ninth, but Travis Bowyer escaped the jam and closed it out for his 4th save.

Lohse finished with two runs on two hits - both solo home runs - in five innings.

The Rock Cats pounded out 13 hits, including three hits apiece by Matt Scanlon (1 triple, 2 runs, 2 RBI) and Garrett Jones (2 doubles, 4 RBI, 1 run).
Luis Maza and James Tomlin each had a single, a double, and scored two runs.
Bryan Kennedy added a home run.

For Portland, Josh Stevens (6-8) took the loss after allowing seven runs on nine hits.