0-3
Yikes...not the way to start off the '08 season! Granted, the Rock Cats ran into a buzz saw with some great pitching performances from Portland, but only 4 runs in 3 games? Oh my.
The season started Thursday evening with a 3-0 victory for Portland. Bubba Bell consummated a two-out rally with an RBI single that broke up a scoreless game in the eighth inning before 5,289 in the Eastern League season opener. It was a fairly wild game, even with the low scoring totals. Heck, the lights went out (literally) and we almost had to postpone. Now if only we could find the guy who threw that switch...(hey, don't look at me).
Game two (after a Friday rain out) was played Saturday, and Portland's Jeff Natale was seeing the ball well. The DH, a native of Hamden, got around too much on a foul ball that he crushed in the second inning. He followed with a hard single up the middle in the fifth.
With plenty of hometown support on hand, it was his momentous at-bat in the ninth that he’ll long remember. Natale redirected a payoff pitch from Jay Sawatski over the left field wall Saturday to give the Sea Dogs a 2-1 win over the New Britain Rock Cats before 3,691 disappointed fans at New Britain Stadium.
Portland received another strong performance by its pitching staff to down the Rock Cats 6-3 on Sunday afternoon. The Sea Dogs jumped on Rock Cats’ starter Jay Rainville. In his Double-A debut, Rainville labored through his first inning. The Rhode Island native surrendered three hits and walked two as Portland jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. In the second, Rainville issued a one-out walk and single before forcing Zachary Daeges into a double play to end the inning.
The Rock Cats broke out the bats in the bottom of the second when David Winfree and Dustin Martin (2-for-4) started the inning off with back-to-back doubles. Winfree scored on Martin’s double to right field to close the gap, 3-1. Felix Molina added an RBI single.
Rainville lasted 3 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits. He struggled with control issuing five walks. Kyle Aselton made his Rock Cats debut with two shutout innings in relief. He didn’t allow a hit, but did walk four. Zach Ward added 1 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
Portland’s Kris Johnson was solid in his first start of the season. Johnson limited the Rock Cats to two runs on five hits through 4 1/3 innings. He struck out three. Jose Vaquedano (2-0) picked up the win with 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief. Hunter Jones added 1 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up the save. Tony Granadillo had three hits to lead the Portland offense.
For the Rock Cats, Erik Lis had an RBI single in the eighth inning.
And through all of this, all I can say is, "uh, guys...can we get it going here?" I was really hoping for a hot start!
In other news, we invaded Woburn today for another great time at the Candlepin Challenge taping. I won't divulge any information, but I hear the May 10 show is going to be hilarious (at least for a few moments). I'll just leave it at that. It was great to see everyone again, including Dan, John, Trina, Bobby, Pops, etc. It's always an exciting day.
Interestingly, an old "friend" popped into my home center this past week, seemingly in an attempt to throw me off or cause me some grief...even if he didn't have anything to say to me. Thankfully, since this old "friend" has a relative who has threatened me with some physical harm, my teammates decided to watch him closely. We don't tolerate any of that stuff, that's for sure. So, to my old "friend," I suggest you stay away. Your idle threats are worth nothing to me or anyone else for that matter. Bank on it.
Lastly...let's hope it gets warm this week, eh? I'm so over this cold weather...and I'm sure you are, too.
