Take Me Out To The Ballgame

The Music Man and I went to a Portland Sea Dogs baseball game the other day. What a perfect way to spend a summer afternoon. I hadn't seen the Sea Dogs play in a few years, and I had forgotten how exciting minor league baseball can be. I have a new hopeful Red Sox, Iggy Suarez (mostly because he has a fun name to yell out during a game "Go Iggy!", but also because he is a solid player). In the end, after a very exciting last inning, the Sea Dogs won. Since I am by no means a sport writer, here is the official game recap from the Sea Dogs website.

    "Pinch-hitter Zach Daeges singled home Argenis Diaz with the bases loaded to give the Sea Dogs (68-57) a 5-4 win over Harrisburg Sunday afternoon at Hadlock Field. The win completed a three-game sweep of the Senators (68-61) to give the ‘Dogs a perfect 6-0 homestand. With the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth, arrisburg reliever Adam Carr (3-3) ran into trouble right away. Diaz led off with a single to right followed by a double off the bat of Jorge Jimenez. With runners at second and third, Carr intentionally walked Iggy Suarez to load the bases for Juan Apodaca. The Portland catcher, though, would not get a chance to hit as Daeges was called upon as a pinch-hitter. On a 1-1 pitch, Daeges hit a slow-roller to third and the throw to the plate was just off-line to score the winning run.
    Daniel Bard (4-1) earned the victory after working a scoreless top of the ninth. It was his second win of the homestand after earning the victory (and a blown save) Friday night. Miguel Asencio also pitched out of the Dogs bullpen, working two scoreless innings. Portland would start the scoring in the last of the second inning thanks to a sacrifice fly by Juan Apodaca, who picked up his first RBI for the Sea Dogs on the play. But, Harrisburg took the lead right back thanks to a 2-run third inning against Mills. With one down, three consecutive hits to right field brought in Garrett Guzman to tie the game at 1-1. After a ground-out to first base, Jemel Spearman (1-4, RBI, run) would score on a dribbler
by Seth Bynum up the third base line to make it 2-1 Senators.
    The ‘Dogs would get a run back in the bottom of the fourth when Iggy Suarez singled home Argenis Diaz to tie the game at 2. With the score tied, Mills would settle down for the remainder of his outing. He retired the last seven the faced and nine of the final ten in his six innings of work. He picked up another no-decision, though, allowing two runs on just five hits. He struck out a career-high seven and did not walk a batter for the third straight start. Harrisburg starter Justin Jones would match Mills pitch-for-pitch all afternoon. He came out of the game after surrendering a lead-off single to Jorge Jimenez in the 7th. Jones would earn a no-decision after throwing six-plus, giving up just two runs (one earned) on four hits.
He finished with ten strikeouts, his highest total in one game since 2003."

Enjoy ~SJ