Dogs slip past Cats, 7-6

Portland 7 at New Britain 6

W: D. Haigwood (1-0, 2.08); L: A. Gabino (3-3, 2.96); SV: B. Vaughan (4)
HR: None.

This time, home was not so sweet for the New Britain Rock Cats, as the Portland Sea Dogs took an early lead that the Rock Cats could not overcome.

Despite having some of the top pitching prospects in the Twins system, the Rock Cats starters have been spotty at best. Anthony Swarzak would give up 4 runs, 3 earned on 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2 over 5.2 innings.

Jeff Corsaletti took a walk off Swarzak to start the game and then moved over to 3rd when a pick off attempt when astray on a throwing error by Swarzak. Corsaletti would score on Iggy Suarez's ground out, giving the Sea Dogs a run without a hit ever being recorded.

In the top of the 3rd, Suarez would walk. Zach Daeges doubled him in and then Aaron Bates doubled as well, to bring in Daeges, making it 3-1 Dogs.

Tony Granadillo doubled in the top of the 5th, moved to 3rd on Suarez ground out, and was plated by Daeges double to left.

In a move that might seem familiar to Miracle fans, once the starter came off the mound, the Cats broke out their bats. Armando Gabino replaced Swarzak in the six and in the bottom of of that inning, Jeff Christy singled to start out. Steve Tolleson would strike out, but Dustin Martin then took a walk as well. Luke Hughes who was 0-for-4 in the game with 3 strike out, recorded one of them before Erik Lis doubled out to right to score the two New Britain runners.

Daniel Haigwood would replace Portland starter Michael Bowden. He's be greeted by a Brock Peterson double which brought in Lis. Matt Moses then tripled out to right to bring in Peterson, tying up the game.

It would not stay that way for long. Tony Granadillo took a walk off Gabino who also handed out free passes to Corsaletti and Suarez to load the bases. Daeges would pop out, but a Bates sac-fly brought in a run to put the Sea Dogs up on top again.

Tolleson's double in the bottom of the stanza was wasted as he was left stranded. Kyle Aselton took over the New Britain mound in the 8th, and Andrew Pinckney greeted him with a double. Ryan Khoury's fly out moved the runner to 3rd, and he was sacrificed in by Mickey Hall.

Daniel Bard struck out Hughes, Lis and Peterson in the bottom of the 8th. After Corsaletti had been called out on strikes to open the top of the ninth, Suarez took a walk from Aselton, then stole 2nd. Daeges doubled him in giving the Dogs a 3 run lead.

Beau Vaughan took over the mound for the Boston farm in the bottom of the 9th, and allowed a walk to Matt Moses. Trevor Plouffe double out to right. Following a fly out to Felix Molina, David Winfree, pinch hitting for Christy singled to bring in Moses. Tolleson then singled to drive in Plouffe but that was all the Cats could manage. Martin would strike out and Hughes would fly out to end the game.

Tolleson finished up 3-for-5 with 1 RBI. Peterson was 2-for-4 with a run and a RBI, and Plouffe was also 2-for-4 with a run. Martin, who parlayed a walk into a run but was 0-for-4 at the plate also had 3 strike outs. Lis and Peterson took a pair of K's each.

The Harrisburgh Senators comes to the New Britain Stadium on Monday for a 6:35 PM game. Former Rock Cat Tristan Crawford (1-0, 3.79) is on the Harrisburgh roster and is scheduled to pitch on Tuesday against his former club.

Boxscore
Log
Rock Cats
Sea Dogs

The International League game between the Rochester Red Wings and the Syracuse Chiefs was suspended by rain, and will be completed as part of a double header on Monday starting at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Syracuse had a one run lead at the time the game was stopped.