Written by Brett Korpi
PORTLAND, MAINE – On a crisp early spring night at Hadlock Field, Mainers were able to catch a glimpse of summer as the Portland Sea Dogs opened the 2017 season on Friday evening.
Portland, AA affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, hosted the Reading Fightin Phils, AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, in an Eastern League matchup. An opening night crowd of 3,394 turned out to watch the Sea Dogs start off their season with a 4-2 victory.
Teddy Stankiewicz took the opening day start for Portland. The right-hander threw six innings allowing two runs on four hits and two walks. Ty Buttrey, came on in the 7th inning throwing two innings
Portland's starting pitcher Teddy Stankiewicz went six innings allowing two runs, four hits, and two walks. Reliever Ty Buttrey would enter in the 7th inning and would throw two scoreless frames to earn the victory. Austin Maddox earned the save with a perfect 9th inning.
Reading got on the scoreboard early in the first. Leadoff hitter Scott Kingery would single up the middle to start things off for the Fightin Phils. Designated hitter Andrew Pullin would also single putting runners on the corners. Stankewicz, then hit Reading center fielder Carlos Tocci with a pitch to load the bases. The Fightins clean-up hitter Kyle Martin then drove in Kingery on a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0.
Stankiewicz would get out of the early jam forcing Reading into a double play to get out of the inning. He would settle down from there only allowing two more hits over the next five innings.
The Sea Dogs evened the score in the second inning when Boston Red Sox top prospect Rafael Devers would take a pay-off pitch from Reading starter Tom Eshelman and deposit it over the right field wall to tie the game 1-1. The 20-year old third baseman went 1 for 4 with a HR and RBI in his AA debut.
In the fifth inning, Portland would break the 1-1 tie when Joseph Monge scored from second a wild pitch. Reading reliever Yacksel Rios entered the game replacing Eshelman, with runners on second and third and two outs. Jose Rosario would strike out swinging. However the pitch got away from catch Chace Numata, and Rosario would reach first which allowed Monge, who was running on the pitch to score.
Numata, got redemption in the 6th inning when he singled to right-center to tie the game scoring Tocci from second base.
Portland took the lead in the 7th inning when Reading reliever Jesen Therrien came in and never looked back. After a Jordan Prosyshen single, Monge struck out, and a fielders-choice ground out by Tzu-Wei Lin, Sea Dog fan favorite Anuery Tavares would crush a two-run home run over the right field wall.
The Sea Dogs and Fightin Phils will be back at again on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. EST at Hadlock Field for the second game of their three-game series. The game that was originally scheduled for Thursday but postponed due to rain will be made up as part of a doubleheader when Reading makes its next trip to Portland on Friday, May 5th.
Portland, AA affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, hosted the Reading Fightin Phils, AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, in an Eastern League matchup. An opening night crowd of 3,394 turned out to watch the Sea Dogs start off their season with a 4-2 victory.
Teddy Stankiewicz took the opening day start for Portland. The right-hander threw six innings allowing two runs on four hits and two walks. Ty Buttrey, came on in the 7th inning throwing two innings
Portland's starting pitcher Teddy Stankiewicz went six innings allowing two runs, four hits, and two walks. Reliever Ty Buttrey would enter in the 7th inning and would throw two scoreless frames to earn the victory. Austin Maddox earned the save with a perfect 9th inning.
Reading got on the scoreboard early in the first. Leadoff hitter Scott Kingery would single up the middle to start things off for the Fightin Phils. Designated hitter Andrew Pullin would also single putting runners on the corners. Stankewicz, then hit Reading center fielder Carlos Tocci with a pitch to load the bases. The Fightins clean-up hitter Kyle Martin then drove in Kingery on a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0.
Stankiewicz would get out of the early jam forcing Reading into a double play to get out of the inning. He would settle down from there only allowing two more hits over the next five innings.
The Sea Dogs evened the score in the second inning when Boston Red Sox top prospect Rafael Devers would take a pay-off pitch from Reading starter Tom Eshelman and deposit it over the right field wall to tie the game 1-1. The 20-year old third baseman went 1 for 4 with a HR and RBI in his AA debut.
In the fifth inning, Portland would break the 1-1 tie when Joseph Monge scored from second a wild pitch. Reading reliever Yacksel Rios entered the game replacing Eshelman, with runners on second and third and two outs. Jose Rosario would strike out swinging. However the pitch got away from catch Chace Numata, and Rosario would reach first which allowed Monge, who was running on the pitch to score.
Numata, got redemption in the 6th inning when he singled to right-center to tie the game scoring Tocci from second base.
Portland took the lead in the 7th inning when Reading reliever Jesen Therrien came in and never looked back. After a Jordan Prosyshen single, Monge struck out, and a fielders-choice ground out by Tzu-Wei Lin, Sea Dog fan favorite Anuery Tavares would crush a two-run home run over the right field wall.
The Sea Dogs and Fightin Phils will be back at again on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. EST at Hadlock Field for the second game of their three-game series. The game that was originally scheduled for Thursday but postponed due to rain will be made up as part of a doubleheader when Reading makes its next trip to Portland on Friday, May 5th.