truebluefan

The Connecticut Defenders got back in the win column with a double header sweep of the Portland Sea Dogs up at Portland on Friday, winning 10-4, and 1-0.

In game one, the Defenders got some early help from Jose Vaquedano, whose inability to hit the strike zone led to runs for Connecticut. He began the game issuing back-to-back walks to Quincy Foster and Derin McMains. They both came in to score on a Brian Buscher RBI double. Those were just two of Buscher's five game one RBIs. His second came in the top of the 2nd inning to score Foster, making it a 3-0 game.

The Defenders further bolstered their lead with only one hit in the top of the 4th inning. A hit batsman, an error and three walks led to three runs and a 6-0 lead. To that point, the Defenders scored six runs on three hits, eight walks, and two hit batsmen. Chris Begg had cruised, but let up a mini rally in the bottom of the 4th inning. Two runs scored, but his team got the two runs back in the top of the 5th inning. Brian Buscher added two more runs in the 7th inning on his fifth home run of the year. Portland scored two in the bottom of the inning, but Chris Begg finished out the complete game for a 10-4 win, his eighth of the year.

Game two was nothing like the game before with Jason Waddell and Scott Shoemaker on the mound. The two held the teams scoreless through the first three innings, but the Defenders began a small rally in the 4th inning with none other than Brain Buscher. For an encore, Buscher ripped a one out double and came around to score on a Travis Ishikawa RBI single, making the score 1-0.

Waddell exited the game after four scoreless innings. He allowed just three singles and a walk in that time period before giving way to Scott Munter. Munter was solid through two innings of work, allowing only a single and a hit batsman. Still leading 1-0 into the bottom of the 7th inning, the Defenders turned to All Star closer Billy Sadler, who allowed a couple of base runners, but successfully held the Sea Dogs off the scoreboard for his 13th save of the year.

On Saturday the Defenders will try to make it three straight wins with right-hander Garrett Broshuis (4-7) on the mound. He will be opposed by another righty, Devern Hansack (4-3). The first pitch is scheduled for 6:20.