truebluefan

Eastern League announces weekly award winners

PORTLAND, ME - The Eastern League is pleased to announce the Major League Baseball Advanced Media selections for the Eastern League Pitcher and Player of the Week for the week ending August 6th:

New Hampshire Fisher Cats outfielder David Smith has been named the Eastern League's Player of the Week for the week ending August 6th. The 25-year old had an excellent week for the Fisher Cats, hitting .450 (9-for-20) with one double, four home runs, 10 RBI, seven runs scored, two stolen bases, two walks and a 1.100 slugging percentage in five games. Smith, a native of Charleston, West Virginia, had a hit in each of the five games he played in last week and hit a homer in all but one of those games. The 6'2", 190 lb. slugger is ranked among the league leaders in extra base hits (48-tied 2nd), doubles (29-tied 3rd), total bases (183-4th), home runs (18-tied 5th) and RBI (63-6th). David was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 15th round of the June 2002 draft after hitting .433 with 14 homers and 51 RBI and being selected as the WVIAC Player of the Year during his junior season at West Virginia State University.

Zach Segovia, a right-handed starting pitcher for the Reading Phillies, is the Eastern League's Pitcher of the Week for the week ending August 6th. The 23-year old made two starts for the R-Phils last week and was 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA. In his first start of the week, Segovia gave up two runs, one earned, on six hits and two walks while striking out six batters in seven innings of work to earn a victory against the Sea Dogs at FirstEnergy Stadium last Monday. The 6'2", 245 lb. hurler was even better in his second start of the week, limiting the Senators to two runs, one earned, on four hits while striking out six batters in eight innings in Reading's win over Harrisburg at Commerce Bank Park on Saturday. Zach, who has a Minor League-best 15 wins this season between Class-A Clearwater and Reading, was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the second round of the June 2002 draft out of Forney High School in Texas.

truebluefan

he Portland Sea Dogs return to Hadlock Field on Tuesday, August 8th for a nine game homestand against the Harrisburg Senators (Nationals), Akron Aeros (Indians), and New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays). Despite a recent 1-9 road trip, the Sea Dogs are in the thick of a playoff race. Portland is just 2.5 games back of second place Binghamton for a playoff spot.

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Tuesday, August 8 @ 7:00 PM vs. Harrisburg Senators (Nationals) Promotion: Hawaiian Night Minor League Baseball VERB Tour Tickets: 900 General Admission Tickets Remain

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Wednesday, August 9 @ 7:00 PM vs. Harrisburg Senators (Nationals) Promotion: Hood Kid's Club Game- Slugger and his friends will participate in the annual mascot kickball game beginning at 6:20. Minor League Baseball VERB Tour W.B. Mason Night Tickets: 1,500 General Admission Tickets Remain

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Thursday, August 10 @ 12:00 Noon vs. Harrisburg Senators (Nationals) Promotion: Minor League Baseball VERB Tour Tickets: 50 Reserved Seat Tickets Remain

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Friday, August 11 @ 7:00 PM vs. Akron Aeros (Indians) Promotion: Bank of America Night Storyland Family Fun Friday MDA Jersey Off Their Back Night- The Sea Dogs will wear special jersey's, throughout the game the MDA will be selling raffle tickets for the special jersey's. At the end of the game the lucky winners will receive the jersey's right off the player's back. Tickets: Sold Out

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Saturday, August 12 @ 6:00 PM vs. Akron Aeros (Indians) Promotion: CMP Night Big Brothers/ Big Sisters Night WZON Night Kid's Club Clinic-10:00 AM -12:00 Noon Tickets: Sold Out

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Sunday, August 13 @ 1:00 PM vs. Akron Aeros (Indians) Promotion: Messer Truck Equipment Day Season Ticket Holder's Breakfast at 9:30 (Must Have RSVP'd to attend) Kids Run the Bases- Post-Game, weather and field conditions permitting Tickets: Sold Out

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Monday, August 14: Off Day

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Tuesday, August 15 @ 7:00 PM vs. New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays) Promotion: Maine Lottery Night Sea Dogs Monthly Luncheon- 12:00-1:00 PM in the picnic area at Hadlock Field. Enjoy a picnic style lunch and enjoy a guest speaker from the baseball industry. Tickets are $8.00 payable at the door. Luncheons are sponsored by the Portland Press Herald/ Maine Sunday Telegram. Tickets: 1,800 General Admission Tickets Remain

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Wednesday, August 16 @ 7:00 PM vs. New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays) Promotion: ZOOperstars- made possible by U.S. Cellular Tickets: 1,500 General Admission Tickets Remain

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Thursday, August 17 @ 7:00 PM vs. New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays) Promotion: Halloween at Hadlock- Fans are encouraged to wear Halloween Costumes to the ballpark Tickets: 1,500 General Admission Tickets Remain

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PORTLAND SEA DOGS 5TH ANNUAL SLUGGER OPEN

Friday, August 11, 2006 At Sable Oaks Benefiting:

The Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center

The Portland Sea Dogs Slugger Open is an exciting event, which allows you to play golf with your friends, family and coworkers in the morning and cap the day off at Hadlock field taking in a Sea Dogs baseball game. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital. All Golfers participating in this event will receive:

A day of golf with friends, family, and co-workers A Slugger Open Golf Shirt Portland Sea Dogs Golf Balls The opportunity to play golf with Red Sox minor leaguers Continental breakfast & boxed lunches Prizes for net, gross, longest drive, and closest to the pin A chance to win a new car on the "Hole in One" hole. Two tickets to that evenings' 7:00pm Sea Dogs game against the Akron Aeros, complete with an all-you-can-eat picnic of hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, Sea Dog Biscuits, side orders, and beverages. Additional tickets are available for purchase for friends and family to join in the fun. For More information contact the Portland Sea Dogs at (207) 874-9300

Click for a brochure and application

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Listen to all the Games at www.seadogs.com or on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network...

WBAE 1490-AM "The Bay" (Portland)*

WCNM 1240-AM (Lewiston/Auburn)

WKTQ 1450-AM (South Paris/Norway)

WTME 780-AM (Rumford)

WPHX 1220-AM (Sanford)

WMEX 106.5-FM (Rochester, NH)

* Flagship Station

truebluefan

The Defenders got out to a fast start, but their bats were virtually non-existant after the 3rd inning as they lost game one of a three game set at Altoona 4-3.

Connecticut scored in the 1st inning thanks to a lead off double by Derin McMains, followed eventually a couple of batters later, by a Brian Horwitz sacrifice fly for an early 1-0 lead. Geno Espineli was touched up for two runs in the bottom of the 1st inning, but the Defenders got them both back with a two run 3rd inning. McMains led off with another double, and he was followed by a Nate Schierholtz triple. Schierholtz would score, making it a 3-2 Defenders lead.

After the three Defenders runs in the first three innings, Michael Connolly buckled down and sat down the last fourteen Defenders he faced, The Defenders managed only a Brian Horwitz single that turned out to be harmless for the rest of the game. Altoona was not done scoring after three innings. In the 5th, a Nyjer Morgan lead off triple led to the tying run, and the Curve struck one more time in the 7th inning scoring on an error by Jake Wald who tried to cut down the lead runner with one out. That made the score 4-3, which would be the final.

The Defenders will need to win each of the next two games to win their fourth straight series. On Tuesday, right-hander James Garcia (2-6) goes to the mound for Connecticut. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

truebluefan

ALTOONA, PA -The Altoona Curve came from behind for the second night in a row to beat the Connecticut Defenders Monday night at Blair County Ballpark, 4-3. The Curve fought off two separate one-run deficits to win the series-opening contest.

The Curve scored the game-winning run in the seventh inning, in a scenario that was similar to the way they won Sunday night's game. With one out and the score tied 3-3, Taber Lee scored the go-ahead run when Connecticut shortstop Jake Wald made a throwing error. The errant throw sailed past the third baseman and rolled into the dugout, awarding Lee home plate.

It was the second night in a row that a late-inning throwing error allowed the Curve to score the eventual game-winning run.

Mike Connolly started his franchise-best 79th game in a Curve uniform and earned the victory, his first for Altoona since June 9. The left-hander pitched seven innings, allowing just three runs on three hits and striking out five.

Connolly allowed the three runs in the first three innings, aided by three Curve defensive errors. He finished the game by retiring the final 15 batters he faced in order, before turning the ball over to reliever Brian Rogers.

Rogers pitched the final two innings and struck out four batters while allowing just one hit in collecting his second save for the Curve.

Altoona responded in the bottom of the first inning after falling behind 1-0. Nyjer Morgan, Brian Bixler and Vic Buttler opened the Curve at-bat with three consecutive base hits. After back-to-back singles by Morgan and Bixler, Buttler ripped a double to right field to score Morgan, and Brett Roneberg's ground-out plated Bixler to give the Curve a lead.

After Connecticut put a two-spot on the scoreboard in the third, Altoona tied the game when Morgan led off the fifth with a triple and Bixler brought him plateward with a single to right.

Geno Espinelli started for the Defenders and earned a no-decision after five innings pitched. The lefty scattered eight hits and allowed three runs in his first no-decision in his last seven appearances.

Bixler and Morgan led the way for the Curve offensively, picking up two hits apiece and combining to score three runs.

The Curve will continue its series against Connecticut on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. at Blair County Ballpark. The game features an appearance by Bernie Kopell ("Dr. Adam Bricker") as well as a Singles' Mingle on the party deck with karaoke from 5 - 7 p.m.

Altoona will send a yet-to-be-named starter to the hill against the Defenders' James Garcia (2-6, 5.12).

NOTES

The Curve improved to 18-0 in 2006 when the starting pitcher lasts at least seven full innings...the victory tied the season series between the Curve and Defenders at two games apiece...it was Hank's Bark in the Park Night, with over 100 fans bringing their dogs to the ballpark to watch the game...The Curve have now committed seven errors in the last three games following a season-high stretch of four consecutive games without a single defensive miscue.