Both the weather and the race in the East Division of the Eastern League are heating up fast. While the Sea Dogs are still firmly set in first place, the two teams fighting for the second playoff spot are playing too well to feel complacent with Portland’s six game lead.
Portland has won six of their last 10 games with impressive pitching and ample hitting. But the second place Binghamton Mets have won eight of 10; third place New Britain Rock Cats have been even more impressive, reeling off 10 wins in a row.
This certainly isn’t reason to fear, for the Sea Dogs look like a strong, deep team, on a winning roll and likely to continue winning. And while the parent Red Sox will probably move a number of players up to Pawtucket – and beyond – the plentiful pool of players in Salem, Greenville, and Lowell will continue to keep the momentum flowing toward a Portland post-season appearance.
Three recent additions to the Sea Dogs roster have been impressive and promising. David Chester arrived from High-A Salem and hit safely in six of eight games, including a grand slam. The 6-foot-5, 270-pound first baseman/DH hit game-winning RBIs in three straight games.
Keury (pronounced Coo-RAY) De La Cruz came off the disabled list on June 1; in 19 games, the Dominican Republic native is hitting .288 with two home runs, five doubles, eight RBIs and a .324 on base percentage. The 23-year-old outfielder/DH is ranked by MLB as Boston’s No. 14 prospect.
Jonathan Roof came to Portland with De La Cruz and hit safely in 11 of his first 16 games – a rather typical and pleasant trait of prospects moving up to the Sea Dogs. Roof is quite versatile, playing both right field and third base, while also serving as DH. Batting .314 mainly out of the No. 8 spot in the batting order, Roof has also led off, and batted second and seventh.
The Sea Dogs will be on the road from June 26 through July 3, returning to Hadlock Field for three games on July 4, 5 and 6, before leaving for another brief trip to Binghamton.
Fireworks are scheduled for the Fourth of July game.
Starting pitcher Mike Augliera watches as Ralph Henriquez homers to right field in Portland’s 5-4 loss to Altoona on June 22. The crowd is still focused on the batter, but Augliera knows the ball is long gone.
David Chester is a tad late with the tag on Altoona base runner Gift Ngoepe.
Sea Dog shortstop Devin Marrero hits his third single of the game on June 22, driving in Derrik Gibson.
Matt Spring is about to drive in David Chester from third in the second inning of the Sea Dogs’ 5-4 loss to Altoona on June 22.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
