Buchholz Fans 11 as 'Dogs Beat 'Cats
June 25, 2007 - Eastern League (EL1)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release
(Manchester, NH) - Clay Buchholz (6-2) fanned eight of the final nine batters faced and Portland's offense pounded out 14 hits to beat the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, 5-4 in the series finale on Monday night at Merchantsauto.com Stadium. Buchholz earned his fourth straight win, hurling six and 1/3 innings on four hits, one run, one walk and 11 strikeouts.
Ricky Romero (0-2) made his first start for New Hampshire since May 3 and allowed eight hits and four runs to take the loss. Romero, who missed over a month with a shoulder injury, lasted only three and 2/3 innings.
Mike James allowed a two-run homer in the ninth inning but retired the next three batters to earn his 12th save of the season.
The top three hitters (Jeff Corsaletti, Jed Lowrie and Jeff Natale) in Portland's lineup reached base safely in 12 of 15 plate appearances. Corsaletti had four hits, stole two bases and scored twice. Lowrie went 3-for-5 with 2 doubles and improved his team-leading average to .305. Natale reached base safely in all five at-bats with three walks, a single and a two-run double.
Buchholz lowered his league-leading ERA to 1.79 and earned his fourth straight win, becoming the first pitcher since Chris Smith to win four straight decisions. Smith won seven consecutive starts in 2006.
Cory Keylor smacked the first pitch of the second inning over the centerfield wall for the game's first run. Keylor's home run was his first in 167 at-bats - he last homered on May 1 versus Bowie at Hadlock Field.
The Dogs added two runs in the third inning on Natale's 2-run double, scoring Corsaletti and Lowrie.
Hunter Jones made his Double-A debut for Portland, relieving Buchholz in the seventh inning with a runner at first base. Jones retired Ryan Patterson but surrendered a two-run-inside-the-park homer to Dustin Majewski. Portland Leftfielder Jay Johnson thought Majewski's ball went over the left-centerfield wall and raised his hands air but the umpire did not stop the play.
Portland had their best roadtrip of the season, taking 5 of 8 in seven days before returning home on Tuesday night to begin a five-game series against the Connecticut Defenders.
Allied Home Mortgage Big Dogs of the Game - Buchholz, Corsaletti, Lowrie, Natale
Notes...The Sea Dogs finished the roadtrip with a 331 average and 10 home runs...Buchholz has 111 strikeouts the most in Minor League Baseball...Natale extended his hitting streak to seven straight games and finished the trip with 9 RBI.
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