Friday Night Loss

The Sea Dogs lost to the Norwich Navigators 6-3 on Friday night at Hadlock Field. The pitching matchup was a contrast in styles, with knuckleballer Charlie Zink taking the mound for Portland and flame thrower Merkin Valdez toeing the rubber for the Navigators. Though he didn't get up to 99 on the radar (he topped out at 96 on this chilly evening), Valdez fared better than in his first two outings against the Sea Dogs, allowing just two hits while striking out six in 5 1/3 innings pitched. Again, however, he struggled with his control, walking four and hitting a batter. Valdez has electric stuff, but I think that it's important for him to improve his command and get his pitch counts down. He threw 99 pitches on Friday and didn't get through the sixth inning. On the year, he's averaged less than 5 innings per start in six outings.

The struggles continued for Charlie Zink. He gave up five runs in six innings, though he was quite strong outside of the second inning, when the Navigators put together a five run rally on five hits and one walk. Zink has allowed 17 runs in 23 innings pitched, though his peripherals (22 hits, 8 walks) aren't too bad. As with most knuckleballers, teams tend to run on Zink, which leaves him with less margin for error. I would expect his ERA to come down if he keeps his WHIP below 1.30 (as it is now), and I think that he'll end up having a decent season.

Scorers notes:

This was the first game for Stefan Bailie, who missed the first part of the season while recovering from knee surgery. It was a rough one, he was 0-4, striking out once and hitting into a bases-loaded double play.

Jeff Bailey had a rough game, too. He did have an RBI single, but he was hit by two pitches, including one in the 9th that sent him out of the game for pinch runner Alberto Concepcion.

"Pinch runner Alberto Concepcion"? I wasn't expecting that one at all.

Big lefty reliever Erick Threets recorded the final out for a save. Like Valdez, Threets was popping the radar in the upper 90's, though it was just for one batter.

Tim Huttig had a big game for Norwich, with two doubles, two RBI, and a lean-in hit by pitch on a slow knuckler by Zink. Huttig now leads Norwich with a .298 batting average.

Justin Sturge had a nice three inning relief appearance for the Sea Dogs, allowing one unearned run on one hit, one walk, and one Jared Sandberg error. This is at least the third game that I have attended in which Sandberg has made two errors at third base. He started off hitting well but has been in a slump lately. He's going to have to hit a hell of a lot better to move up, 'cuz the defense just isn't cutting it right now.