Portland heads to the Championship

The Sea Dogs are set to appear in their first Eastern League Championship series since 1997 following their 9-2 victory over Trenton on Sunday night. After playing four close games, each of which was won by the home team, the Dogs didn’t leave this one in doubt. Four Portland batters (Scott Youngbauer, Hanley Ramirez, Brandon Moss and Jeremy West) homered and the Sea Dogs won going away. Wade Miller started for Portland as part of a rehabilitation assignment by the Red Sox. Miller was limited to 60 pitches and was rusty, allowing both Trenton runs in 2 2/3 innings pitched. Regular starter Chris Smith and relievers Denney Tomori, Randy Beam and Craig Hansen shut the Thunder down the remainder of the way. It was Hansen’s first outing in several weeks and he was back to normal, allowing no hits and reaching 97 mph with his fastball.

Portland now hosts the Akron Aeros for the first two games of the best-of-five championship series beginning Tuesday night. Like the Sea Dogs, the Aeros were pushed to game five by the Altoona Curve after winning the first two games at home. The bad news for Portland is that the Aeros have the home field advantage as the final therr games (if all are necessary) will be played in Akron. The good news is that this series has a travel day scheduled, so Portland ace Jon Lester will be available to pitch in game five if it is required.

Akron finished the regular season with an 84-68 record, the best in the Eastern League and 8 games better than the Sea Dogs. Portland won just two of the eight meetings between the teams, going 1-3 at both venues. Portland, however, has strong pitching going into the finals, led by Lester, who was the EL’s pitcher of the year. Anibal Sanchez will likely pitch game two. His pitch counts have been limited but he was effective in the Trenton series. David Pauley has been solid in the number three spot while Charlie Zink is the likely game four starter if needed. Zink has been outstanding recently, not having allowed an earned run since mid August, a streak that includes seven shutout innings pitched for AAA Pawtucket. If any starter falters early, Chris Smith is available. Like Zink, Smith struggled earlier in the year but he has been rounding into the form that made him one of Portland’s top pitchers in the first half of the 2004 season.

The first round games drew just over 4,000 fans each, so there are still plenty of seats available for the finals. I plan to attend both games this week and will report back here per usual. I will prepare a preview of the Akron team tonight or tomorrow.