Killer B’s on fire, Easter dinner…’Dogs and Mets from Hadlock

Bryce Brentz has been squaring up a lot of baseballs this month (photo courtesy of Kelly O’Connor)

The Sea Dogs continue their four-game series with the Binghamton Mets on Saturday night from Hadlock Field…This team has been unreal to cover all season, and just during this run…After the first three days of the season, the team held an Easter Dinner get together in Reading, Pa. for the off-day…I could even tell back then how tight this bunch was.  No matter what the personal, the group has stayed very tight, and become one of the best teams I’ve ever covered.  There’s no way this season is a failure if they do fall short of the playoffs.  Portland was 18 games under .500, last place and 13 games out of a playoff spot last month!  They now sit one game under .500, and trail Reading by 4.5 games in the standings.  This is unreal.

Lefty Drake Britton gets the starting nod in tonight’s game…Britton is 2-1, 1.19 ERA (3 ER/22.2 IP) this month…He’s not allowed more than two earned runs since July 16th vs. Reading at Hadlock Field…Since the break, the ‘Dogs have a 2.92 ERA (118 ER/364.2 IP) as a staff, and now rank eighth in the Eastern League in pitching.

Inside the numbers

1. 29-12 since the All-Star Break 
2. Won seven straight series at Hadlock Field, and 12 of their last 13
3. Looking for its first 7-game winning streak since April 13-20, 2008 when the ‘Dogs won 8 in a row.
4. Have won 10 of 11 and 16 of their last 20.

Bryce Brentz hit just .200 in July, but he’s certainly put those struggles behind him…The Nashville, TN native is hitting .412 (28-for-68) with 4 homers and 20 RBI.

Familiar names…Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez are all former Sea Dogs…They join former Sea Dog Hanley Ramirez on the roster.

Binghamton: Havens 4, Flores 5, Campbell 7, Dykstra 3, Marte DH, Martin 9, Pena 6, Kazmar 6, Zapata 8,  LHP Darin Gorski (8-7, 3.81)

Portland: Hissey 9, Smith 4, Hazelbaker 7, Brentz DH, Shaw 3, Bogaerts 6, Spring 2, Wilkerson 8, Gibson 5, LHP Drake Britton (4-5, 3.60)

Game Notes