Peter Hissey had Double-A career-high 3 RBI on Wednesday night (photo courtesy of Kelly O’Connor of Sitting Still Photography)

Before we get into any on-field baseball related topics, please vote for the Sea Dogs Biscuit in a contest..About the contest: Minor League Baseball™ and MLB Advanced Media jointly announced today the launch of MiLB.com #foodfight, a socially-driven fan voting competition to determine America’s favorite MiLB ballpark concession, across 160 Minor League markets. During the competition, which will unveil its winner in June, fans may cast votes via Twitter and at MiLB.com for their favorite food item in each of four colorfully evocative categories: Gut Busters, Hogs ‘n’ Dogs, Local Legends and Scrumptious Sandwiches.  Cast your Vote for the Sea Dog Biscuit in the Local Legends category today!
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The Sea Dogs conclude their 7-game roadtrip on Thursday night against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.

Coverage begins at 6:45 PM on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network

Pre-Game Interview: Tommy Hottovy Part 2

Portland Lineup: Hissey 9, Bogaerts 6, Thomas 7, Shaw 3, Almanzar 5, Linares DH, Wilkerson 8, Spring 2, Gibson 4, Workman RHP

New Hampshire Lineup: Pillar 8, Nanita DH, Schimpf 5, Robinson 3, Glenn 9, Nolan 6, Loewen 7, Murphy 2, Tolisano 4, Tepera RHP

ALMOST HOME: The Sea Dogs wrap up their 7-game roadtrip on Thursday night against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium…With last night’s loss, Portland suffered their first road-series loss of the season (4-1-1 in six road series)…Portland has dropped four of six on the trip, and hasn’t lost three in a row since April 7-9…Right-hander Brandon Workman is making his eighth appearance of the season…He suffered his first Double-A loss on August 29, 2012 in Manchester.

With a win tonight, Brandon Workman becomes the 5th pitcher in the league with five wins – Anthony Ranaudo is on that list.

COMEBACK FELL SHORT: Portland tied the game at four with three runs in the ninth, but Brad Glenn’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth, gave New Hampshire a 5-4 win on Wednesday night…Peter Hissey gave the ‘Dogs a 1-0 lead with a sac-fly in the second and tied the game with a two-run single in the ninth…Joel Carreno (2-1) blew the save, but earned the win…Will Latimer yielded one hit and two runs over 2.2 IP to take the loss…Latimer escaped a bases-loaded, nobody out jam in the seventh, keep in the deficit 4-1…Tony Thomas and Christian Vazquez each had two hits.

DEEP INTO GAMES: In Portland’s final game on Sunday, Logan Darnell pitched eight innings, but suffered the loss…During this roadtrip, four opposing starters have worked at least six innings: Deck McGuire (6.0 IP, last night), Marcus Walden (7.2 IP, Tuesday), Darnell (8.0, Sunday) and Trevor May (7.0 IP, 2-hit shutout in game two of May 10^th’s doubleheader)…The Sea Dogs are hitting just .220 (97-for-440) this month.

UNFORTUNATELY IN THE MEDIA GUIDE: Portland’s pitchers walked a franchise-record 14 batters last night…Starter Charlie Haeger walked seven over 5 IP, allowing two runs and two hits…Daniel Bard issued five walks over 1+ innings and Latimer issued two walks…The previous record was 13 on July 2, 2006 versus Trenton…Haeger’s seven walks were most by a starter since Kason Gabbard on August 19, 2009.

TURNING TWO: Portland turned three double plays last night, tying a season-high…The ‘Dogs are tied for third in the Eastern League in fielding percentage at .972…Catcher Christian Vazquez is leading the league in throwing out runners (18-for-37, 49%).

THREE WAS THE FIRST: Hissey’s 3 RBI was a Double-A career high, and the most RBI since he had five in his final game with Salem on 9/5/11.

WHAT’S ON DECK: The Sea Dogs open up a 7-game homestand on Friday night against the Binghamton Mets…On Monday night, the ‘Dogs and Fisher Cats kick-off a four-game series, including an 11 AM game on Thursday…Portland is 0-2 during a 17-game stretch against New Hampshire and Binghamton.

MLB will use pink bats for Mother’s Day.

The Sea Dogs conclude their four-game series with the New Britain Rock Cats (Twins affiliate) on Sunday afternoon at New Britain Stadium…Portland has dropped two road games for the first time this season

Roster Move: Catcher Alberto Rosario promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket.

Coverage begins at 1:15 PM on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network

Pre-Game Interview:- Sea Dogs Manager Kevin Boles

Portland Lineup: Wilkerson 8, Bogaerts 6, Thomas 7, Shaw 3, Linares 9, Almanzar 5, Vitek DH, Spring 2, Gibson 4, Ranaudo RHP

New Britain Lineup: Santana 6, Petterson 4, Sobolewski 5, Pinto 2, Ortiz 9, Rodriguez 3, Rohlfing 7, Smith DH, Goncalves 8, Darnell LHP

Earlier today at Hadlock Field, the annual Sea Dogs Mother’s Day 5 K Race…Results

LOOKING FOR THE SPLIT: Portland has lost two straight road games for the first time this season, and concludes their four-game series with the Rock Cat in New Britain on Sunday afternoon…With a win today, the Sea Dogs will go 4-0-1 in their first 5 road series of the season…Portland has won 8 of 13 from the Rock Cats, with seven of the games decided by one run (Portland 4-3)…Right-hander Anthony Ranaudo makes his seventh start of the season and his second against New Britain.

ANOTHER CLOSE ONE: The Rock Cats scored three times in the eighth inning off losing pitcher Miguel Celestino (1-1) and beat Portland, 5-4 on Saturday night at New Britain Stadium…Curt Smith gave New Britain their only lead of the night, cracking a two-run homer with two outs…Bruce Pugh worked a scoreless eighth to earn his first win of the season…Aaron Thompson worked around a lead-off single in the ninth to earn his third save of the year…Portland had a 4-1 lead after three innings, receiving a two-run single from Christian Vazquez in the third.

NICE OUTING CLOSE TO HOME: Connecticut native Matt Barnes took a no-decision in last night’s game…Barnes worked five innings, allowing three hits, one run, three walks and seven strikeouts…The lone blemish came in the second inning on a lead-off homer by DH Josmil Pinto…Last 3 outings for Barnes: 2-0, 1.06 ERA (2 ER/17.0 IP), 11 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 6 BB and 21 strikeouts.

HEATING UP: Xander Bogaerts went 2-for-3 with two walks in a run scored on Saturday night…Bogaerts has hit safely in 16 of his last 18 games: 27-for-71 (.380), 2 HR, 11 RBI, 4 3B, 4 2B… and has reached base in 25 of 27 games on the season…OF Shannon Wilkerson has reached base safely in five consecutive at bats in the series (3 walks and a single)…Michael Almanzar has a 5-game hitting streak: 6-for-16 (.375).

NOT BAD FOR ON THE ROAD: Dating back to 2011, the Sea Dogs are 4-0-1 in series at New Britain Stadium…Portland took two of three from the Rock Cats on April 11-14, winning the series opener 9-3…After a rainout on April 12^th, the two-teams played back-to-back 10-inning games, with the ‘Cats taking the series finale 6-5…The rainout in the series opener will be made up when Portland returns to New Britain Stadium on July 22-24…The ‘Dogs have three doubleheaders on the schedule.

WHAT’S ON DECK: The Sea Dogs have a scheduled off day on Monday and open up a three-game series against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays affiliate) on Tuesday night, beginning at 6:35 PM from Northeast Delta Dental Stadium…Portland’s next homestand begins on May 17^th against the Binghamton Mets.

The Sea Dogs open up a 4-game series in three days against the New Britain Rock Cats (Twins affiliate) on Friday night at New Britain Stadium…The two teams will play a doubleheader tonight and make-up last night’s game when Portland returns to New Britain in July.

Roster Move yesterday: Right-hander Chris Balcom-Miller was activated from the disabled list and assigned to High-A Salem…Former Sea Dog Kyle Kaminska announced his retirement.

Coverage begins at 4:15 PM on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network

Game 1

Portland Lineup: Hissey 9, Bogaerts 6, Shaw 3, Thomas 7, Linares DH, Almanzar 5, Wilkerson 8, Spring 2,  Meneses 4, Haeger RHP

New Britain Lineup: Richardson 8, Petterson 4, Sobolewski 5, Pinto 2, Ortiz 7, Rodriguez 3, Santana 6, Smith DH, Goncalves 9, DeVries RHP

No Joke! Tony Thomas was a homer shy of the cycle on Wednesday night. Former Sea Dog Ryan Kalish pictured right (photo courtesy of Kelly O’Connor, sittingstill photography)

‘DOGS AND ‘CATS AGAIN: Portland has played 10 of 31 games against the New Britain Rock Cats, and open up a 5-game series on Thursday night at New Britain Stadium…The Sea Dogs finished their past homestand at 4-2, and have won eight of 10 series to start the season…New Britain has won four straight and are tied for second place with the Trenton Thunder, three games behind Portland…Knuckleballer Charlie Haeger makes his second straight start against New Britain.

THAT’S OFFENSE: Tony Thomas went 4-for-4 with 3 RBI and finished a homer shy of the cycle, as Portland clobbered the Reading Fightin Phils, 10-4 on Wednesday night at Hadlock Field…Thomas had a single, double and a triple, before doubling in his final at-bat…Xander Bogaerts knocked in season-high 3 runs, nailing a two-run double, during a five-run fourth…Peter Hissey went 3-for-5 with 2 RBI and Heiker Meneses went 2-for-4 with two runs scored…Lefty Drake Britton worked six innings in relief of Franklin Morales to earn his third win of the season.

MORE ON MORALES: Morales worked two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and fanning three…The lefty became the 30^th player to make a Major League rehab assignment with Portland and the 24^th as a Red Sox affiliate…Morales was the fourth player this year to rehab with Portland: Craig Breslow, Stephen Drew and John Lackey.

GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK: Bogaerts did not play from Saturday through Tuesday, due to tightness in his core…With his triple last night; Bogaerts extended his hitting streak to a season-high, nine straight games…With their two triples in last night’s game, Portland leads the Eastern League with 14 triples

NOT BAD FOR ON THE ROAD: Dating back to 2011, the Sea Dogs are 4-0-1 in series at New Britain Stadium…Portland took two of three from the Rock Cats on April 11-14, winning the series opener 9-3…After a rainout on April 12^th, the two-teams played back-to-back 10-inning games, with the ‘Cats taking the series finale 6-5.

FIRING UP ZEROES: Chris Martin’s scoreless streak was extended to 19.2 innings with two scoreless frames on Sunday afternoon…Martin’s scoreless streak is the longest since Jeremy Kehrt worked 17 scoreless frames from June 1-17, 2010.

WHAT’S ON DECK: The two teams play a twinbill tomorrow afternoon beginning at 4:35, Portland’s first doubleheader of the season…Saturday’s game begins at 6:35 PM and the series finale is Sunday at 1:35 PM…The Sea Dogs have a scheduled off day on Monday, before a three-game series in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Thursday night’s game between the Portland Sea Dogs and New Britain Rock Cats at New Britain Stadium has been postponed due to rain. No makeup date has been announced.

The two teams will now play a four-game series in three days, starting with a doubleheader (from a previous rainout) on Friday night at 4:35 PM.

Right-hander Charlie Haeger will face Cole DeVries, who makes a MLB Rehab Assignment for New Britain.  In game two, Brandon Workman makes the start instead of Keith Couch.  Trevor May gets the starting assignment for the ‘Cats.

Radio coverage begins at 4:15 PM on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network and via the Tune-In Radio app for smartphones and tablets. Tickets are available for any remaining games at Hadlock Field by calling 207-879-9500 or at seadogs.com

Former Sea Dog Allen Webster was called up earlier today.

The Sea Dogs continue their three-game series with the Reading Fightin Phils on Tuesday night at Hadlock Field

Coverage begins at 5:40 PM on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network

Pre-Game Interview: 1B Travis Shaw

Reading Lineup: Cartwright 4, Collier 7, Henson 5, Murphy 3, Mitchell 3, Rupp 2, Mitchell 9, Valle DH, Duran 6, Gillies 8, Neris RHP

Portland Lineup: Hissey 9, Wilkerson 8, Linares 7, Shaw 5, Vitek DH, Spring 3, Meneses 4, Gibson 6, Rosario 2, Ranaudo RHP

CLOSE AGAIN: The Sea Dogs have played four 1-run games on the homestand, going 3-1, and continue their three-game set with the Reading Fightin Phils on Tuesday night at Hadlock Field…Portland has won eight of their last nine, and holds the best overall record in the Eastern League…Reading has dropped seven straight and eight of their last nine – they beat New Hampshire on April 28^th, 2-1 in 12-innings…Right-hander Anthony Ranaudo (4-0, 1.00) makes his third start of the season against Reading (1-0, 1.74 ERA vs. Fightins). 

HELD OFF THE RALLY: Brock Huntzinger nailed down his seventh save of the season, retiring the final batter of the game with two on, as the Sea Dogs beat Reading 4-3 on Monday night at Hadlock Field…Matt Barnes (3-1) earned his second straight win over the Phils, hurling six scoreless frames on five hits, a walk and four strikeouts…Portland took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Tony Thomas’ solo-homer to left…Peter Hissey extended the advantage to 3-0 with a two-run single in the seventh…Reading scored three times off Keith Couch, but two runs were unearned…Reading had 12 hits and stranded 12 runners on base. 

AMONG THE LEADERS: Thomas knocked in his team-leading 20^th season in last night’s game…The former Cub farmhand (traded to Boston by Chicago for former Sea Dog Robert Coello), ranks second in the league with 16 extra-base hits…Thomas’ 10 doubles are tied for third in the E.L. with Richmond’s Mark Minicozzi and Trenton’s Rob Segedin.

YOU CAN FACE THE SAME TEAM TWICE: With last night’s win, Barnes beat the Reading Fightin Phils in consecutive starts…The righty’s combined stats the past two starts vs. Reading: 2-0, 0.75 ERA (ER/12.0 IP), 8 H, 3 BB, 14 SO…Barnes and Brandon Workman lead the team with three quality starts.

FIRING UP ZEROES: Chris Martin’s scoreless streak was extended to 19.2 innings with two scoreless frames on Sunday…Martin’s scoreless streak is the longest since Jeremy Kehrt worked 17 scoreless frames from June 1-17, 2010…LHP Kris Johnson holds the team record for the longest scoreless streak at 24.0 IP (June 15-July 1, 2008)

MOVING UP: Portland’s 3.95 ERA ranks fourth in the Eastern League behind Richmond, Erie and Altoona…Their 280 strikeouts is the most in the league and their 98 walks are the their fewest in the E.L.

WHAT’S ON DECK: The Sea Dogs and Reading Fightin Phils (Phillies affiliate) conclude their three-game series tomorrow night at Hadlock Field…Portland begins a five-game series in four days on Thursday night against the Rock Cats (Twins affiliate) at New Britain Stadium…Friday’s game is a doubleheader, beginning at 4:35 PM.

Travis Shaw joined before tonight’s game.

The Sea Dogs open up a 3-game series with the Reading Fightin Phils on Monday night at Hadlock Field

Coverage begins at 5:40 PM on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network

Pre-Game Interview: 1B Travis Shaw

Reading Lineup: Cartwright DH, Collier 9, Henson 5, Murphy 3, Mitchell 7, Hanzawa 4, Valle 2, Duran 6, Gillies 8, Smith LHP

Portland Lineup: Wilkerson 8, Meneses 6, Shaw 3, Linares DH, Thomas 7, Almanzar 5, Vazquez 2, Hissey 9, Gibson 4, Barnes RHP

HOMESTAND CONTINUES: The Sea Dogs and Reading Fightin Phils (Phillies affiliate) open up a three-game series on Monday night at Hadlock Field…Portland had their season-high, seven-game winning streak snapped on Sunday afternoon…The Sea Dogs have taken four of six from Reading this season, including a three-game sweep at First Energy Stadium on April 30-May 2 – their first sweep in franchise history in Reading, PA…Right-hander Matt Barnes will make his third start of the season against Reading.

THEY WERE FOUR OUTS AWAY: CF Antoan Richardson nailed a game-winning, two-run double in the eighth, lifting the Rock Cats past the Sea Dogs, 6-5 on Sunday afternoon at Hadlock Field…LHP Blake Martin worked two scoreless frames, earning his second win of the season…RHP Pete Ruiz (0-1) took the loss, yielding two runs on two hits over 1.1 IP…Chris Martin allowed the hit to Richardson, but the runs were charged to Ruiz…Portland erased a 3-0 deficit, scoring five times in the fifth inning off RHP Alex Meyer…J.C. Linares and Tony Thomas had back-to-back run-scoring hits.

FIRST TIME: Portland lost for the first time in a game started by Brandon Workman…The Texas native pitched 5.2 innings, allowing six hits, four runs (two earned), two walks and fanned eight…Workman surrendered a solo-homer to former Sea Dog Reynaldo Rodriguez in the sixth.

BACK-TO-BACK: Barnes makes his second straight start against Reading…On May 1^st, the right-hander worked six innings, allowing just one run (homer by Jim Murphy) and struck out 10 (season-high)…The Top Prospect in the Red Sox system according to Baseball America, made his Double-A debut against Reading at Hadlock Field, allowing two runs on two hits over an inning pitched.

FIRING UP ZEROES: Martin’s scoreless streak was extended to 19.2 innings, the longest scoreless streak since Jeremy Kehrt worked 17 scoreless frames from June 1-17, 2010…LHP Kris Johnson holds the team record for the longest scoreless streak at 24.0 IP (June 15-July 1, 2008)

NO SECOND FIDDLE: INF Derrik Gibson has made four consecutive starts at second base…Gibson has hit safely in four of his last five starts.

WHAT’S ON DECK: The Sea Dogs and Reading Fightin Phils (Phillies affiliate) continue their three-game series tomorrow night at Hadlock Field…Portland begins a five-game series in four days on Thursday night against the Rock Cats at New Britain Stadium…Friday’s game is a doubleheader, beginning at 4:35 PM.