9/7 ML Gameday Thread: Do or die for game for the Sea Dogs

..... I'm clapping. That's typically a sign of approval back here in the States.

Dogs down 2-1 after 1. I missed most of the start but Chester with a nice job to drive in Castillo who had doubled.

I didn't see Diaz first but he had everything going in the second. He gave up a ground ball double but he's keeping his FB low (94ish) has a nice break tonight on his curve (slow one 69-70 12 to 6 break) and is mixing in his change. Batters are looking challenged.

Ynoa is throwing a ton of sliders. Slider after slider with a few fastballs mixed in.

Rusney popped a slider to 2nd base to end the second. Antonellis said his double was a nice swing right center gapper.

Top of the third, Diaz went to his change a little more, has all three pitches working. One hard hit ball to RF resulted in an outstanding diving catch by Roof. Single was seeing eye. Coyle out of the lineup so this isn't their best defense. Still 2-1

Still 2-1 after 3. KDLC has struck out twice and hasn't looked good doing it either time. Strange because Ynoa is a righty and he's either throwing high fastballs (93ish) or hard low sliders. Not the usual formula for making a left handed batter look bad.

4-1 now, Diaz coming out Diaz coming in. High pitch count but he was zapped by BABIP, limited range defense (Miller at 2nd) and a throwing error. The killer was an 0-2 count turned walk followed by a HBP. Crowd is getting on the ump for pitch calling.

New Diaz gave up a bases clearing double. 7-1 now. A lot to come back from. 8-1 middle of the 4th.

Yes it's been a great year for Portland, their job is player development and they certainly did that.

Castillo with an RBI single 8-3 now.

The SeaDogs have scored two in spite of this:
David Chester singles on a line drive to center fielder Darrell Ceciliani. David Chester out at 1st, center fielder Darrell Ceciliani to first baseman Brian Burgamy.

8-5 after 6. Scott in to pitch.
8-5 after 7

I don't know, I wasn't watching at the time. Line drive to CF, out recorded by the first baseman without another assist, likely just rounded too far.

Weird speculative comment: The play that most impacted this game so far was Coyle getting hit by a pitch yesterday. The shift was Miller 3B to 2B, Welch to 3B. I think if Miller is at 3rd, the ground double doesn't happen and definitely if Coyle was at 2nd, the single doesn't happen. That first play would have killed the 6 runs before they happened, the second play would have killed 5 runs by the Mets. Almost all the runs were scored with 2 outs. On the other hand, if Diaz the reliever gets the last out before 4 runs scored, we'd also have a different game. Relievers have retired the last 11 and Luis Diaz pitched a lot better than his line.

Game over 8-5 final

The CF dove for it, failed to glove it and pushed it away, so it rolled off toward left--just not quickly enough or far enough. I think Chester had already overcommitted, watching the ball get away, by the time he realized he was going to be a dead duck at second and tried to turn back.