Red Sox top pitching prospect Clay Buchholz starts tonight for the Sea Dogs. Buchholz leads the Eastern League in ERA (1.69) and strikeouts (111). The Sea Dogs open a four game series with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays) at 6:00 PM tonight at Hadlock Field.

Saturday's Sea Dogs Lineup:

Corsaletti, CF
Lowrie, SS
Natale, 1B
Johnson, LF
Pritz, RF
Brown, C
Crozier, 1B
Borowiak, 3B
Suarez, 2B

Buchholz, RHP

Today's Transactions:

The Boston Red Sox have signed right-handed pitcher TJ Nall and assigned him to Double-A Portland. Sea Dogs’ right-handed pitcher Chris Smith was transferred to Triple-A Pawtucket. Nall will wear uniform # 10.

Nall has spent time at Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Columbus this season in the Washington Nationals’ organization. In 12 starts with Harrisburg he has posted a 3-9 record with a 4.85 ERA. In four games with Columbus this season, Nall is 0-1 with a 9.45 ERA. Nall is coming off of his best start of the season tossing seven shutout innings on four hits on June 22nd against the Binghamton Mets. He was released from the Washington Nationals’ organization on June 24th. Last season with Double-A Jacksonville he posted a 10-7 record. He led the Southern League with 155 strikeouts and ranked sixth in ERA at 2.82. The 25 year-old was drafted by the Dodgers in the eighth round of the June 1999 draft.

Smith has made 19 appearances for the Sea Dogs this season posting a 3-4 record with a 2.53 ERA. He made one appearance for the Pawsox on April 23rd tossing three innings and allowing one earned run. Smith has spent parts of four seasons with the Sea Dogs notching 20 career wins, ranking fourth all-time for the ball club. Last season he was an Eastern League All-Star before being promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket. The 26 year-old was drafted by the Red Sox in the fourth round of the June 2002 draft.

The Portland Sea Dogs are set to wrap up their series with the Connecticut Defenders tonight at Hadlock Field at 7:00 PM. The New Hampshire Fisher Cats come to town for a four game series on Saturday.

Tonight Charlie Zink takes the mound for the Sea Dogs. The knuckleballer is the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week. His 2.28 ERA is second in the Eastern League behind teammate Clay Buchholz's 1.69. Zink leds the team with seven wins.

Tonight is team card set giveaway night. The first 1,500 fans through the gate will receive a 2007 Portland Sea Dogs team card set card set, courtesy of M.W. Sewall. This years' set includes Clay Buchholz, Jacoby Ellsbury, Michael Bowden, Jed Lowrie, and more.

Friday's Starting Lineup:

Corsaletti, CF
Lowrie, SS
Natale, 1B
Johnson, DH
Pritz, LF
Keylor, RF
Brown, C
Borowiak, 3B
Suarez, SS

Zink, RHP

The Portland Sea Dogs would like to alert fans to the possibility of heavy traffic congestion on Thursday, June 28th around the area of Hadlock Field. Fitzpatrick Stadium will be hosting a major soccer event which is expected to bring thousands to the area. Although this event should wrap up by 6:00 PM, heavy traffic congestion is expected with the Sea Dogs scheduled to take on the Connecticut Defenders at 7:00 PM. Please plan accordingly.

Additionally, parking in the area is expected to be challenging. Two lots; Maine Medical Center Lot 1 and Maine Medical Center Lot 2 will be reserved strictly for Sea Dogs fans.

Maine Medical Center Lot 1: This is the Congress Street Medical Building Garage located one block from Hadlock Field. Please use the Forest Street entrance off of Congress Street.

Maine Medical Center Lot 2: This lot is located at 995 Congress Street and is a 10 minute walk to the ballpark with easy in/ easy access to I295. Enter on Congress Street (from I295 North Exit 5 or I295 South Exit 5A follow Congress St to the left at the lights at County Way).

These lots are staffed throughout the game.

Click Here for additional directions and parking information.

The first 1,000 fans through the gate tonight will receive a Jacoby Ellsbury bobblehead doll courtesy of Irving Oil.

Fan voting is now underway to select which Sea Dogs players will represent the Sea Dogs in the 2007 Eastern League All-Star Game. Fans will be able to select one position player and one pitcher to the All-Star Game. The remainder of the team will be selected by the Eastern League managers, media, and league officials.

Click Here to Cast Your Vote

The stars of the Eastern League will descend on Dodd Stadium in Norwich, Connecticut on Wednesday, July 11th for the 2007 Eastern League All-Star Game.

Click Here for Ticket Information

The Sea Dogs play the second game of a three game series with the Akron Aeros Saturday night at 6:00 PM at Hadlock Field.

Last night the Sea Dogs won their second straight game defeating the Aeros 9-3. Michael Bowden worked 6 and 2/3 innings on three hits, one run, two walks
and eight strikeouts. The Sea Dogs offense blasted four home runs for the first time this season. Dusty Brown, Zach Borowiak, Bryan Pritz, and Eric Crozier all went deep for Portland.

Saturday's Sea Dogs Lineup:
Bryan Prtiz, LF
Jeff Corsaletti, CF
Jeff Natale, 1B
Jay Johnson, CF
Andrew Pinckney, 3B
John Otness, C
Cory Keylor, RF
Zach Borowiak, 2B
Iggy Suarez, SS

Tommy Hottovy, LHP

News & Notes:
Portland leads the league with 250 walks as an offense and leads the 12-team
league in runs-per-game at 4.90 – Akron is second at 4.86 run-per-game and Reading is third at 4.74…Portland has scored 299 runs – the third highest total in the E.L.

Portland’s Top 5 hitters in June
1. Bryan Pritz .359 (14-for-39), 2 HR, 9 RBI, 4 2B, 1.047 OPS
2. Jeff Corsaletti .326 (15-for-46), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 10 RS, .407 OBP
3. Zach Borowiak .321 (9-for-28), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 4 RS
4. Jed Lowrie .318 (14-for-44), 0 HR, 5 RBI, 5 2B, 3 3B
5. John Otness .300 (6-for-20), 3B, RS, .700 OPS

Portland’s Top 5 pitchers in June
1. Beau Vaughan 0.00, 5.1 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 4 SO, Save
2. Chris Smith 1-0, 0.77, 11.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO
3. Charlie Zink 1-1, 1.64, 11 IP, 11 H, 7 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 9 SO
4. Clay Buchholz 2-1, 2.25, 17.2 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 7 BB, 25 SO
5. Lincoln Holdzkom 2.45, 7.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO

Third Baseman Andrew Pinckney extended his hitting streak to 11 straight games by going 1-for-4...Pinckney has two, 11-game hitting streaks this season (May 8-20).

SEA DOGS PRESENT FATHER'S DAY CATCH AT HADLOCK FIELD
The Portland Sea Dogs will once again celebrate Father’s Day by inviting families to play catch at Hadlock Field prior to the Portland Sea Dogs game against the Akron Aeros at 1:00 PM on Sunday, June 17th. The Father’s Day Catch at Hadlock Field is presented by Mercy Hospital.

The Sea Dogs will open Hadlock Field at 10:00 AM to allow fans with tickets to the June 17th game to play catch on the field. The on-field catch will conclude at 11:30 AM so that the grounds crew can prepare the field for Sunday’s 1:00 PM game. Fans will not be permitted to leave the ballpark and re-enter once they are inside the gates.

Additionally the first 500 children who participate in the on-field catch will receive a Sea Dogs logo baseball courtesy of Mercy Hospital. All fans should provide their own gloves.

2007 Team Card Sets have arrived!
The 2007 Portland Sea Dogs Official Team Card Sets have arrived. This set includes top prospects; Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz , Michael Bowden and Jed Lowrie. You can order your set online by visiting our merchandise page on our website or by calling the Sea Dogs Souvenir store during normal working hours at 1-800-936-3647.

The last time the Akron Aeros were in Portland, the Sea Dogs walked off the field with their first Eastern League Championship. The Aeros, the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, will make their only regular season trip to Hadlock Field this weekend starting with a 7:00 PM game Friday night. Saturday and Sunday are at 1:00 PM.

Last night was a historic night for the Sea Dogs as Portland pitchers struck out a franchise record 19 batters. Starter Clay Buchholz was responsible for 12 strikeouts, just one shy of the franchise record. Jone Lester (2005), AJ Burnett (1999) and Tony Saunders (1996) hold the record with 13 strikeouts.

Pitching prospect Michael Bowden takes the mound for the Sea Dogs tonight.

Friday's Sea Dogs Lineup:
Bryan Prtiz, CF
Cory Keylor, RF
Jeff Natale, DH
Jay Johnson, LF
Andrew Pinckney, 3B
Dusty Brown, C
Eric Crozier, 1B
Zach Borowiak, 2B
Iggy Suarez, SS

Michael Bowden, P

After a 6-game roadtrip in Erie and Akron, the Sea Dogs return home to start a 6-game homestand against the same two teams…Portland dropped 4 of 6 on their recent trip and suffered walk-off losses in both rubber games…Erie is coming off a 3-3 homestand, taking two of three from Portland and ended a two-game losing streak with a 13-5 victory over the FisherCats on Sunday afternoon…Jed Lowrie had his on-base streak snapped at 38 games by going 0-for-4 on Sunday…Erie’s Mike Hollimon currently owns the longest streak in the league by reaching base safely in 25 straight games since May 16.

Tuesday's Sea Dogs Lineups:
Corsaletti, CF
Lowrie, SS
Natale, 2B
Crozier, 1B
Johnson, CF
Keylor, RF
Brown, C
Pinckney, 3B
Pritz, LF

Good afternoon from Akron, Ohio, the home of LeBron James....For the second time this season, Clay Buchholz will face a Major League pitcher...Tonight Jake Westbrook gets the starting nod for Akron. Westbrook, who pitched with Harrisburg in 1999, is making his second minor league rehab start. The Indians placed Westbrook on the disabled list with an abdominal injury.

Chance of rain - very good here in Akron, Ohio...the tarp was put on the field as I was writing this entry.

For the last several years, the Portland Sea Dogs have hosted a series of Monthly Luncheons. The Sea Dogs Monthly Luncheon series allows fans to have lunch at the ballpark and listen to a speaker from the baseball industry. Past speakers have included players, coaches, front office personnel, umpires, bus drivers, scouts, Red Sox personalities, media personnel, travel acts, and much more. It is a really great opportunity to gain some insight into the game of baseball such as the catcher/umpire relationship, life on the road, and the development of future Red Sox stars.

The next Sea Dogs Monthly Luncheon is scheduled for Tuesday, June 12th from 12:00 noon to 1:00 PM in the picnic area at Hadlock Field. Sea Dogs' shortstop Jed Lowrie will be the featured speaker at the June luncheon. Lowrie currently has a 34 game on base streak, the third longest in Sea Dogs history. Lowrie will be available to sign autographs after the program.

Tickets to the luncheon are $8.00, payable at the door. The Sea Dogs Monthly Luncheons are made possible by the Portland Press Herald/ Maine Sunday Telegram.

Sea Dogs Monthly Luncheon Series:
Tuesday, July 24th 12:00-1:00 PM Kenny Joyce (New Hampshire Fisher Cats' Hitting Coach and Portland, Maine native).

Tuesday, August 21st 12:00-1:00 PM Speaker TBA

Michael Bowden, one of Boston's top pitching prospects will make his first start at Hadlock Field Sunday at 1:00 PM as the Sea Dogs wrap-up a four game series with the Connecticut Defenders.

Baseball America ranks Bowden as the #4 prospect in the Red Sox Organization and the #2 pitching prospect behind teammate Clay Buchholz…the same publication ranks the Illinois native with the best control in the system. The 20-year old righty makes his fourth Double-A start and his first at Hadlock Field…Bowden’s 1.64 ERA is the best in the Red Sox system and ranks 8h overall in Minor League baseball…His 54 strikeouts between Lancaster and Portland is second in the organization behind Clay Buchholz, who has 80.

Sunday's Lineup:
Corsaletti, CF
Keylor, RF
Natale, DH
Crozier, 1B
Pinckney, 3B
Pritz, LF
Brown, C
Borowiak, 2B
Suarez, SS
Bowden, P

News & Notes:
Jed Lowrie has reached base safely in 33 straight games, the longest streak for a Sea Dog since Kevin Youkilis reached in his final 62 games with Portland.

All-time on-base streak leaders in franchise history:
1. 62 - Kevin Youkilis - May 12-July 28, 2003 (extended streak to 71 games with Pawtucket)
2. 46 - Kevin Millar - July 12-August 30, 1997 (extended streak to 71 games with AAA-Calgary in 1998 and 1999)
3. 33 - Jed Lowrie – April 29-current

The Portland Sea Dogs will play a Doubleheader tonight at Hadlock Field at 6:00 PM against the Connecticut Defenders. The two teams will play two seven inning games, tickets are good for both games. The Sea Dogs have won eight of their last nine games.

Game One Sea Dogs Lineup:
Corsaletti, LF
Lowrie, SS
Natale, DH
Crozier, 1B
Johnson, CF
Keylor, RF
Brown, C
Pinckney, 3B
Suarez, 2B

Buchholz, RHP

Transactions:
Catcher Dusty Brown activated from the disabled list. Catcher Salvador Paniagua transferred to Single-A Lancaster.

News & Notes:
Jed Lowrie has reached base safely in 31 straight games, the longest streak for a Sea Dog since Kevin Youkilis reached in his final 62 games with Portland.

All-time on-base streak leaders in franchise history:
1. 62 - Kevin Youkilis - May 12-July 28, 2003 (extended streak to 71 games with Pawtucket)
2. 46 - Kevin Millar - July 12-August 30, 1997 (extended streak to 71 games with AAA-Calgary in
1998 and 1999)
T- 3rd. 31 - Mark Kotsay - June 21-August 16, 1997 (Minor League games only – was called up to
Florida Marlins on July 11 and stayed through July 27)
T-3rd - 31 - Jed Lowrie – April 29-current
5. 29 - Mark Kotsay - April 21-May 25, 1997

Portland Manager Arnie Beyeler picked up his 100th victory as a manager in the Red Sox Organization lst night…Beyeler needs 14 more wins to reach the 400 win plateau in his career as a minor league manager.

The Portland Sea Dogs are back at Hadlock Field for the weekend. They'll play four games in three days against the Connecticut Defenders (Giants) starting Friday night at 7:00 PM

Friday's Sea Dogs Lineup
Pritz, LF
Lowrie, SS
Natale, 1B
Keylor, RF
Johnson, CF
Pinckney, 3B
Suarez, 2B
Otness, C
Borowiak, 3B

Haigwood, LHP

News & Notes:
Jed Lowrie has reached base safely in 30 straight games, the longest streak for a Sea Dog since Kevin Youkilis reached in his final 62 games with Portland.

All-time on-base streak leaders in franchise history:
1. 62 - Kevin Youkilis - May 12-July 28, 2003 (extended streak to 71 games with Pawtucket)
2. 46 - Kevin Millar - July 12-August 30, 1997 (extended streak to 71 games with AAA-Calgary in
1998 and 1999)
3. 31 - Mark Kotsay - June 21-August 16, 1997 (Minor League games only – was called up to
Florida Marlins on July 11 and stayed through July 27)
4. 30 - Jed Lowrie – April 29-current
5. 29 - Mark Kotsay - April 21-May 25, 1997/29

The Sea Dogs offense did not strikeout a single time in last night’s game, marking the first that has happened in franchise history (1,883 straight games since 1994 with at least one strikeout).