The Portland Sea Dogs, Class AA Eastern League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, have announced their schedule for the 2008 season. The Sea Dogs will open the 2008 season on the road in New Britain, Connecticut on Thursday, April 3rd. The Sea Dogs home opener is slated for Friday, April 11th at 6:00 PM against the New Britain Rock Cats (Twins).

Click Here for the 2008 Schedule

Click Here for a Printable Schedule

The Eastern League season consists of 142 games (71 home and 71 away) against 11 opponents. The 2008 season is the Sea Dogs 15th year in Portland and sixth as a Boston Red Sox affiliate. Last season the Sea Dogs averaged a franchise record 6,483 fans per game and sold out 24 games.

Highlighting the 2008 schedule will be three visits to Hadlock Field by the Trenton Thunder (Yankees) and four visits from the Sea Dogs neighbor to the south the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays). The Thunder will come to Hadlock Field for a total of ten games. Meanwhile the Fisher Cats will make four trips to Portland for a total of 14 games, with the two clubs meeting a total of 28 times over the course of the 2008 season..

The Sea Dogs will be home on Mother’s Day (May 11th at 1:00 PM) Memorial Day (May 26th at 1:00 PM), the Fourth of July at 6:00 PM, and Labor Day (September 1st at 1:00 PM).

Individual Tickets for the 2008 season will go on sale at the Hadlock Field Box Office on Saturday, November 10th at 9:00 AM. Phone & Internet orders will begin on Tuesday, November 13th at 9:00 AM. Season Tickets are currently on sale. Any questions regarding tickets should be directed to the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or tickets@seadogs.com.

Standard game times this year will remain the same. April and May weekday games will begin at 6:00 PM, while weekend games will be at 1:00 PM. In June, July, and August weekday games will start at 7:00 PM, Saturday’s at 6:00 PM, and Sunday’s at 1:00 PM. In addition, the Sea Dogs will play six 12:00 noon games on April 23rd, May 29th, June 5th, July 7th, July 24th and August 14th.

The 2008 schedule once again promises to be filled with many fun and exciting promotions. Although the promotional schedule is not yet determined, the Sea Dogs will once again have a series of firework shows, bobblehead doll giveaways, and bring back traveling acts like the ZOOperstars, Christopher, and Skyy Dogs USA. The fan favorite “Field of Dreams” promotion will also continue in 2008. A complete promotional schedule will be announced at a later date. A printable 2008 schedule is available at www.seadogs.com.

The 2008 Eastern League All-Star Game will take place on July 16th in Manchester, New Hampshire, home of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays).

The Eastern League Northern Division Championship shifts to Hadlock Field for Games 3 & 4 tonight and Saturday at 6:00 PM. Last night the Sea Dogs pulled out a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Trenton Thunder (Yankees) in 13 innings to even the best-of-five series at one apiece.

Tickets:
Tickets are available for both Game 3 and Game 4. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500.

Pitching Match-Ups:
Portland/Trenton
Game 3 RHP Michael Bowden (8-6, 4.28) RHP Daniel McCutchen (3-2, 2.41)
Game 4 RHP Chris Smith (6-9, 4.41) RHP Jeffery Marquez (15-9, 3.65)
Game 5 LHP Tommy Hottovy (4-10, 5.61) RHP Tyler Clippard (2-1, 5.40)

Game 3 Starting Lineups:
Portland:
Jeff Corsaletti, LF
Iggy Suarez, SS
Bryan Pritz, CF
Aaron Bates, 1B
Jay Johnson, RF
Andrew Pinckney, 3B
Jeff Natale, DH
Zach Borowiak, 2B
John Otness, C
Michael Bowden, P

Trenton:
Reegie Corona, SS
Austin Jackson, CF
Colin Curtis, LF
Cody Ehlers, 1B
Matt Carson, RF
Noah Hall, DH
Marcus Vechionacci, 3B
Omir Santos, C
Gabriel Lopez, 2B
Dan McCutchen, P

Eastern League Northern Division Championship Schedule/ Results
Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox) vs. Trenton Thunder (Yankees)
Game 1 Trenton defeats Portland 3-1 @ Trenton- Trenton Leads Series (1-0)
Game 2 Portland defeats Trenton 3-2 (13 innings) @ Trenton- Series Tied 1-1
Game 3 Friday, September 7th 6:00 PM Hadlock Field
Game 4 Saturday, September 8th 6:00 PM Hadlock Field
Game 5* Sunday, September 9th 7:05 PM Waterfront Park
* If Necessary

Should the Sea Dogs Advance to the Eastern League Championship Series, here is the schedule:
EASTERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Tuesday 9/11 Game 1 @ Portland 6:00 PM
Wednesday 9/12 Game 2 @ Portland 6:00 PM
Friday 9/14 Game 3 @ Southern Division Playoff Winner
Saturday 9/15 Game 4* @ Southern Division Playoff Winner
Sunday 9/16 Game 5* @ Southern Division Playoff Winner
* if necessary
Tickets for Games One and Two of the Eastern League Championship Series are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500

Notes:
The Sea Dogs have advanced to the Eastern League Playoffs for the third straight year and the sixth time in the teams 14 year history.

This is the third straight year that the Sea Dogs have met the Trenton Thunder (Yankees) in the Northern Division Championship. The Sea Dogs have prevailed in each of the previous meetings. Last year, the Sea Dogs dropped Game One of the series to Trenton and went on to win the next three.

In the Southern Division Series, the Erie SeaWolves (Tigers) and Akron Aeros (Indians) are tied at one in the best-of-five series as the series shifts to Akron for Games 3 & 4.

Click here for complete Eastern League Playoff Coverage

The Portland Sea Dogs and New Hampshire Fisher Cats have finished the regular season tied for second place in the Eastern League's Northern Division. The Sea Dogs will host a one game playoff on Tuesday, September 4th at 6:00 PM to determine which team will advance to the Eastern League playoffs. The top two teams in each division qualify for post-season play.

The Sea Dogs Ticket Office will be open from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM tonight (Monday, September 3rd) to sell tickets for this one game playoff. The ticket office will re-open at 8:00 AM on Tuesday morning. Tickets are priced the same as regular season tickets.

Portland and New Hampshire have identical head-to-head records (14-14), the Sea Dogs host the game as a result of scoring more runs in the series (151-127). The winner will advance to take on the Trenton Thunder (Yankees) in the Eastern Lague Northern Division Championship. The Eastern League playoffs get underway on Wednesday, September 5th at Trenton. The Erie SeaWolves (Tigers) and Akron Aeroes (Indians) square off in the Southern Division Series.

Should the Sea Dogs advance to the Eastern League playoffs, the Sea Dogs would host Game 3 and Game 4 (if necessary) at Hadlock Field on Friday, September 7th and Saturday, September 8th at 6:00 PM against the Trenton Thunder.

Should the Sea Dogs advance to the Eastern League Championship Series, the Sea Dogs would host Game 1 and Game 2 at Hadlock Field on Tuesday, September 11th and Wednesday, September 12th at 6:00 PM against the Southern Division Champion.

EASTERN LEAGUE DIVISIONAL SERIES
Wednesday 9/5- Game #1 @ Trenton 7:05 PM
Thursday 9/6- Game #2 @ Trenton 7:05 PM
Friday 9/7- Game #3 @ Portland/ New Hampshire 6:00 PM
Following Games Played If Needed
Saturday 9/8- Game #4 @ Portland/ New Hampshire 6:00 PM
Sunday 9/9- Game #5 @ Trenton

EASTERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Tuesday 9/11- Game #1 @ Northern Division Playoff Winner
Wednesday 9/12-Game #2 @ Northern Division Playoff Winner
Friday 9/14- Game #3 @ Southern Division Playoff Winner
Following Games Played If Needed
Saturday 9/15- Game #4 @ Southern Division Playoff Winner
Sunday 9/16- Game #5 @ Southern Division Playoff Winner

-In Case Of Postponement, The Games Are Moved Back A Day

Ticket prices are the same as regular season ticket prices:
Box Seats: $8.00 for adults, $7.00 for kids and seniors
Reserved Seats: $7.00 for adults, $6.00 for kids and seniors
General Admission: $6.00 for adults, $3.00 for kids and seniors
Kids = 16 and under, Seniors = 62 and over