A Weekend at Hadlock Field
Obligatory "Big 3" content
For good reason, the Portland Sea Dogs are known as one of the most talented teams in Minor League Baseball. From 20-year-old studs in Roman Anthony to soon-to-be 27-year-old Zach Penrod, this team’s depth is wildly impressive, and I was lucky enough to get up to Portland for the final four games of their 8-game set against the Hartford Yard Goats.
5/24 Game 1 (7): Yard Goats 4, Sea Dogs 7
Sea Dogs left-hander Zach Penrod. Photo: Boston Globe
Zach Penrod came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, something he has made routine since joining the Boston Red Sox organization. The former NAIA and Division II southpaw racked up 17 swings and misses and 9 strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings, primarily on his fastball, which held 92-94 miles per hour throughout the outing (stadium radar gun), along with an 84-86 MPH changeup. Penrod also mixed in a cutter and a slider. Signed with the Texas Rangers in 2018 as an undrafted free agent, the left-hander suffered an elbow injury that would eventually require Tommy John Surgery a year later, leading to his release in 2020. He then pitched for three separate teams in the Pioneer League (Boise, 2021, Billings, 2022, Missoula, 2023) prior to signing with Boston. With his performance to start the year and right-hander Luis Perales being added to Portland’s rotation from High-A Greenville, Penrod was promoted to Worcester Saturday morning. He finished his time in Portland with a 4-0 record in 7 appearances (7 starts) with a 2.80 ERA in 35.1 innings pitched and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 53/13.
With all the offensive talent the Boston Red Sox boast throughout their farm system, none have had a better start to the 2024 season than outfielder Matthew Lugo. The 2019 second-round pick went 2-3 with a double and a home run in game one of Friday’s doubleheader. In 37 games this season, the outfielder is slashing .312/.407/.672.
Sea Dogs outfielder Matthew Lugo. Photo: MiLB
5/24 Game 2 (7): Hartford 6, Portland 3
Game 2 of Friday’s doubleheader was opened by right-hander Wyatt Olds, who totaled 4 strikeouts, 4 walks, and 4 earned runs over 2 1/3 innings. The 2021 7th-round pick sat 93-95 miles per hour with his fastball, peaking at 96, paired with a mid-80s slider. The Oklahoma University product’s command issues caught up to him in the third inning and ended up chasing him from the contest. Right-handers Caleb Bolden and Cody Scroggins pitched 2 2/3 and 2 innings, respectively, to finish the latter of the twin bill.
Portland’s offense was held to just 7 hits by Hartford’s pitching staff, who put together a 6-man effort to complete the doubleheader. 2020 first-round pick Nick Yorke drove in a run and logged a multi-hit game, and played a solid second base.
5/25: Hartford 12, Portland 17
Yard Goats infielder Adael Amador. Photo: MiLB
The penultimate game of this series featured an intriguing pitching matchup between Hunter Dobbins, Boston’s #25 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, and Carson Palmquist, Colorado’s #14 prospect. Dobbins was greeted by Hartford infielder Adael Amador, who crushed a leadoff home run and stroked another home run in the 5th inning, finishing the day with a 5-hit performance. Dobbins and Palmquist were both knocked out in the second inning, with 4 of Dobbins’ 5 walks coming in the second inning. The Texas Tech product allowed 5 hits and struck out 1 batter in 1 and 2/3 innings. Right-hander Robert Kwiatkowski (2 2/3 innings) followed Dobbins, earning his fifth victory of the season, and Jacob Webb (2 innings) threw in middle relief. Both pitchers allowed 3 runs. On a day that was far from a pitcher’s duel, Felix Cepeda shut down Hartford’s lineup, recording the final 8 outs of the game to earn his 9th save of the season. The right-hander from the Dominican Republic totaled 5 strikeouts using his four-seam fastball, which sit 93-96 miles per hour, an 84-86 mph slider, and an 88-90 mph changeup.
Despite Saturday’s starting lineup not featuring Roman Anthony or Marcelo Mayer, Portland’s offense was still a force to be reckoned with, and 2021 third-round pick Tyler McDonough led the way with 4 extra-base hits, including a frozen rope home run to the right field pavilion. After Sunday’s contest, the 25-year-old is slashing .254/.356/.365 for Portland, seeing time at shortstop, second base, and all three outfield positions. 6 other Sea Dogs posted multi-hit games, most notably Mickey Gasper, registering 3 hits with a 3-run home run in the 4th inning.
The finale of this 8 game series featured a pitching matchup between Portland’s CJ Liu and Hartford’s Jarrod Cande. Making his third appearance of the season, Liu allowed 3 home runs in the first inning, including Adael Amador’s second leadoff home run in as many days. All came off Liu’s fastball, which was 91-93 mph, topping out at 94. The converted switch-hitting shortstop did not throw a single fastball in his second inning of work, and used a mid-80’s slider to get through the frame. Liu gave way to former Rockies farmhand Helcris Olivarez, who struck out 6 Hartford batters, walked 4, and gave up an earned run in 4 1/3 innings of work. The left-hander’s fastball sat 93-95 mph throughout the outing, peaking at 96, with a high-70s curveball and a mid-80s changeup. Olivarez registered 13 swings & misses in his outing. Alex Hoppe recorded the final 8 outs for Portland, allowing a run and striking out 2 Hartford batters.
This weekend’s set of games was highlighted by the performance of Hartford right-hander Jarrod Cande. Colorado’s 2021 17th round pick pitched into the 7th inning on Sunday, limiting Portland’s potent offense to 3 runs, striking out 5 batters and walking 1. On his way to his third victory of the season, Cande totaled 13 swings and misses over 6 1/3 innings and was followed by Ethan Shawver and Angel Chivilli, both throwing 1 1/3 innings.
After getting the day off on Saturday, infielder Marcelo Mayer went deep in his first at bat, turning around a 93 mph fastball to the right field bullpen. Mayer’s season line sits at .294/.341/.482. Kyle Teel and Matthew Lugo both posted multi-hit games, with the latter going for two extra-base hits and a pair of runs driven in.
The Portland Sea Dogs will continue to be a fun watch throughout the year, as seeing players promoted to Worcester may open up a chain of moves that could see the talents of Kristian Campbell, Connelly Early, and Allan Castro come to Hadlock Field.
Thumbnail photo: NESN