Pitching Matchups; Game of the Day 8/25/11

7:00pm
Pawtucket Red Sox (Kyle Weiland 8-9, 3.48)
vs. Syracuse Chiefs (Brad Meyers 5-4, 3.62)

Lowell Spinners (Jason Garcia 3-2, 3.77)
vs. Staten Island Yankees (Matthew Tracy 0-1, 2.65)

7:05pm
Portland Sea Dogs (Charlie Haeger 2-0, 3.34)
vs. Reading Phillies (Tyson Brummett 3-7, 4.40)

Harrisburg Senators (Erik Arnesen 8-4, 2.56)
vs. New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Yohan Pino 3-7, 3.92)

New Britain Rock Cats (Spencer Steedley 3-4, 4.84)
vs. Trenton Thunder (Graham Stoneburner 1-3, 3.43)

Connecticut Tigers (Matt Crouse5-1, 3.54)
vs. Aberdeen IronBirds (Trent Howard 3-2, 3.48)

Vermont Lake Monsters (Drew Granier 1-1, 0.96)
vs. Hudson Valley Renegades (N/A)

Game of the Day – Rock Cats vs. Thunder – New Britain makes our GotD for the third time in four games thanks to their predicament in the standings and recent matchups. Tonight they start a crucial four-game series versus Trenton and if someone can take this, they will hold on to a glimmer of hope in the playoff race. As it stands now the Rock Cats (65-65) are two back of Reading (67-63) for the second playoff spot in the East, and the Thunder (64-65) are just a half game behind the Cats. With just twelve games left to play, each one becomes more important than the last for New Britain and they have to show their mettle now before they run out of time. New Britain’s Spencer Steedley gets his fifth start of the season. Because he has worked mainly as a reliever this season, expect only a few innings from Steedley this evening, but hopefully some quality ones as he had in his last two starts. Against Bowie and New Hampshire he tossed 8 innings and allowed 3 earned runs while striking out 9. Steedley has yet to pick up a win as a starter this year. He will be opposed by Graham Stoneburner who gets his ninth start with Trenton and fourteenth overall on the year. His only win with Trenton came back on April 15th against Harrisburg, then a stiff neck sidelined him until late June when he rehabbed up through the Gulf Coast and Tampa before returning to the Thunder. Selected by many as a Top 20 prospect for the Yankees, Stoneburner looked great in his first two games back with Trenton, but in the three that followed he allowed 10 earned runs, 20 hits and 9 walks over 13 innings…These two teams have only played one other time against each other this season with Trenton take 2 of 3 at New Britain. They will finish the season against each other in another four-game series to be played in New Britain…Rock Cats infielder Yangervis Solarte is batting .255 for the month of August after hitting over .300 in each of the previous four months (April - .359; May - .323; June - .300; July - .329)…New Britain pitcher Deolis Guerra had four starts and pitched 16 2/3 innings in April, finishing the month with a 9.18 ERA after allowed 17 earned runs, 26 hits, 5 walks and 4 home runs. In August he has 8 relief appearances totaling 17 innings and his ERA is 1.06 as he has allowed only 2 earned runs, 7 hits, 3 walks and no home runs…The Portland Sea Dogs became the first time officially eliminated from Eastern League playoff contention with their loss against Harrisburg last night.

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