Pitching Matchups; Game of the Day 9/2/11

5:05pm
Lowell Spinners (Raynel Velette 2-4, 6.62) GAME 1
vs. Connecticut Tigers (Rayni Guichardo 1-2, 5.26)

Lowell Spinners (Hunter Cervenka 2-7, 5.40) GAME 2
vs. Connecticut Tigers (Luis Angel Sanz 5-4, 2.95)

7:00pm
New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Chad Jenkins 5-7, 3.97)
vs. Portland Sea Dogs (Matt Rusch 0-3, 6.19)

7:05pm
Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Adam Warren 6-7, 3.51
vs. Pawtucket Red Sox (Matt Fox 9-4, 4.04)

Trenton Thunder (Jeff Marquez 1-0, 3.00)
vs. New Britain Rock Cats (Pat Dean NR)

Tri-City Valley Cats (N/A)
vs. Vermont Lake Monsters (Kurt Wunderlich 2-5, 5.44)

Game of the Day - Fisher Cats vs. Sea Dogs – New Hampshire (74-64) can be the first of four New England based teams to clinch a playoff spot tonight, as they can punch their ticket with a win in Portland (Pawtucket will need a win and a Lehigh Valley loss, so they too could clinch a playoff spot tonight). This will be the first time in team history that the Cats will make back-to-back playoff appearances. Last season they took the Eastern Division’s second place playoff spot before being swept out by Trenton. Chad Jenkins will be charged with securing New Hampshire’s ticket to an extended season. He is looking to snap a personal three-game losing streak, which came on the heels of a three-game win streak. Jenkins has been a workhorse, logging 6 or more innings in eight of his last ten starts. The Portland Sea Dogs (58-80) are also on the verge of a little history themselves, but this one is not quite as prestigious as the Fisher Cats. The Dogs are unfortunately approaching their worst season in team history. The previous low water mark came in the organization's first ever season back in 1994 when they went 60-81. Portland will need to take three of four from one of the league’s best teams to avoid this dubious fate and it will up to Matt Rusch to get the ball rolling as he attempts to hold off a dangerous Cats lineup. This will be his fourth start of the season and he is still seeking his first win. In his prior three starts Rusch has allowed 11 runs and 20 hits over 16 innings…The Fisher Cats lead the season series 12-10, but Portland has the upper-hand overall as they lead the all-time series 90-104…Portland followed a 17-13 July with a 13-17 August. The Fisher Cats finished August with a 14-15 record, their third straight month under .500…The Fisher Cats can clinch the Eastern Division with a win and a New Britain loss.

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