The No. 1 pick in the 2001 draft, who is on the fast track to the majors, drives in the go-ahead run.
PORTLAND – If you’re planning to see Joe Mauer play at Hadlock Field, today will likely be your last chance.
The top overall pick in the 2001 draft will be calling the Metrodome home soon.
Mauer drove in the go-ahead run during New Britain’s five-run seventh inning as the Rock Cats ended a five-game losing streak with an 8-3 victory over the Portland Sea Dogs at Hadlock Field Wednesday night.
Mauer, who turned down a football scholarship to Florida State to sign with the Minnesota Twins, finished the night with two hits and two RBIs.
He has hit .333 (25-for-75) in 21 games since being called up from Class-A Fort Myers.
“He’s just a pleasure to watch play,” said New Britain manager Stan Cliburn. “We thought he might struggle a little bit up here, but he’s been swinging as well as he always has.”
The Rock Cats won 15 of 18 games after Mauer joined the team, a fact that Cliburn thinks is no coincidence.
“He brings a lot of confidence to the club,” said Cliburn. “He’s a nice guy to have, especially at the catching position. He shows a lot of leadership.”
With the Sea Dogs leading 3-2, Jeff Deardoff led off the seventh with a home run just out of the reach of a leaping Jeremy Owens in center field to pull the Rock Cats even.
“To me, that was the big blow,” said Portland manager Ron Johnson. “We had just taken the lead. It kind of soured things.”
Tim Tiffee doubled and scored on Mauer’s single, which ended the night for Sea Dogs starter Tim Kester.
Rene Miniel replaced Kester (4-6), and after a single and sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third, uncorked a wild pitch allowing the runners to advance.
New Britain padded the lead on a ground out and an error.
The Sea Dogs made four errors which led to three unearned runs.
“There were balls that we misplayed that put them in situations they could score,” said Johnson.
Tony Schrager led off the bottom of the first with a home run off of the Sullivan Tire sign atop the left field wall.
For hitting the sign, Schrager split a $2,950 jackpot with a fan.
The first two New Britain hitters reached in the top of the second on a walk and an error. Mauer then singled to right field to tie it.
The Rock Cats took the lead when Brian Baron grounded into a double play.
Schrager’s two-out single tied it in the fifth.
Kevin Youkilis left off the bottom of the sixth with a high fly ball to shallow center field that fell for a double.
Kelly Shoppach ripped a pitch down the left field line to score Youkilis, but was cut down on a close play trying to stretch the hit into a double.
The Sea Dogs then loaded the bases against J.D. Durbin on two walks and a single.
After a trip to the mound by Cliburn, Durbin escaped without further damage.
“I told him, ‘You’ve got to pick the guys up here. You get out of this inning here and we’ll score some runs and get you a W,'” said Cliburn. “And that’s exactly what happened.”
Durbin (1-2) picked up his first Double-A win despite allowing 10 hits over 6 1/3 innings.
Sea Dogs notes: Schrager split the jackpot with Donald McGowan of Tyngsboro, Mass., who is the father of Sea Dog Sean McGowan….Red Sox scouting director David Chadd was in attendance…Josh Stevens (9-4, 3.38 ERA) opposes New Britain’s Jim Abbott (3-0, 0.93) in the series finale today at noon. The game is sold out.
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