Sea Dogs' Miller gets back on track
Miller allowed one hit over six innings to earn his first win of the season Tuesday as the Portland Sea Dogs blanked the Binghamton Mets, 2-0.
With temperatures in the low 40s, the 24-year-old right-hander did not give up a hit until Jose Coronado led off the sixth inning with a single. He struck out three and walked two in the longest outing by a Sea Dogs pitcher this season.
Miller lowered his ERA to 4.74 in a season marked by inconsistency. In his debut on April 9 at Reading, he allowed four runs over five innings. He rebounded with five scoreless frames on April 14 at New Britain, then struggled on April 20 against Binghamton, surrendering six runs on six hits, including a pair of homers, over three innings.
The Texas native is no stranger to adversity. He was a college walk-on after giving up baseball for three years. Undrafted, he signed with the Red Sox in July 2007 and has steadily climbed the organization's ladder.
Miller was 10-4 with a 2.76 ERA in 41 games (three starts) for Class A Advanced Salem and Double-A Portland in 2009. He allowed 78 hits while striking out 97 over 94 2/3 innings.
Jason Rice and Bryson Cox completed the shutout Tuesday, while Ryan Kalish homered for the Sea Dogs.