Bowden, Sea Dogs one-hit Cats

After a few shaky starts, Michael Bowden went to the videotape. Now he's back in full command.

Bowden struck out three over 6 2/3 innings and combined with two relievers on a one-hitter as the Portland Sea Dogs cruised to a 10-0 thumping of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at Hadlock Field.

Bowden (2-3) allowed a leadoff double to Kyle Phillips' in the third inning and a two-out walk in the fourth before retiring nine of the final 10 batters he faced. Hunter Jones set down all four batters he faced, fanning three, and Beau Vaughan tossed a perfect ninth to finish off Portland's first one-hitter since Aug. 28 against Trenton.

A 21-year-old right-hander, Bowden went 10-6 with a 3.34 ERA in 27 starts last season between Class A Advanced Lancaster and Portland. Through four starts this year, he was 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA. But he's allowed just one earned run over his last 18 2/3 innings, a turnaround he credited to some diligent bullpen work and a few film sessions.

"We looked at some tape and saw I was short-arming a lot of pitches, which hurt my control. We worked out a few things in the bullpen and I've got my command back," he said.

Although Bowden averaged nearly a strikeout per inning last season and has fanned more than a batter per frame this year, he doesn't necessarily consider himself a strikeout pitcher. And he has learned to go into each start with a game plan.

"When I feel good, I can be a strikeout pitcher. Other days, you just have to get outs. It depends on what type of stuff I have on a certain day," he explained. "If you go out there without an approach, the hitters seem to know it and they'll hit you. I need to work off my fastball and the secondary stuff falls into place. My command has been improving."

Mark Wagner went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and a season-high five RBIs, falling a triple shy of the cycle for Portland. Bubba Bell also came within a triple of the cycle, collecting three hits, including a solo shot, and three runs scored. Jeff Corsaletti chipped in two hits and three runs scored, while Mickey Hall hit a solo homer.

The Sea Dogs (19-13) have outscored the Fisher Cats (10-21), 24-3, in winning the last two games.

New Hampshire starter Scott Richmond (2-4) gave up three runs on five hits and four walks while fanning four over six innings.