Four Sea Dogs Headed to All-Star Game

Portland, Maine- The Eastern League in conjunction with the New Britain Rock Cats has announced the rosters for the 2013 Eastern League All-Star Game. The Portland Sea Dogs will send four players to the midsummer classic; pitchers Drake Britton and Anthony Ranaudo, infielder Michael Almanzar and catcher Christian Vazquez. The All-Star Game will be played on Wednesday, July 10th at New Britain Stadium in Connecticut; home of the New Britain Rock Cats.

The All-Star Game will feature the Eastern Division All-Stars against the Western Division All-Stars. Each team will consist of 24 players. The All-Star teams were selected through fan voting along with selections from media personnel, club field personnel, and Eastern League administrators. Each Eastern League team has at least three players, including at least one pitcher and one position player. One position player and one pitcher from each team are selected through fan voting. Michael Almanzar and Anthony Ranaudo were the fan selections for the Sea Dogs.

Michael Almanzar has appeared in 71 games for the Sea Dogs this season hitting at a .280 (76-for-271) clip with 11 home runs and 49 RBI. He leads the team in hits (76), home runs (11), RBI (49), and is tied for the team lead in doubles (18) and ranks second in runs scored (39). The 22-year-old was signed by the Red Sox as an international free agent in 2007.

Left-handed pitcher Drake Britton has made 15 appearances (14 starts) for the Sea Dogs in 2013. He has notched a 6-6 record with a 3.74 ERA (35 ER/ 84.1 IP) and 72 strikeouts. The 24-year old was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 3rd through June 9th. Britton tossed 22.2 consecutive scoreless innings from May 30th to June 16th, the second longest streak in franchise history. Baseball America ranks him as the #11 prospect in the Red Sox organization in 2013. The Magnolia, Texas resident was selected by the Red Sox in the 23rd round of the June 2007 draft. He was added to the Red Sox 40-man roster on November 18, 2011.

In 14 starts this season, Anthony Ranaudo is 7-2 with an Eastern League best 2.28 ERA (20 ER/ 79 IP) and ranks second in the league with 86 strikeouts in 79 innings pitched. The righty also leads the league holding batters to a .180 average (50-for-278). Additionally, he ranks among the league leaders in wins (T2nd- 7), WHIP (2nd- 0.97), highest strikeout/ 9 IP ratio (5th- 9.80), and fewest base runners/ 9 IP ratio (2nd- 9.11). On June 13th, he tied a franchise record by striking out 13 batters in a 2-0 win over Erie. The 23-year old is the 14th ranked prospect in the Red Sox organization by Baseball America. Ranaudo was the Red Sox third pick (sandwich pick between the first and second rounds, 39th overall) in the June 2010 draft.

For each of the last two seasons, Baseball America has ranked Christian Vazquez as the "Best Defensive Catcher" in the Red Sox farm system. The publication also selected Vazquez as the "Best Defensive Catcher" in the Carolina League in 2012 and the South Atlantic League in 2011. In 2013, he ranks second in the Eastern League throwing out 28 of 62 base stealers (45.2%). The 22-year old is hitting .224 (36-for-161) with four home runs and 25 RBI in 48 games for the Sea Dogs this season. The Puerto Rico native was selected by the Red Sox in the ninth round of the June 2008 draft. Vazquez was added to the Red Sox 40-man roster on November 20, 2011.

For more information on the 2013 Eastern League All-Star Game, including ticket information, log on to www.rockcats.com.   

Tickets are available for all remaining 2013 Portland Sea Dogs' home games. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or online at www.seadogs.com. Book your nine inning vacation today!