enlarge Doug Jones/Staff Photographer

Bubba Bell of the Sea Dogs slides past a late tag by New Britain catcher Drew Butera to score in the sixth inning.

enlarge Doug Jones/Staff Photographer

Winning pitcher Michael Bowden allowed just one infield hit through seven innings.

TODAY'S GAME

WHO: Sea Dogs (Kris Johnson 3-1) vs. New Britain Rock Cats (Jay Rainville 3-5)

WHEN: 1 p.m.

WHERE: Hadlock Field

TICKETS: Sold out

Maybe you're tired of hearing of all the Boston Red Sox pitching prospects coming through Portland the Papelbons, Lesters, Buchholzs and Mastersons.

Well, the pipeline isn't empty.

Michael Bowden (4-3) and Daniel Bard put on quite the performance Saturday in the Portland Sea Dogs' 4-1 victory against the New Britain Rock Cats before a sold-out Hadlock Field crowd of 7,368.

Bowden, 21, continues to show maturity beyond his age. He pitched seven sterling innings, allowing an unearned run and one infield hit. He struck out five and retired the last 17 batters he faced, allowing few hard-hit balls.

"He throws such a heavy, hard fastball," catcher John Otness said. "And he has the confidence to go with it, the willpower to get it done."

Bard, 23, a first-round pick in 2006, showed off his fastball for the first time at Hadlock. He picked up his first save with one-hit relief, striking out two, including the final batter on a 99 mph fastball.

"Just gas," said Otness.

The Bowden and Bard show countered a solid outing by Anthony Swarzak (2-2) of New Britain, who was the Minnesota Twins' second-round draft pick in 2004.

Swarzak mixed his pitches well to hold Portland to one run through five innings.

But the Sea Dogs got to him for three runs in the sixth.

With the score tied, Zach Daeges led off with a ground single to right, extending his on-base streak to 24 games. Swarzak then hit Aaron Bates with a pitch.

Bubba Bell tried unsuccessfully to bunt them over. Then, on a 0-2 count, he singled up the middle to load the bases.

Up came Sandy Madera, recently sent back to Portland from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Madera hit a first-pitch curveball to the gap in left-center for a two-run double. Bell scored on Otness' sacrifice fly for a 4-1 lead.

Swarzak pitched a scoreless seventh, but the damage was already on the scoreboard.

"He was changing speeds, going in and out, but he just ran into a little bad luck," New Britain catcher Drew Butera said.

As for the Sea Dogs' pitchers, Butera said it was tough picking up the ball on Bowden's overhand delivery, and it was tough seeing the ball from Bard.

"(Bowden) has a couple of funky things he throws and it's hard to find the timing," Butera said. "And Bard throws hard. You've got to get geared for that fastball."

Bowden again emphasized his fastball command. He didn't have it in his first four starts (0-2, 4.92 ERA) but has been in control in his last six (5-1, 1.24).

"I was just getting ahead of the hitters with the fastball. Then when they were sitting on the fastball, I mixed them up and kept them off balance," Bowden said.

Steve Tolleson led off the game by reaching on an error, when second baseman Tony Granadillo couldn't field his pop-up in the sun. Tolleson stole second and went to third on Otness' throwing error. He scored on a groundout.

Portland tied it in the third on a Jeff Corsaletti triple.

Bowden kept dealing, showing he may be the next prospect moving up.

"I know my stuff is going to play at the major-league level," Bowden said. "I know it's not too far away. I just have to keep throwing the way I've been throwing and things will take care of itself."

NOTES: Madera came back from Pawtucket, which made room for first baseman/outfielder Brandon Moss to be activated from the disabled list. To make room for Madera in Portland, outfielder Jered Stanley was sent to Class A Greenville. Andrew Pinckney, who was hit by a pitch on the left hand Friday night, is day to day. Today's game is a sellout. Some returned season tickets will go on sale at the box office at 9 a.m.

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or:

kthomas@pressherald.com