PORTLAND – The Portland Sea Dogs figured out a surefire way to cure their recent inability to produce with runners in scoring position: Hit the ball out of the park.

Andy Dominique, Justin Sherrod, Tony Schrager and Jeremy Owens all homered as part of a 14-hit attack as the Sea Dogs pounded the New Britain Rock Cats 14-4 before a Mother’s Day crowd of 6,716 at Hadlock Field Sunday.

The Sea Dogs, who had been 6-for-46 with runners in scoring position, were aided by five New Britain errors and a couple of other fielding miscues that were ruled hits.

Schrager hit a three-run shot, his first since joining the team, off of Rock Cats starter Brian Wolfe as part of a four-run fifth inning.

He later had added a two-run double while tying a franchise record with six RBIs.

“It was just one of those days where everything was going good offensively for everybody,” said Schrager, who also had a sacrifice fly as Portland scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the second inning.

Schrager was promoted from Class-A Sarasota on April 30, just days after he was acquired by the Red Sox from the Cubs, to fill the void created after infielders Nelson Castro and Carlos Leon went down with injuries.

“I think our front office has done a phenomenal job,” said Portland manager Ron Johnson, whose team sits in first place despite having already had eight players go on the disabled list just a month into the season. “They’ve done a great job replenishing the ball club.”

Dominique and Sherrod, who had three hits apiece, went back-to-back against Wolfe in the third as the Sea Dogs broke open a 2-1 game.

Kelly Shoppach had an infield hit with two outs and Dominique followed with a drive down the left-field line that cleared the screen for his third home run of the season.

All three of Dominique’s hits came on the first pitch of the at-bat.

“They were throwing balls over the plate,” said Dominique. “You have to attack them.”

Sherrod sent Wolfe’s next pitch into the screen in left-center field.

He also had a pair of RBI singles

“It’s nice to finally break the seal,” Sherrod said of his first home run at Hadlock Field. “With all the fans that have been here the last couple of days, it’s been a lot of fun.”

Wolfe, who was making his first start since being promoted from Class-A Fort Myers, exited after giving up nine hits and nine runs (six earned) in 4 2/3 innings.

Sea Dogs’ starter Josh Stevens (4-1) had another strong outing, going seven innings while allowing six hits and three runs (two earned).

Owens homered with a man aboard against reliever Willie Eyre in the seventh.

“It was nice to see us come out and drive the ball,” said Johnson. “We’ve been struggling. I was glad to see us do that.”

Sea Dogs notes: Kevin Youkilis reached base for the 24th straight game with a sixth-inning walk….Alex Gonzalez had six RBIs for the Sea Dogs against New Britain on May 24, 1997….Catcher Brian Loyd, who has been on the disabled list since April 27 with a sprained left knee, will fly to Florida today to continue his rehabilitation. He’ll be out at least another two months….Matt White threw three scoreless innings for Class-A Sarasota Saturday night and will continue his rehabilitation assignment with the Sea Dogs. The left-hander will start the first game of Tuesday night’s doubleheader against Trenton and throw no more than three innings….Junior Herndon (1-2, 4.50 ERA) will oppose the Thunder’s Chien-Ming Wang in the first game of tonight’s twin bill (6 p.m., NESN). Starters for the second game have yet to be determined.

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