PORTLAND – The Portland Sea Dogs will be a little short-handed for their series in Norwich on July 11-14.

Pitcher Jorge De La Rosa, third baseman Kevin Youkilis and manager Ron Johnson will be at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago for the All-Star Futures Game, which will be played on Sunday, July 13.

The game can be seen live on ESPN2 at 5:30 p.m.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Youkilis. “I never pictured myself playing in that game.”

Youkilis will be part of the United States squad while De La Rosa and Johnson are on the World roster.

“It’s exciting,” said Johnson. “But it’s more of a team thing for me. To have (Youkilis and De La Rosa) going, that’s more exciting to me than me going.”

Johnson was a coach during the 1999 Futures game at Fenway Park.

In that game, current Yankees’ second baseman Alfonso Soriano hit two home runs over the Green Monster.

Joining Youkilis on the U.S. roster from the Eastern League will be New Britain’s Joe Mauer, Akron’s Grady Sizemore, Erie’s Preston Larrison, and Altoona’s John VanBenschoten.

Former Sea Dogs pitching coach Jeff Andrews will be a coach for the U.S. squad along with Akron manager Brad Komminsk.

New Haven’s Guillermo Quiroz and Alexis Rios, Altoona’s Jose Castillo, Trenton’s Chien-Ming Wang and former Red Sox prospect Seung Song are part of the World team.

“It’s a good chance to watch a lot of talented players on the field at the same time,” said Johnson.

Home at last

The Sea Dogs went 3-6 on their just completed 1500-mile road trip through Akron, Erie and New Haven.

Portland lost four straight from June 16-20, marking the first time it had lost more than two games in a row all season.

“You’re going to have down times,” said Johnson. “This will show their character. It’s about how you react and improve that shows what guys are made of.”

Injuries piling up

Second baseman Carlos Leon is the latest Sea Dog to join the walking wounded list.

Leon strained his left hamstring over the weekend in New Haven and will be out a few days.

The Sea Dogs also lost pitchers Junior Herndon and Jake Chapman on the aforementioned road trip.

Herndon was put on the disabled list on Sunday after straining his groin during his last start, June 16 at Erie.

Chapman will miss two to four weeks with a strained shoulder muscle.

Kevin Haverbusch is not expected to play in the series against Akron. He’s been out since injuring his hamstring in Akron on June 14.

All the injuries left Portland with just back-up catcher John Nathans on the bench Monday night.

“We’ll deal with it,” said Johnson. “We’re used to it.”

Another rainy day

The postponement of Sunday’s regularly scheduled game in New Haven was the record 15th for the Sea Dogs this season. The previous high of 14 was set in 1996, with 11 of those coming on the road.

Portland has lost six games at home this season.

Pitching in

Pitcher James Johnson returned to the Sea Dogs from Triple-A Pawtucket and picked up the win in the completion of Saturday night’s suspended game in New Haven.

The left-hander didn’t allow a baserunner in three appearances with the PawSox.

Johnson, who was on the disabled list from May 20-June 6 with back spasms, has a 14 1/3 innings scoreless innings string dating back to May 10.

Youkilis reaches again

Youkilis extended his consecutive games on base streak to 31 with a sixth-inning single.

Overall, he has reached in 61 of 63 games.