PORTLAND – Who would have thought that the San Francisco Giants trading for veteran infielder Eric Young would have such an adverse effect on the Portland Sea Dogs’ playoff push?

Ryan Cox, who was starting only because Greg Bruso was dealt by the parent Giants to the Milwaukee Brewers for Young a day earlier, allowed just two runs over 6 1/3 innings as the Norwich Navigators topped the Sea Dogs 6-2 at sold-out Hadlock Field Wednesday night.

Cox, who came into the game with an earned-run average of 8.00, allowed seven hits while walking one and striking out two in his longest outing of the season.

“I don’t look at stats,” said Portland manager Ron Johnson. “That sheet can be real deceiving. I hate when people come up before the game and say , ‘Look at this guy. He’s got an eight ERA.’ Those guys scare me the most.”

Mike Cervenak broke open a one-run game with a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning off of reliever Jake Chapman.

With the loss, the Sea Dogs lost ground to both front-running New Haven and third place New Britain.

The Ravens beat Binghamton 4-3 while the Rock Cats topped Trenton 8-2.

Portland now trails New Haven by six games and leads New Britain by a just a half game for the final playoff spot in the Northern Division.

Tim Kester (9-9), who was bidding to become the Sea Dogs’ second 10-game winner (Josh Stevens is 10-8), was tagged with the loss after giving up eight hits and three runs (two earned) over six innings.

The Navigators scored an unearned run in the top of the first.

With runners on first and second and two outs, Doug Clark hit a bouncer to first baseman Sean McGowan.

McGowan bobbled the ball for an error and then held the ball too long as Jamie Athas motored around from second base.

Adam Shabala’s two-run home run just over the wall in left-center field with two outs in the second made it 3-0.

Cox, meanwhile, cruised through the first four innings, allowing just three singles.

The Sea Dogs finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth.

Carlos Leon beat out a bunt and went to second on Jeremy Owens’ single to center.

Raul Nieves moved the runners up with a sacrifice bunt before Justin Headley lined a single to right-center to make it a one-run game.

But that was all Portland would muster against Cox (1-3), who left after giving up a double to Leon leading off the seventh.

“I basically threw strikes and let them put the ball in play,” said Cox, who is in his fourth season at the Double-A level. “They hit it right at some guys and the defense was great.”

Mitch Walk gave up two hits over the final 2 2/3 innings.

He was aided by a sliding catch by Clark on the warning track in the left field corner in the bottom of the ninth on pinch-hitter Brian Loyd’s drive that would have brought the tying run to the plate had it fallen in.

“I looked up and he was four feet from the fence and I was thinking it was going to be a train wreck,” said Johnson. “That was a great catch.”

Sea Dogs notes: Reliever Scott Aldred has left the team due to a death in his family. Johnson said he wasn’t sure when Aldred would return….Kevin Youkilis was the Sea Dogs’ lone representative on the Eastern League All-Star team which was announced on Wednesday. Youkilis, who hit .327 and posted a league-best .487 on base percentage before being promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket on July 29, was chosen as the utility player on the squad. The infield includes New Haven catcher Guillermo Quiroz, Binghamton first baseman Craig Brazell, Bowie second baseman Mike Fontenot, New Britain shortstop Jason Bartlett and New Britain third baseman Terry Tiffee. New Haven’s Alexis Rios, Akron’s Grady Sizemore and Reading’s Jeff Inglin make up the outfield while Norwich’s Alejandro Freire was tabbed as the designated hitter. Akron’s Kyle Denney was chosen as the right-hander starter and Altoona’s Sean Burnett was the top lefty with Erie’s Brian Schmack as the closer….Charlie Zink (2-1, 1.89 ERA) opposes Norwich’s Chris Begg (0-0, 5.06) in the series finale today at noon.

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