Portland has lost seven of its last eight games.
By Bill Foley
Assistant Sports Editor

PORTLAND – It’s a funny thing momentum, but you won’t find anybody in the Portland Sea Dogs clubhouse laughing.

On one end of the spectrum are the Sea Dogs, who have lost seven of their last eight games and are 8-18 in August after the Erie SeaWolves completed a three-game sweep of Portland with a 3-0 victory at Hadlock Field Sunday afternoon.

The Sea Dogs (67-67) fell back to the .500 mark for the first time since April 28.

Then there are the red-hot New Britain Rock Cats, who got a no-hitter from Horacio Estrada while beating Reading 10-0.

The second-place Rock Cats, who trailed the Sea Dogs by five games just nine days ago, have won nine of 10 and hold a 2 1/2-game lead over Portland for the final playoff in the Eastern League’s Northern Division.

The Sea Dogs looked lifeless while mustering just six hits for the second straight game.

When they did manage to get runners in scoring position, they were hitless in 10 at-bats.

Over the last 22 innings of the series, Portland went 1-for-24 with runners in scoring position.

“It’s happened so much that it’s hard to put it out of your mind when you get up to bat,” said Sea Dogs first baseman Justin Headley. “You’re trying as hard as you can, but in this game sometimes the harder you try the worse you do.”

Two innings typified how things have been going for the Sea Dogs lately.

In the bottom of third, Greg Catalanotte doubled leading off and went to third on a sacrifice bunt.

Jim Goelz then hit a bouncer that landed right at the bag in the glove of third baseman Jack Hannahan.

Hannahan tagged out Catalanotte, who was attempting to dive back into third, and threw to first to complete the unusual double play.

“There’s nothing you can do,” said Portland manager Ron Johnson. “As a baserunner, you’re taught to get a walking lead. He had no chance.”

Trailing 3-0, the Sea Dogs loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the seventh against Preston Larrison (4-11).

But reliever Jorge Cordova came on and struck out Justin Sherrod, got a force play at the plate on a comebacker and fanned Catalanotte to escape unscathed.

Larrison (4-11), rated the No. 2 prospect of the Detroit Tigers according to Baseball America, allowed just four hits while winning for the third straight time at the Double-A level. Other than a spot start for Triple-A Toledo, the 22-year-old right-hander hasn’t lost since July 19.

Portland also had the tying run at the plate when it put runners at first and second with one out in the bottom of the ninth.

But former Sea Dog Mark Johnson needed just one pitch to get Loyd to hit into a 5-4-3 double play and record his first save. The SeaWolves scored twice against Portland starter Junior Herndon (8-8) in the top of the second.

Andy Kropf had an RBI single before Herndon walked Scott Tousa with the bases loaded and two outs to force in a run.

In the fifth, Tousa’s hot shot caromed off of second baseman Carlos Leon’s leg and into foul territory in shallow right field for what was ruled a three-base error.

One batter later, Billy Munoz brought in Tousa with a sacrifice fly.

Three Portland relievers, Jake Chapman, Eric Glaser, and Scott Aldred, held Erie in check the rest of the way. But the Sea Dogs were unable to capitalize.

“We definitely got enough pitching,” said Johnson. “When you go out daily and keep guys to two or three runs, you’ve got to find ways to win those games.”

Sea Dogs notes: Four of the Sea Dogs’ six hits were doubles, leaving them just six short of the team record for a season….Erie closer Brian Schmack was called up by the parent Detroit Tigers. Schmack, who led the Eastern League with 29 saves, left Portland Sunday morning and was expected to join the Tigers in time for that afternoon’s game against Anaheim at Comerica Park….Today is an off day. The Sea Dogs will travel to New Haven Tuesday, where they’ll begin a four-game series against the Ravens with a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m.. Tim Kester (9-9, 4.00 ERA) and Charlie Zink (2-2, 3.86) will pitch for Portland. New Haven’s starters have yet to be determined.

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