Portland breaks out of its slump by scoring 14 runs in the third inning in a 17-2 rout of the

New Haven Ravens.
By Bill Foley
Assistant Sports Editor

PORTLAND – For the first time this season, Portland Sea Dogs manager Ron Johnson was speechless.

Well, almost.

“I can’t even speak. I’m in a state of shock,” Johnson joked after watching his team erupt for 14 runs on 14 hits in the bottom of the third inning of Friday night’s 17-2 rout of the New Haven Ravens at sold-out Hadlock Field.

The 14 runs matched the Eastern League record for runs in an inning, which had been set by New Britain on Aug. 3 during a 20-4 win over Bowie. The 14 hits broke the Rock Cats’ mark of 13 set in the same game.

Portland set a team record with 22 hits.

“That was so needed,” said left fielder Kevin Haverbusch, who matched a team record with five RBIs in the frame, four of which came on a grand slam. “We’ve struggled so much for so long now. It was nice that everyone was having fun getting hits.

With the win, the Sea Dogs (70-69) pulled to within 2 games of New Britain for the second and final Northern Division playoff spot with three games remaining.

The Rock Cats (72-66) were rained out in Akron and will play a doubleheader today. They have four games left.

Any combination of New Britain wins and Portland losses over the final three days of season totaling two will send the Rock Cats to the postseason.

While the Sea Dogs are still a long shot at best to make the playoffs for the first time since 1997, that was all forgotten as 19 batters went to the plate during the record inning.

Justin Headley and Kelly Shoppach, who both finished a triple short of hitting for the cycle, added two-run home runs and finished with three RBIs.

Headley (four hits), Shoppach, Jeremy Owens and Tony Schrager each had two hits in the inning.

John Hattig was the only player to bat three times, going 1-for-2 with a walk.

Towards the end of the inning, Johnson, not wanting to show up the Ravens, halted the speedy Owens halfway between second and third base on a single and had him return to second.

“We’re on our last legs, so every run is huge,” said Johnson. “But it got to the point where you’re trying to do the right thing. You try to mix in a little professionalism with a little caution.”

Diego Markwell faced eight batters and didn’t record an out after replacing New Haven starter David Bush (7-3). The left-hander gave up seven hits and eight runs.

“I think the score says it all,” said New Haven manager Marty Pevey. “We got the (crap) kicked out of us.”

Junior Herndon (9-8) was the beneficiary of the offensive outburst. The right-hander gave up just four hits over seven innings, two of which were solo home runs by Anthony Sanders and Paul Chiaffredo.

The Sea Dogs, who have won three of the first five games of the season-ending eight-game stretch against the Ravens, had scored 12 runs in their last six games.

“It was nice because we’ve gone through weeks of offensive frustration,” said Johnson. “I know there’s a lot of guys who got some relief tonight.”

Sea Dogs notes: Second baseman Carlos Leon likely won’t play in the final three regular season games. Leon strained his groin last Sunday against Erie and aggravated the injury Tuesday in New Haven. Leon, who missed 46 games early in the year with a fractured fibula, hit .301 in 75 games. … Charlie Zink (2-2, 4.11 ERA) opposes New Haven’s Chris Baker (9-6, 3.88) today at 1 p.m.

bfoley@sunjournal.com

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