New Britain’s win and Portland’s loss to the Ravens knocks the Sea Dogs out of the playoffs.
By Bill Foley
Assistant Sports Editor

PORTLAND – Field of Dreams day at Hadlock Field turned out to be a nightmare for the Portland Sea Dogs.

The Sea Dogs’ usually reliable defense committed five errors leading to 12 unearned runs during Sunday afternoon’s 15-5 loss to the New Haven Ravens at sold-out Hadlock Field.

Late Sunday night, the New Britain Rock Cats topped the Akron Aeros 7-0 to clinch the second and final playoff spot in the Eastern League’s Northern Division.

The Rock Cats (73-68) and Ravens will face off for the Northern Division title beginning Wednesday in New Haven.

The Sea Dogs (71-70) play their final game this afternoon after failing to qualify for the postseason for the sixth straight year.

Kurt Keene homered and drove in five runs for New Haven.

Soon-to-be-crowned Eastern League batting champion Alexis Rios added four hits while Russ Adams chipped in with three hits, three RBIs, and scored two runs for the Ravens, who had 16 hits after almost being no-hit a day earlier.

New Haven, which surrendered 14 runs and 14 hits to the Sea Dogs during a record-setting third inning on Friday night, ended a two-game skid.

“We already clinched,” said Adams, “but you always want to be on a roll and feeling good about things heading into the playoffs. The last couple of days weren’t exactly ideal for us. Hopefully, things are heading in the right direction.”

The Sea Dogs entered through cornstalks placed in center field for the annual Field of Dreams promotion.

Things started out good for the Sea Dogs as Jeremy Owens belted his 21st home run of the season leading off the bottom of the first inning.

But they quickly deteriorated and after watching his team fall behind 9-1 after three innings, Portland manager Ron Johnson was looking for a mulligan.

“I thought maybe we could put the cornfield back up and go back out through it and then sneak around the side or something,” said Johnson.

Shawn Fagan led off the top of the second with a single off of Portland starting pitcher Tim Kester.

Then the wheels fell off.

Anthony Sanders lofted a high fly ball to center field that Owens overran for an error.

Tyrell Godwin followed with a single to tie the game at one.

Kester was on the verge of escaping without further damage after getting a ground out and strikeout.

But the next five batters reached, four by base hits and one after being hit by a pitch, as the Ravens built a 6-1 lead.

“I knew it was a bad omen,” Johnson said of the uncharacteristic miscue by Owens. “Stuff happens in this game. The guy is the best center fielder I’ve ever had, the best center fielder in this league.”

Kester (10-10) exited after the inning having allowed seven hits in his shortest outing of the season.

Kester’s replacement, Eric Glaser, didn’t fare much better in the third.

Owens dropped Godwin’s fly ball in medium right-center field for a two-base error.

Second baseman Tony Schrager and third baseman John Hattig also were charged with errors in the inning as New Haven scored three times on just two hits.

All nine of the runs were unearned.

“Those guys are champions of the division for a reason,” said Johnson. “When you allow a good team four or five outs in an inning, you’re in deep trouble.”

Adams and Rios added RBI doubles in the top of the fourth as the lead grew to 11-1.

Kevin Haverbusch homered leading off the bottom of the seventh against Diego Markwell (5-7).

Brian Loyd and Raul Nieves both singled and one out later, and Justin Headley drilled a three-run shot well over the wall in right-center field.

Keene capped off a four-run Ravens’ ninth with his own three-run home run.

Sea Dogs notes: Owens’ leadoff home run marked the first time a Sea Dogs’ player has hit leadoff home runs in consecutive games….The Sea Dogs and Bowie Baysox are the only two Eastern League teams to not make the playoffs since 1997….Jerome Gamble (1-0, 4.50 ERA) will oppose New Haven’s Chris Baker (9-6, 3.88 ERA) in the season finale today at 1 p.m. The annual teams awards, Most Valuable Player, Pitcher of the Year, 10th Player and Good Citizen, will be handed out prior to the game.

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