It was the sixth postponement for Portland this year.
PORTLAND – Pardon the pun, but the Portland Sea Dogs have matched their high-water mark for home postponements.
The miserable Memorial Day weekend came to a fitting end with the Sea Dogs and Harrisburg Senators washed out Monday afternoon at Hadlock Field.
It was the sixth home postponement and 10th overall for Portland.
The Sea Dogs also had six games wiped out during the 2001 season.
“I’m tired of looking at radar,” said Sea Dogs general manager Charlie Eshbach. “I’m starting to glow.”
With the rainout, Portland concludes its homestand with a 4-3 record and has a 3 1/2 game lead in the Eastern League’s Northern Division as it embarks on a nine-game road trip to Trenton, Binghamton and Altoona.
“I don’t think about it too much,” Portland manager Ron Johnson said of being in first place. “I’m glad we’re having some success, but it’s a long season. If we get into August, we’ll talk about it everyday.”
While he may not give the standings much credence, Johnson does want his team to have the swagger of a first-place club.
“I think you should play with that kind of respectful arrogance when you get out on the field,” said Johnson. “You have to feel that you’re as good or better than everyone else.”
The Sea Dogs’ rise to the top of the division has been improbable given the number of injuries the team has endured.
Raul Nieves could become the ninth Sea Dog to spend time on the disabled list when his ailing foot is X-rayed when the team gets to Trenton.
Nieves was hit by a pitch on May 13 against Trenton and has been hobbled ever since.
“I just find it very hard to believe that getting hit on the top of the foot with a breaking ball will put you out for two weeks, unless there’s some damage,” said Johnson. “That’s a concern.”
There is some good news on the injury front.
Justin Sherrod took some swings in the indoor batting cage and reported progress with his injured left wrist.
Sherrod hurt the wrist in the Red Sox final exhibition game in Atlanta and aggravated it diving for a ball in New Haven.
“I should be ready to go by Wednesday or Thursday,” said Sherrod.
Pitcher Greg Montalbano has started to throw off the mound and could be activated on the road trip.
In addition, second baseman Carlos Leon, who has been out since the home opener with a fractured left fibula, is about two weeks away.
“I’d like to have them all healthy,” said Johnson. “We’ve got a lot of interchangeable guys and I like that.”
“When Sherrod comes back, I might even give (Jeremy) Owens a day off,” Johnson joked in reference to his hot-hitting center fielder, “if I can force myself to write it in there.”
Sea Dogs notes: Since Harrisburg doesn’t come back to Portland this season, Monday’s game will be made up as part of a doubleheader in Harrisburg on July 1….Monday’s scheduled pitcher Josh Stevens (5-1, 2.55 ERA) will get the start tonight in Trenton….The Sea Dogs next home game is June 6 against Binghamton.
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