After having an entire four-game series postponed due to snow and wet field conditions, the Sea Dogs began their 14th season in the Eastern League on Monday night, suffering an 8-6 loss to the New Britain Rock Cats at Hadlock Field. Portland scored six of the game’s final seven runs but stranded 13 runners and went 3-for-17 with runners-in-scoring position.

Jacoby Ellsbury paced Portland’s 12-hit attack, picking up four hits, including three doubles, which tied a franchise record. David Bacani blasted the Sea Dogs first home run of 2007, a two-run shot off Jesse Floyd (1-0) in the sixth inning. Floyd earned the win in relief, working three innings, allowing five hits and three runs. Tommy Hottovy suffered the loss for Portland, working five innings on three hits and three runs. Hottovy, who won 10 games in 2006, retired 10 of the final 11 batters faced. Tim Lahey recorded the game’s final four outs for his first Double-A save.

New Britain opened up the scoring with 3 two-out runs off Hottovy in the second inning. The Rock Cats received 2 RBI from hitters seven through nine in the order - Brock Peterson, Luke Hughes and Kyle Geiger. The visitors extended their lead to 7-1, tagging Scott Shoemaker in the sixth inning for five hits and four runs.

Portland climbed back into the game in the sixth inning on Bacani’s 2-run homer and added two runs in the eighth inning on Cory Keylor’s RBI single and Dusty Brown’s bases-loaded walk. Lahey retired the Sea Dogs in order in the bottom of the ninth inning, the only time the ‘Dogs went 1-2-3 in the game.

Allied Home Mortgage Big Dog of the Game – Jacoby Ellsbury (4-for-6, RBI, 3 doubles)

Notes…New Britain relievers did not allow an inherited runner to score (0-for-9)…Ellsbury tied the franchise record with three doubles, he field to left field to end the game…Portland has lost two straight season openers and drop to 6-8 all-time.