How long will Jacoby Ellsbury stay in Portland? Not long, if he keeps having games like he did in the Sea Dogs opener on Monday.

Ellsbury batted lead-off and went 4-for-6. He began with a sharp line drive out to third base, then followed with a single and then three straight doubles. He also stole a base and played a daring shallow center field, reaching line drives that many have fallen for hits.

Yes, yes, it is only one game. But not a bad start.

For Sea Dogs fans from a couple of years ago, there was an interesting scene in Durham, N.C. Monday night. Jeremy Owens, who played center field in Portland in 2003, hit a grand slam for the Durham Bulls. Pitching for Pawtucket was former Sea Dogs starter Abe Alvarez.

Owens was a gifted fielder but had trouble hitting. He reached Pawtucket in 2004 and then was released. After a year in an independent league, Owens signed with the Devil Rays, playing Double-A last year and now back to Triple-A.

Alvarez pitched for Portland in 2004, the same year he made a spot start for the Red Sox. He made a couple of brief appearances in Boston the past two years, and is now off the 40-man roster.

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