The Portland Sea Dogs celebrated after a loss this afternoon. Before their game was over, they knew they would be drinking champagne.

During the ninth inning of Portland's 5-4 loss to New Hampshire, another score from the Eastern League was flashed on the Hadlock Field video board: New Britain had defeated Binghamton 9-6.

The Sea Dogs needed either a win or a Binghamton Mets loss to clinch a spot in the Eastern League playoffs. The Mets are still two games behind Portland in the standings and cannot catch Portland, with only one game left in the regular season.

After Monday's game at Hadlock Field (at 1 p.m.), the Sea Dogs will take Tuesday off, and then begin its best-of-5 series Wednesday in Trenton. Thursday's Game 2 will also be in Trenton. The series comes to Portland on Friday for Game 3 and, if necessary, Game 4. If a fifth game is played, it will be in Trenton next Sunday.

Portland is playing the Trenton Thunder in the post-season for the fourth straight year. The Sea Dogs beat Trenton in 2005 and '06, going on to win the Eastern League championship in 2006. Trenton topped Portland last year and then won the league title.