PORTLAND ”“ Lefthanded hurler Kris Johnson was demoted to Portland last week, not because of the 3-13 record he compiled at Triple-A Pawtucket, but because of a confidence tank that had been fully drained.
If anything, Johnson’s start for the Dogs, Monday, replenished it just a little.
Johnson was touched by the Harrisburg Senators for five runs on nine hits in what played out as a 6-4 Portland set back, before 6,314 at Hadlock Field.
At that, Portland skipper Arnie Beyeler felt that Johnson did some baby stepping in the right direction.
“If you ask him,” said Beyeler, “His confidence (should be pretty good. He got some plane back on his ball, and threw some good breaking balls and changeups. He got aggressive with his fastball, which I was really happy to see.”
Johnson gave up two runs in both the first and fourth innings, then for an unearned tally in the fifth.
That fifth run, which came on after catcher Luis Exposito airmailed a simple return throw over Johnson’s head was a killer.
So too was Portland’s base running, which accounted for five outs (four, if you want to look beyond Matt Sheeley being gunned out at the plate on a contact play).
“We made some defensive mistakes,” said Beyeler, “and base running, too. In a close ball game, it ends up costing you.”
The Dogs did manage to pull themselves back into the contest, after Jon Still doubled in one run in the fifth, and Jason Place slugged a two-run homer to dead center in the sixth.
That, however, was as good as it would get.
On the positive side, Still broke Brandon Moss’ franchise record for doubles with his RBI hit in the fifth. He now has 37 two-baggers, and his 83 RBI leads all Red Sox farm hands.
While the pre-season buzz centered on first baseman Lars Anderson ”“ who has struggled often ”“ Still’s bat has been next to irreplaceable.
Not bad for a guy who was third on the Dogs’ depth chart at both catcher and first base at the start of the season.
“I’ve had three good years in a row,” said Still, a fourth round Sox draftee in 2006. “I just keep trying to do what I can do. Taking advantage of the situations. With the RBIs, that’s a product of my team. That’s me coming up with guys on base. The better the team does, the better your stats do. That’s for sure.”
Even though he is a strong candidate for Portland’s Most Valuable Player honors, the Mississippi native believes his development is still a work in progress.
“I still feel like I can be more consistent,” he said. “That’s the main thing.”
The Dogs went just 2-5 on their now completed home stand against Reading and Harrisburg, which on the heels of a 2-4 road trip, has severly harpooned their playoff hopes.
Portland now sits 5 1â„2 games out of the playoff spot currently held by New Britain, and with just 15 games to play, the odds of the Dogs extending their post-season string to five seasons are getting slimmer.
The newest Sea Dog is left handed reliever Derrick Loop, who put up fine numbers (3-3, 1.66, 16 saves) for Single-A Salem.
Loop was originally Cleveland Indians property, and in 2007 was a teammate of Dogs’ outfielder Daniel Nava’s at Chico of the independent Golden League.
The Dogs will be away from home until Sept. 1, after making a swing to Binghamton and New Hampshire. Tonight (7:05 p.m.), Portland lefty Felix Doubront (7-5, 3.38) will face Binghamton RHP Chris Mason (1-1, 2.87).
— Contact Dan Hickling at dhickling@journaltribune.com.
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