Sea Dogs lose seventh straight

PORTLAND — It’s a streak that continues, but not one the Portland Sea Dogs want to continue.

The good news? There is improvement.

The Sea Dogs dropped their seventh consecutive contest by losing 9-3 to the Harrisburg Senators in front of a crowd of 6,225 fans at Hadlock Field.

With the loss, Portland dropped it’s entire six-game homestand, as the Sea Dogs were swept by both the Senators and the Binghamton Mets.

The Sea Dogs once again struggled offensively, though any type of offense would be difficult, as taking the mound for Harrisburg was none other than Oliver Perez, who has nine years of Major League experience. Perez struck out five batters and allowed just one run during his start.

Portland finished the game going 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position. But the Sea Dogs did improve in an area that manager Kevin Boles wanted to see: Perez tossed just 4 2/3 innings, and he threw 102 pitches during that time frame. During Perez’ time on the mound, 14 batters took faced at least five pitches or more during their at-bat.

“We struggled with runners in scoring position,” Sea Dogs manager Kevin Boles said. “That was the difference. We elevated some pitches and their offense, you can’t elevate pitches like that. They have guys in their lineup that can do some damage.”

Portland was able to come out with some offense, namely, catcher Jeff Howell, who went 4 for 5 at the plate, cracking a home run and two doubles, knocking in an RBI.

Howell, who was playing independent baseball in the American Association before he was signed by the Boston Red Sox last week, has hit .467 in four games, with two home runs and three RBIs.

“He’s done very well,” Boles said. “He’s been swinging the bat well, it looks like he can hit the ball to all fields. He’s done a great job blocking, keeping pitches in front. It looks like he receives very well, and it looks like he’s got a veteran presence back there with our pitchers.”

Jeremy Kehrt started the game for the Sea Dogs on the mound. Kehrt went 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits, walking three batters and striking out two. All three runs allowed by Kehrt were on two home runs hit in the contest.

“He had the stuff to go the distance today,” Howell said. “We just didn’t hit well for him.”

Once again, Harrisburg struck first, thanks to a solo home run in the top of the second by Senators first baseman Tyler Moore, his Eastern League leading 28th home run of the season. The ball landed by the scoreboard in left field, and gave the Senators a 1-0 lead.

The Senators added to their lead in the fourth inning, when third baseman Tim Pahuta smashed a first-pitch fastball from Kehrt off the U.S. Cellular Pavilion sign over the right field seats, bringing the lead to 3-0 in favor of Harrisburg.

The Sea Dogs cut into the lead in the bottom of the inning, Howell hit a line shot over the Maine Monster in left field to bring the score to 3-1.

“I really don’t remember [what pitch it was],” Howell said. “I saw a lot of pitches, and it was a pitch up in the zone. Working with [hitting coach Dave Joppie] really helps a little bit, slowing me down, feeling relaxed at the plate. I saw the ball a little better today.”

Portland threatened in the fifth inning, as they loaded the bases and forced Perez from the game. However, relief pitcher Jimmy Barthmair forced Howell to ground out, and the Senators left the inning with their lead intact.

Harrisburg would add another insurance run in the seventh, as right fielder Chris Rahl hit a liner over the wall in right field off reliever Chris Martin for a solo home run to bring the score to 4-1. But the bullpen woes were about to continue.

The Senators scored five more runs, highlighted by a two-run triple for Adam Fox in the eighth. The Senators left the inning with a comfortable 9-1 lead. Martin left the contest pitching 1 2/3 innings, with six earned runs allowed.

The Sea Dogs added two more runs in the bottom of the inning, a sacrifice fly from Mitch Dening, and a solo home run from Ryan Dent. But Pat McCoy shut down any hope of a Sea Dogs comeback in the ninth, sealing the win.

The Sea Dogs will hit the road for an eight game road trip, beginning today with the start of a four game series against the Reading Phillies, who are currently in first place in the Eastern League Northern Division. Knuckleballer Charlie Haeger (2-0, 3.34 ERA) will get the start for Portland, while Tyson Brummett (3-7, 4.40 ERA) will start for Reading. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

NOTES: The Sea Dogs placed pitcher Chris Balcom-Miller and infielder Jon Hee on the seven day disabled list. Both were involved in a collision on a bunt on Monday night against the Senators and each suffered concussion-like symptoms. As a result, relief pitcher Will Lattimer and infielder Alex Valdez were called up from Single-A Salem. Lattimer is a lefty who has had success, going 1-0 with a 2.93 ERA in 36 appearances this season, and was selected as a Carolina League All-Star. Valdez knows Harrisburg well, playing for the Senators early this season while bouncing around both in the Nationals and Red Sox minor league systems. Valdez hit .236 with a home run and 15 RBIs in 39 games with Salem”¦

Perez was once a prized prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets organizations. He had his best Major League season in 2004, when he went 12-10 with a 2.98 ERA and 239 strikeouts in 196 innings pitched for the Pirates. He had more success in New York, when he went 15-10 with a 3.56 ERA and 174 strikeouts in 177 innings in 2007. But control problems eventually led to Perez’ release in 2010, but not before collecting on a $12 million contract by the Mets. He was singed to a minor league deal by the National this season ”¦

Sea Dogs infielder Ryan Khoury is now one double away from tying Chih-Hsien Chiang for the most in the franchise’s all-time list. The current record held by Chiang is 70. Khoury already holds all-time Sea Dogs records with 312 games played, 175 runs scored, 160 walks, 1,100 at-bats and 1,292 plate appearances”¦

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