The Portland Sea Dogs began their final homestand of the 2016 season with a whimper.
Portland featured solid pitching and some fine defense, with third baseman Yoan Moncada looking settled in.
But the Sea Dogs managed only four hits in a 4-0 loss to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats before 4,979 at Hadlock Field.
Portland starter Teddy Stankiewicz (4-9) allowed three runs over six innings, giving up only four hits. But two of those hits were Derrick Loveless’ two-run triple in the second inning and Dwight Smith’s solo home run in the fifth.
Former Sea Dogs and Red Sox catcher Ryan Lavarnway hit a solo home run in the ninth, off his old teammate, Brandon Workman.
New Hampshire starter Conner Greene (5-5) recorded the win, giving up three hits in seven innings. Greene, the Toronto Blue Jays’ top pitching prospect, walked two and struck out one.
Moncada reached base three times, with a ground-ball single to center field and two walks.
Moncada made his Hadlock debut at third base – a position he switched to last week. He showcased his quickness by easily getting under a shallow fly ball down the left-field line. He also handled a routine grounder with no problem and later backhanded a grounder down the line and threw the runner out at first.
But Moncada’s most impressive play may have been an infield single by Roemon Fields, one of the league’s fastest players with 39 steals. Fields hit a dribbler – also known as a “swinging bunt” – down the third-base line. Moncada charged and fired a quick-wristed throw to almost get Fields.
“I’m impressed with how quick he got rid of it … Fields is the only guy he could not (have thrown out),” said Sea Dogs Manager Carlos Febles, who has been working with Moncada at his new position.
“He made a nice backhand play and good throw across. He’s getting comfortable there.”
Catcher Jake Romanski continued his impressive season behind the plate with a league-leading 50-percent success rate in throwing out base-stealers (50 of 100). He threw out 1 of 2 on Monday and also picked Christian Lopes off first base following a leadoff walk.
“The guy can catch and throw, no doubt about it,” Febles said.
Stankiewicz recorded his 13th quality start (at least six innings, no more than three earned runs) in 23 starts, lowering his ERA to 4.98.
Workman made his second rehab appearance with the Sea Dogs, working the last three innings (two hits, one run and two strikeouts). His fastball ranged from 88 to 90 mph.
Portland (49-76) saw the end of its three-game winning streak, and New Hampshire (62-66) still has hopes for a winning season.
NOTES: Aneury Tavarez went 0 for 4 to drop his average to .331, which still leads the Eastern League … Right-handed reliever Austin Maddox was sent to Pawtucket and relieved Monday night, pitching a scoreless 12/3 innings, walking one and striking out one … Maddox relieved starter Brian Johnson, who allowed one run in 5½ innings.
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