enlarge Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

Portland catcher John Otness holds the ball for the umpire to see, but Matt Moses of the New Britain Rock Cats was called safe in the second inning.

TODAY'S GAME

WHO: Portland Sea Dogs (Dave Gassner 0-1) at New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Brett Cecil 1-1)

WHEN: 7:05 p.m.

WHERE: Merchantsauto.com Stadium

Boston Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein spent a pleasant 68-degree evening Thursday at Hadlock Field. He signed a few autographs, took in about six innings of the Portland Sea Dogs game and left impressed.

And that's not just talking about Epstein's optimistic view of Portland.

Epstein liked the kid.

Epstein watched 21-year-old Sea Dogs pitcher Michael Bowden and saw what everyone else has been raving about.

Bowden said he felt out of sync but still threw a five-hitter over 5 2/3 innings as Portland beat the New Britain Rock Cats 10-4 before 6,546 at Hadlock.

Mark Wagner's two home runs paced the offense.

Bowden (6-3) gave up two runs, one earned, and one walk, striking out five. He dropped his ERA to 2.20 (1.40 in his last 10 games).

Epstein, who also attended Wednesday night's 9-6 Sea Dogs' loss, left early Thursday but did drop off an e-mail on his thoughts about Bowden.

"Michael's having a great year and has a bright future," Epstein wrote. "He creates outstanding downhill angle with his fastball and pounds both sides of the plate.

"His change-up and curveball are much improved from last year. He works so hard and has made tremendous progress for a kid his age.

"He's on a mission to become a difference-making big-league starter and I wouldn't bet against him."

Good accolades from the boss.

The even-keeled Bowden admits he's on a roll.

"I feel like everything is kind of clicking," he said. "My routine, everything, it's kind of gelling together. I take it out there every outing and feel very consistent."

As for Thursday, "I felt my stuff was all right. But I didn't feel comfortable out there. I couldn't get into a good rhythm."

Bowden gave up a leadoff home run in the second inning to Erik Lis on an 0-2 count. Lis drilled a low and inside fastball into the right-field pavilion.

"Probably my best pitch of the night," Bowden said. "Tip my cap to him."

The second run came after a couple of errors, including a wild pickoff attempt by Bowden that sent Matt Moses from first to third. He scored on a bloop single.

Except for the first inning, Bowden didn't set the Rock Cats down in order. But he continued to squash any threats.

"He had to pitch a little bit tonight, go through a little adversity," Portland Manager Arnie Beyeler said. "He had to battle through. It shows what he's taking out to the mound and how he competes."

Bowden received plenty of support. Wagner began the rout with a three-run blast off Jeff Manship (0-1) in the first inning.

Manship, 23, the Minnesota Twins' 14th-round draft pick out of Notre Dame last year, made his Double-A debut after breezing through Class A, not allowing a home run.

Manship gave up the big hits -- Wagner's homer over the left-field wall; Bubba Bell's two-run triple to the right-center gap in the second; and Wagner's solo shot to left-center in the third.

Beyer said he told his team Epstein would be in the stands.

"It's part of the deal, them knowing he's coming to see them play and how they handle it," Beyeler said. "If they can't handle that pressure, they surely can't handle playing up in Boston."

Sometimes a visit by Epstein means a promotion may be on the horizon. Could the Sea Dogs lose Bowden?

"We went through this last year with (Clay Buchholz)," Beyeler said. "We'll enjoy him while he's here. I hope he gets out of here tomorrow but we'll keep him all year if they want to leave him here. He's still a young guy."

NOTES: First baseman Aaron Bates sprained his knee Wednesday night and will be examined today. T.J. Large, a new Portland reliever, pitched a 1-2-3 ninth. The Sea Dogs (39-31) leave today for three games in Manchester, then four in Norwich, Conn. They return to Portland next Friday.

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com