enlarge Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

Reid Engel of the Portland Sea Dogs is called out Saturday, tagged by Connecticut third baseman Sharlon Schoop while trying to advance from second on a grounder in the second.

enlarge Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

Junichi Tazawa, the losing pitcher, leaves in the sixth inning after allowing six runs and six hits in a 7-4 loss to Connecticut at Hadlock.

TODAY'S GAME

WHO: Connecticut Defenders (Jesse English 1-2) vs. Portland Sea Dogs (Blake Maxwell 0-0)

WHEN: 1 p.m.

WHERE: Hadlock Field

TICKETS: 500 available

PORTLAND — They were greeted with sunshine and a temperature of 63 beautiful degrees. They watched the Sea Dogs' ace take the mound and then enjoyed a four-run first inning from the home team.

What more could the fans at Hadlock Field want?

Answer: A victory.

Junichi Tazawa could not hold the lead, and the Sea Dogs' offense took the rest of the game off as the Connecticut Defenders capped a perfect spring day at Hadlock with a 7-4 win.

Saturday marked the first sellout of the season (7,368), and the crowd was soon cheering.

But Tazawa (1-2) experienced the roughest outing of his short pro career (four starts). He allowed six runs on two walks and six hits (two homers). He struck out four over 5 2/3 innings.

"Not good. My pitches were high today," said Tazawa through a translator.

Tazawa said he's adjusting to a full windup. "My windup makes my fastball much better but, regarding my curveball and slider, my release point is not stable."

Tazawa, 22, a free agent signed out of Japan, saw his ERA bump up nearly two runs to 4.22. Manager Arnie Beyeler said Tazawa needed to establish his fastball.

"He fell in love with his breaking ball a little bit," Beyeler said. "Not one time did he back up a fastball with a fastball. He needs to work off his fastball, not his breaking ball."

Portland began the day with promise. Leadoff batter Josh Reddick took an outside fastball the other way for a double to left-center. With one out, Lars Anderson and Aaron Bates walked to load the bases.

Bubba Bell scored Reddick with a sacrifice fly to right.

Ryan Khoury then kept the rally alive, working a 10-pitch walk after falling behind 0-2.

Jorge Jimenez then singled to center to score two runs. Catcher Tyler LaTorre tried to throw out Jimenez at second and sailed the ball into center, scoring Khoury for a 4-0 lead.

"We won the first inning," Beyeler said. "The problem is we've got to play nine."

Connecticut starter Brooks McNiven threw 26 pitches in the first inning. He lasted only three, but three relievers gave up a total of two hits.

Tazawa, who needed only nine pitches in a 1-2-3 first, gave back two runs in the second on a walk and two singles.

Andrew D'Alessio took Tazawa deep in the fourth. In the fifth, Tazawa allowed two runners on a single and walk. Bobby Felmy then clocked a curveball over the wall in right-center.

NOTES: Jimenez went 2 for 4 and upped his average to .365. ... Khoury saw 31 pitches in four at-bats, going 0 for 2 with two walks. ... Richie Lentz (sore shoulder) threw a bullpen session and should come off the disabled list Tuesday.

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

kthomas@pressherald.com