enlarge Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

Jason Place drives a pitch through the infield in his first at-bat for the Sea Dogs, only to be put out at first base Friday night at Hadlock Field. He went 1 for 4 with an RBI in his Portland debut.

enlarge Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

Second baseman Ryan Khoury takes the throw from home to complete the pickoff of New Hampshire’s Bryan Kervin during Kervin’s steal attempt. The Sea Dogs and Fisher Cats play again today at 6 p.m.

enlarge Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

Jarod Plummer and two relievers combined to hold New Hampshire to five hits Friday night at Hadlock.

TODAY'S GAME

WHO: New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Adrian Martin (0-1) vs. Sea Dogs (Blake Maxwell 1-5)

WHEN: 6 p.m.

WHERE: Hadlock Field

TICKETS: About 800

PORTLAND — Jarod Plummer continues his conversion to the starting rotation and keeps making believers.

Plummer and two relievers combined for a five-hit shutout as the Portland Sea Dogs topped New Hampshire 4-0 Friday night, before a sold-out Hadlock Field throng of 7,368.

Jorge Jimenez singled in a run in the third inning, and Portland added three in the eighth, capped by Josh Reddick's two-run single.

Plummer (6-4, 3.76 ERA) recorded his best start for the Sea Dogs, pitching six shutout innings, holding the Fisher Cats to four hits and one walk. A reliever the past four years, Plummer has a 3.76 ERA over 79 innings.

"The conversion has worked out great," Plummer said. "I'm throwing more strikes earlier in the count. The change-up and the split-finger are working."

Tommy Hottovy and Bryce Cox followed with a combined three innings of one-hit relief.

Cox got his sixth save but added some drama in the ninth by loading the bases on two walks and a hit batsman. He got a groundout to end the game.

In the third inning, Reddick walked and took second on a wild pitch from Marty McLeary (1-2). Jorge Jimenez grounded a single into right field. Reddick slid safely home.

Plummer allowed two runners (walk and single) with no outs in the second. But after two fly outs and a groundout to third, Plummer and teammates were headed back to the dugout.

"I got the right pitch in situations with runners on," Plummer said.

The 6-foot-4 Plummer is a tall Texan, born in Dallas and living in Garland. The Dodgers drafted him in the 26th round in 2002, out of South Garland High. He was traded to the Royals in 2006 and signed this year with Boston as a minor league free agent.

At age 25, Plummer is in his ninth pro season and third in Double-A.

Plummer used to give up home runs (a combined 25 over the past two years). He's allowed only five homers this year.

"I developed a cutter and a two-seamer that have gotten more ground balls," Plummer said.

"My change-up has gotten guys out in front, and that has helped me tremendously."

Plummer needed only 82 pitches for six innings.

"He's learning how to be efficient, and getting durable as he gets stretched out," Portland Manager Arnie Beyeler said.

Portland got insurance in the eighth. Singles by Lars Anderson (3 for 4) and new outfielder Jason Place, a throwing error, and Reddick's two RBI gave the Sea Dogs a 4-0 lead.

Both team turned dazzling double plays, led by their second basemen.

In the fifth, New Hampshire's Brad Emaus made a diving stop and toss to second. In the eighth, Portland's Ryan Khoury took a wide throw, came across second and side-armed to first.

NOTES: Place, a first-round draft pick in 2006, was promoted Friday from Class A Salem, where he was batting .252.

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

kthomas@pressherald.com