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Kason Gabbard's struggles continue as Portland suffers a franchise-worst 17-run defeat.

By KEVIN THOMAS, Staff Writer August 20, 2009

PORTLAND — They scored early and in bunches.

The Reading Phillies pounded the Portland Sea Dogs 18-1 Wednesday night before a crowd of 7,318 at Hadlock Field. It was the worst margin of defeat in franchise history.

The game provided a crossroads for a veteran pitcher trying to recapture his groove and a young guy with a promising future.

The young guy, 23-year-old Yohan Flande, held Portland to three hits in six innings.

The veteran, Portland starter Kason Gabbard, 27, continued to struggle in his comeback bid, allowing nine runs on eight hits and seven walks over three-plus innings. Gabbard dropped to 0-4 in his five starts for the Sea Dogs with an ERA of 20.77.

"He's trying to find his way again," Portland pitching coach Mike Cather said. "His stuff is there and you'll see flashes of brilliance, and then he loses it.

"Every pitcher has gone through it at some time. It's not a pleasant time."

Gabbard made his major league debut with the Red Sox in 2006 after pitching for the Sea Dogs. He was traded to Texas the next year but began this year in the minors before being traded back to the Red Sox.

Gabbard rejoined the Sea Dogs in June, struggled in three starts and was sent down to Class A Lowell where he appeared to find his command.

But in two starts since, Gabbard has walked 14 batters in 5 2/3 innings.

"It's a work in progress," Sea Dogs Manager Arnie Beyeler said.

While Gabbard tries to rebound, the Sea Dogs are fighting with Trenton and New Britain for second place and a playoff spot in the Eastern League Northern Division.

Reading, in second place in the Southern Division, got a strong effort from Flande (3-3), who pitched in the Futures Game last month at St. Louis.

Flande started with three perfect innings before Daniel Nava broke it up with a single in the fourth inning.

Luis Exposito ended the shutout in the fifth with his first Double-A home run, just over the Maine Monster in left field.

But the Phillies still had a 12-1 lead.

The Portland bullpen allowed nine runs on 12 hits and two walks.

NOTES: Daisuke Matsuzaka might pitch for the Sea Dogs on Aug. 29 in New Hampshire, according to a Boston Globe online report. The report said Matsuzaka's "rough timetable" in his rehab includes an appearance in the Gulf Coast League on Monday and then a 50-pitch outing for Portland against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Earlier this season, John Smoltz made a rehab start with Portland in Manchester.

Another report on soxprospects.com said that Pawtucket left-hander Kris Johnson was rejoining the Sea Dogs. Beyeler said he could not confirm either report.

Today's 7 p.m. game will feature two top prospects, with Portland's Felix Doubront going against Reading's Kyle Drabek, a first-round pick in 2006 and the son of former major leaguer Doug Drabek.

The previous worst loss by the Sea Dogs was 16-0 in 2004 against Norwich.

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

kthomas@pressherald.com