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Kris Johnson

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Slugger the Sea Dog keeps an eye on the weather Friday while the Hadlock Field grounds crew removes the tarp from the field. The tarp soon went back on the field, and the game against Harrisburg was postponed because of rain.

TODAY'S DOUBLEHEADER

WHO: Sea Dogs (Jarod Plummer 8-7 and Ryne Lawson 3-10) vs. Harrisburg Senators (Matt Chico 2-3 and Brad Meyers 2-0)

WHEN: 4 p.m.

WHERE: Hadlock Field

TICKETS: 500 remain

PORTLAND — Dark clouds hovered above Hadlock Field on Friday night, and less than a half hour after the scheduled starting time, the Portland Sea Dogs' game against Harrisburg was postponed until today because of storms in the Portland area.

Inside the Sea Dogs' clubhouse, Kris Johnson sat at a table, intently playing a hand of cards.

At first glance it appeared Johnson was at ease in the clubhouse at Hadlock Field, like he had been there for the last 4 1/2 months.

Johnson, though, is still a very recent arrival as he begins his second tour with the Sea Dogs.

After a solid season as one of the Sea Dogs' starting pitchers in 2008, Johnson struggled this season in Pawtucket, the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.

He returned to Portland on Thursday and will start Monday's game against Harrisburg, the finale of a four-game series against the Senators. Johnson will take Kason Gabbard's spot in the rotation after Gabbard was placed on the disabled list on Thursday.

Johnson said he feels comfortable with his mechanics. What he believes he needs to work on is his confidence level, which is bruised after he pitched at the Triple-A level.

"I want to get my confidence back, mainly," Johnson said. "Going to Pawtucket and struggling for five months wasn't helpful, so (the Red Sox) wanted me to come back to Portland. Just to get back to having more confidence in my pitches.

"Getting my butt kicked for five months was no fun."

Johnson was 8-9 with a 3.63 ERA in 27 starts with the Sea Dogs last season and set a career high with 108 strikeouts. He also led the Eastern League with the lowest home run rate per nine innings, giving up just five home runs in 136 1/3 innings.

But Johnson was 3-13 with a 6.35 ERA for Pawtucket, with his last victory coming on June 21.

"I was trying too hard," Johnson said. "Trying to make a perfect pitch, and not letting your defense work behind you. Things need to happen behind you, and you're not letting it go and taking it to heart. It's things like that."

Portland Manager Arnie Beyeler expects Johnson, a 6-foot-4 left-hander from Blue Springs, Mo., to become a fixture in the rotation.

"He's got at least four more starts and possibly an opportunity to extend that if he gets into the playoffs," Beyeler said. "He's been through this league and already beat this league, so he has an opportunity to come back, try to get his confidence back and get back on track."

The Sea Dogs began the night 2 1/2 games behind New Britain for a playoff spot in the Eastern League's Northern Division, with 20 games remaining in the regular season.

Johnson likes the idea of being able to contribute to another potential playoff run, after helping the Sea Dogs reach the playoffs in 2008.

"It'd be great to make the playoffs and hopefully get my innings up," Johnson said. "If I can help them, I'll try to do that in any way that I can, whether it's going long in games or coming in at a tight spot in a game."

NOTES: The Red Sox promoted left-hander Dustin Richardson to Pawtucket. Richardson was 2-2 with four saves and a 2.70 ERA in 38 relief appearances with Portland. ... Jarod Plummer was called up from Class A Lowell and will start the second game of today's doubleheader. Fans with tickets to Friday's game can exchange them for a ticket of equal or lesser value for any remaining game this year, including playoffs, or a 2010 game prior to July 1.

Staff Writer Rachel Lenzi can be contacted at 791-6415 or at:

rlenzi@pressherald.com