TODAY'S GAMES
WHO: Portland Sea Dogs (Daisuke Matsuzaka 0-0 and Felix Doubront 8-5) at New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Luis Perez 8-11 and Nate Sterner 1-1)
WHEN: 4 p.m.
MANCHESTER, N.H. — The Portland Sea Dogs keep getting chances to join the race for the playoffs, but they continue to stay back.
The Sea Dogs nearly erased a five-run deficit Saturday night but came up a run short against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, losing 7-6 at Merchantsauto.com Stadium.
The Sea Dogs (62-69) remained four games behind New Britain for the final playoff berth in the Eastern League's Northern Division, pending the second game of a doubleheader between New Britain and Trenton.
Portland dropped seven games below .500 for the first time this year. With 10 games remaining, the Sea Dogs need wins and have a chance for two today in a doubleheader against New Hampshire.
Daisuke Matsuzaka makes a rehab start in the first game, and Felix Doubront pitches the second game.
Despite knocking out Fisher Cats starter Adrian Martin – literally – in the second inning, the Sea Dogs could not take advantage.
Kris Johnson (0-2), making his second start for the Sea Dogs since being sent down from Triple-A Pawtucket, allowed seven runs (six earned) on nine hits and a walk in 4 1/3 innings.
"He got behind and put himself in fastball counts," Portland Manager Arnie Beyeler said. "Too big of a mountain to overcome."
Johnson trailed 2-0 after three batters in the first – a walk, a triple and a sacrifice fly.
Portland tied it in the second inning on solo home runs by Luis Exposito and Jason Place. Iggy Suarez followed with a line drive off the right ankle of Martin, who left the game.
Four relievers contained Portland.
The Fisher Cats scored four runs in the third inning, capped by Nick Gorneault's two-run homer, and added another run in the fifth for a 7-2 lead.
Portland relievers Chad Rhoades (2 2/3 innings) and Bryce Cox (one inning) shut down the Fisher Cats after that, and the Sea Dogs closed to within 7-4 with two runs in the seventh, highlighted by Ryan Kalish's RBI double.
Jorge Jimenez's two-run homer with two outs in the ninth made it 7-6.
NOTES: The paid attendance was 8,601, with several no shows because of the wet conditions. ... A large crowd is expected today for Matsuzaka's appearance. ... Place went 3 for 4 and is batting .353 (18 for 51) in his last 15 games. ... Suarez (2 for 4) was robbed in the seventh by Todd Donovan's sliding catch in the left-field corner.
Staff writer Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or:
kthomas@pressherald.com
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