PORTLAND – The Portland Sea Dogs had lost seven of their previous nine games and were close to flashing a losing record for the first time since May.
But they pounded out 11 hits Wednesday night in a 7-4 win over the Harrisburg Senators before 5,555 at Hadlock Field, improving to 39-38.
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Luis Exposito had three RBI with a single, double and bases-loaded walk, and is second in the Eastern League with 56 RBI.
Ray Chang also doubled in a run, singled and scored twice.
Portland took the lead for good with a four-run fourth inning, giving John Lannan (1-1) a loss.
Lannan, 25, the Washington Nationals’ opening-day pitcher, is with Harrisburg (38-41) to work with pitching coach Randy Tomlin. In his last three major league starts, Lannan was 0-3 with a 10.38 ERA.
Lannan beat Reading last week, allowing three hits in seven innings. Portland tagged him for 10 hits and six runs.
“He threw strikes and our guys grinded some good at-bats against him,” Sea Dogs Manager Arnie Beyeler said. “They got some good pitches and hit some balls.”
Sea Dogs starter Kyle Weiland (4-5) won for the fourth time in his past five decisions, striking out six over five-plus innings.
After striking out the side in the first, Weiland allowed a hit batter and infield single in the second. With two outs, Edgardo Baez doubled in both.
Brad Coon led off the third with a homer to right on a change-up for a 3-0 Senators lead.
“I was pretty much one-dimensional,” Weiland said. “I battled with my fastball. I didn’t have much of an off-speed offering.
“But the defense picked me up. The batters picked me up. The bullpen finished it off. Pretty much a group effort.”
Weiland hit another batter in the third but erased him by catching a line drive and throwing to first for a double play.
Portland got two runs back in the third on a Matt Sheely single and stolen base, Chang’s double to left and Exposito’s single.
In the fifth, Nate Spears was hit by a pitch. Chang singled. Exposito doubled to left, making it 3-3. Anthony Rizzo doubled to center for one run (Exposito was thrown out at home). Navarro doubled in Rizzo, and Ryan Khoury singled in Navarro for a 6-3 lead.
Weiland left after walking Chris Marrero to begin the sixth. Santo Luis relieved, and Marrero scored on a Michael Martinez double.
Exposito added a bases-loaded walk in the eighth.
Luis retired seven of the last eight batters he faced. Jason Rice allowed two singles in the ninth but still notched his ninth save.
NOTES: Shortstop Jose Iglesias had his bruised right hand re-examined in Boston and appears to be about 10 games away from playing again.
The Sea Dogs left for Binghamton, N.Y., for a five-game series with the Mets (doubleheader on Friday). They return at 6 p.m. Monday with a game and the annual holiday fireworks. About 300 tickets remain.
In Pawtucket, catcher Juan Apodaca, on loan from Portland, hit a two-run homer. PawSox outfielder Bubba Bell, who played parts of three seasons in Portland, was chosen for the Triple-A All-Star game July 14.
Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or at:
kthomas@pressherald.com
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