ALTOONA, Pa. — The Portland Sea Dogs (58-63) scored early and Keith Couch (9-3) tossed seven strong innings in a 5-2 Eastern League win over the Altoona Curve (55-65) on Tuesday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

Deven Marrero went 2-for-4 with a walk in his Double-A debut with the Sea Dogs.

Couch returned to Portland after one start in Triple-A Pawtucket, working seven strong innings on eight hits, one run, one walk and four strikeouts. The righty is 3-0 in his last four starts with the ’Dogs.

The Sea Dogs scored in their first three turns, taking a 5-0 lead into the bottom of the third inning. Shannon Wilkerson led off the game with a double, advanced to third base on Marrero’s single in his first Double-A at-bat. Garin Cecchini knocked in the first run with a sacrifice fly.

In the second, Ryan Dent (3- for-4, two RBIs) began a solid night with the first of two, twoout RBI singles. The third inning featured a sacrifice fly by Christian Vazquez, an RBI single by Travis Shaw (4-for-4, RBI) and Dent’s single to cap off the scoring.

Dent and Shaw tied seasonhigh in hits, going a combined 7-for-8. Shaw has reached base safely in six straight plate appearances.

Casey Sadler took the loss for Altoona, giving up all five runs on eight hits over four innings. The Curve bullpen tossed five scoreless frames.

Altoona plated a run in the sixth inning off Couch. Gregory Polanco led off with a triple and scored on a ground out by Kevin Howard. In the ninth, former Sea Dog Oscar Tejeda nailed a pinch-hit RBI single from the game’s final run.

The Sea Dogs and Curve continue their three-game series tonight at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Chris Hernandez (0-0, 1.42) takes on Altoona’s Nick Kingham (4-2, 3.86).

Portland returns home on Monday to start a three-game series against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Tickets are available by calling 879-9500 or at seadogs.com.