PORTLAND — The Portland Sea Dogs (75-48) held a three-run lead in the eighth, but the Akron RubberDucks (67-56) tacked on four runs against the bullpen and took home a 5-4 win Tuesday night at Hadlock Field. The loss, coupled with a New Britain win, keeps the Sea Dogs’ magic number for clinching a playoff berth at six.

Although Akron survived Brian Johnson’s start, they trailed 4-1 after seven frames. The RubberDucks were not out, however, and got the wheels moving with a pair in the eighth against Portland’s Robby Scott, cutting the deficit to 4-3.

Jaime Pedroza began the inning with a double off of Scott and fired up the rally. Anthony Gallas followed with a single and Brian LaHair brought home a run with a sacrifice fly to center.

Scott walked Jordan Smith and had two on with one out against him. Alex Lavisky lined a ball just fair down the left field line for a run-scoring single, making it 4-3. On the play, Portland shortstop Heiker Meneses fielded the carom off the brick and fired to third and cut down the tying run.

Portland went quietly in the home half of the eighth, but again Akron responded with another pair in the top of the ninth and took its first lead of the game against closer Noe Ramirez. Justin Toole hit a liner to right, which eluded Ryan Dent and rolled to the wall, putting the third baseman at third with one out.

Ollie Linton was next and tied it with a hard-hit single to right. Two batters later, Gallas stroked a single to center plating Linton, and Akron held a 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.

Portland had a chance and loaded the bases in the ninth, but could do no damage against the combined efforts of Shawn Armstrong and Elvis Araujo in the end.

Ramirez (2-1) blew his third save in a row and took home his first loss of the year. The righty pitched one inning and gave up two runs on four hits; he did not walk a batter and struck out one. Akron’s Armstrong (6-2) earned the win with four outs, and Araujo picked up his third save, locking down the final two outs.

The game entered the third inning scoreless before the Sea Dogs tacked on a trio of runs in the home half. Akron’s Joe Colon walked Shannon Wilkerson and hit Mike Miller, which set the table for Michael Almanzar.

The big third baseman waited on a 1-0 pitch and launched it over the Maine Monster for a three-run homer, his fifth blast of the season, putting the Dogs up 3-0 after three.

Johnson climbed the hill in his 18th start for Portland and worked around a lead-off double in the first. After the base hit, the southpaw retired the next seven in order before a one-out single by Toole broke up the streak in the third.

Johnson struck out the side in the fourth and did not allow a hit in the fifth, before taking the mound in the sixth inning.

Gallas took the first pitch of the frame, crushed it over the Maine Monster for his 12th homer of the season and pulled Akron to within two, at 3-1. Johnson rebounded nicely and retired the next three in order to end his outing.

The Sea Dogs tacked on a run in the home half of the inning when Wilkerson scored on Keury De La Cruz’s double to right-center, upping the lead back to three at 4-1.

Johnson went the first six, allowing one run on four hits, two walks, and five strikeouts. He tossed 100 pitches; 66 were in the zone for strikes. Colon lasted just three innings for Akron. He gave up three runs on five hits, two walks and two strikeouts.

The Sea Dogs and RubberDucks get back to action with the second game of the three-game series tonight at 7 p.m. at Hadlock Field. Luis Diaz gets the nod for Portland, and he will be up against Will Roberts of the RubberDucks.