PORTLAND

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (34-50) plated two unearned runs in the eighth inning and shut out the Portland Sea Dogs (37-43) for the second straight night at Hadlock Field, taking Wednesday night’s game by a final score of 2-0 in Eastern League action.

With the game scoreless entering the eighth inning, New Hampshire’s Derrick Loveless led off the frame with an infield single. Jonathan Davis then laid down a sacrifice bunt in front of home plate and Sea Dogs’ starter Kevin McAvoy threw wide of first base, allowing Loveless to score and Davis to advance to third. Richard Urena followed with a sac. fly to put the Fisher Cats ahead 2-0.

Portland brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth after a single by Michael Chavis. Henry Urrutia then sent a deep fly ball to left center with two outs, but Davis made a diving catch in the gap to end the game.

Jon Harris (4-8) earned his second straight win against the Sea Dogs, keeping Portland scoreless over a season-high tying seven innings. Harris allowed just three hits and struck out four. He has now worked back-to-back seven inning starts at Hadlock Field. Jose Fernandez pitched a perfect eighth for New Hampshire, then Andrew Case (S, 4) completed the shutout by working a scoreless ninth.

McAvoy (3-6) was nearly as good, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits over a season-high 7 1/3 innings. McAvoy didn’t walk a batter and fanned six.

The shutout was the fourth of the year by New Hampshire and the ninth time this year the Sea Dogs have been shutout.

Brock Holt made a rehab appearance for Portland and finished the game 1-for-3 while playing seven innings at third base.

The series concludes tonight, first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Hadlock Field. Teddy Stankiewicz (3-3, 4.09) is scheduled to start for Portland against Conner Greene (4-6, 4.41) of New Hampshire. Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at SeaDogs.com or by phone at 879-9500.