The Portland Sea Dogs received some unexpected power Wednesday evening from shortstop Jeremy Rivera, but it was not enough as they dropped a 9-4 decision to the Hartford Yard Goats at Hadlock Field.

Rivera knocked in all the runs for Portland with a three-run triple in the second inning and a home run in the fifth. It was just his third career home run. He also singled in the ninth, finishing 3 for 4.

Tate Matheny and Josh Tobias had two hits apiece for the Sea Dogs.

Portland held the lead twice, but Hartford rallied both times against Sea Dogs starter Kevin McAvoy.

Portland reliever Yankory Pimentel (0-1) entered in the seventh with the score tied 4-4. Hartford got a single, a stolen base and Garrett Hampson’s RBI single to take the lead. Hampson added a two-run single in the eighth.

Reliever Adam Lau, whose first three outings were scoreless, gave up two runs in the ninth on a single and back-to-back doubles.

After beginning this homestand with three consecutive wins, the Sea Dogs (4-7) have now lost two straight.

Hartford, the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, improved to 4-8.

Rivera, 23, is from Puerto Rico and attended the Carlos Beltran Academy. He played for El Paso Community College in Texas and was drafted in the 17th round in 2014. He has steadily moved up the Red Sox system because of his smooth fielding.

He batted .246 at advanced Class A Salem last year, recording his first two professional home runs.

Rivera is now batting .273 in Portland. He came up to bat in the second inning with two outs and the bases loaded. The center fielder was cheating toward left, and Rivera hit a line drive to right-center for a bases-clearing triple that gave Portland a 3-1 lead.

Hartford tied it with runs in the fourth and fifth, but Rivera took Hartford starter Jack Wynkoop deep in the bottom of the fifth with a blast over the left-field wall.

Sam Hilliard homered off McAvoy in the sixth to tie it again.

Hartford reliever Scott Griggs (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win.

NOTES: The Sea Dogs are scheduled to play their first noon home game of the season on Thursday, but rain is in the forecast. Then they head out on the road, not returning until April 27 against the Reading Fightin Phils. … Pitcher Dedgar Jimenez, who was thought to be only filling in at Triple-A Pawtucket, will make his second start for the PawSox on Friday. … The announced paid attendance was 2,968.

Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-7411 or:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases

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