PORTLAND – New Britain manager Stan Cliburn is no stranger to pitchers who are converted position players.

“A kid by the name of Wakefield was my first baseman one year,” Cliburn said in reference to Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield.

Cliburn watched as a pair of former infielders kept the Portland Sea Dogs at bay and the Rock Cats held on for a 3-2 victory at Hadlock Field Friday night.

Jesse Crain threw two scoreless innings of relief after New Britain had broken a 1-1 tie with two runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Kevin Hodge, who was the Rock Cats’ Opening Day third baseman last season, survived a shaky ninth inning to earn his fourth save as his team ended a six-game losing streak on the road.

“We needed this win bad,” said Cliburn. “We’ve been playing a lot of close games, but we’ve been getting the short end of the stick.”

Reliever Brian Adams (0-1) took the loss after giving up two hits and walking two in his one inning of work.

Adams, who was activated earlier in the day off of the disabled list, walked Ryan Owens to start the seventh. The free pass was the first issued by a Sea Dogs’ pitcher in 29 2/3 innings.

After Owens was forced out at second on a sacrifice attempt, Matt Scanlon singled and Kevin West doubled off the left-field wall to break the tie.

“(Portland starter Jorge) De La Rosa did a great job keeping the ball down,” said West. “Adams left a ball up and I jumped on it.”

Scanlon then scored on Kelley Gulledge’s fly out.

“He (hurt) himself with walks,” Portland manager Ron Johnson said of Adams. “Leadoff walks and two-out walks are going to lead to problems.”

Crain, who started all 65 games at shortstop while also serving as the closer at the University of Houston during his final season there, struck out three of the first four batters he faced while being clocked consistently in the mid 90s.

“He was very impressive,” said Johnson. “When he came into the game, he turned it up a notch.”

The Sea Dogs put the potential winning run at the plate with one out in the ninth inning against Hodge as Kelly Shoppach singled and Tony Schrager reached on an infield hit.

Slugger Andy Dominique then sent a high fly ball to left field that was caught up against the wall as Shoppach scampered home.

“When he first hit it, I knew it was high, but I thought it might be out of here,” said Johnson. “He just missed it. We’re talking an eyelash at that ball’s out on (Route) 295.”

Hodge struck out Tonayne Brown looking to end the game.

Portland struck first against New Britain’s Brett Schoening (4-0), scoring in the bottom of the fifth on Raul Nieves’ two-out RBI single.

The Rock Cats took advantage of one of the few mistakes De La Rosa made when Josh Rabe drilled a pitch into the net in left field to tie the game in the top of the sixth.

De La Rosa left after the sixth having given up six hits while striking out four.

It was the fourth straight strong outing for De La Rosa, who has given up just three runs in his last 22 innings of work.

“He’s really starting to develop some consistency,” said Johnson. “He’s getting a feel for what he’s doing.”

Felix Villegas threw two innings of one-hit ball to keep the Sea Dogs within striking distance.

“You can’t always wait until the last inning to put things together,” said Johnson. “You put too much pressure on yourself and your pitching staff when you do that.”

Sea Dogs notes: Left-hander Greg Montalbano has been placed on the disabled list with shoulder tendonitis. Montalbano will be shut down for 7-10 days before beginning a throwing program. To get down to the 23-man roster limit, pitcher Kyo Kumagai was put on the roster of short-season Class A Lowell. Kumagai will stay with the Sea Dogs, who have doubleheaders on Monday and Tuesday….Outfielder Justin Sherrod missed his fourth straight game after injuring his wrist diving for a ball last Sunday in New Haven….Tim Kester (2-1, 3.55 ERA) will oppose New Britain’s Pete Fisher (2-1, 5.46) today at 1 p.m.