PORTLAND – Chad Fox’s body was at Hadlock Field Saturday night.

But the Red Sox reliever’s mind is on Fenway Park.

Fox made that clear after throwing 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in a major league rehabilitation assignment during the Portland Sea Dogs’ 10-6 loss to the Altoona Curve.

“Health-wise, I’ve been ready,” Fox said, as he sat in the Sea Dogs’ clubhouse watching the Red Sox play the Florida Marlins. “I want the next step, the challenge. So, we’ll see what happens.”

Fox, who is working his way back after suffering a strained oblique muscle in late April, allowed a hit, walked two and struck out two while throwing 20 of his 37 pitches for strikes.

Sitting behind the plate watching Fox were Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein and a contingent that included special assistant to the GM Bill Lajoie.

“He threw well,” said Epstein. “It looks like he’s getting real close. His arm was loose and his velocity was right there at 93 to 96 (miles per hour).

“His slider was a little inconsistent, but at times the devastating slider we saw in Boston earlier this year. Fastball command’s going to be the key for him. It was just in and out tonight.”

Epstein declined to elaborate when asked exactly how close Fox was to rejoining the Red Sox.

In the game, Shawn Garrett and Joe Castillo drove in three runs apiece and Shaun Skrehot had three hits and scored three times for the Curve, who overcame an early four-run deficit.

Handed a one-run lead, reliever James Johnson (2-2) retired just one of the six men he faced in the top of the sixth as Altoona scored four times.

Garrett capped the uprising with what appeared to be a two-run triple. He was called out for missing second base and was credited with a single.

Fox came on and walked the first batter he faced before getting a fly out to end the inning.

“The first hitter, I tried to throw a million miles an hour,” said Fox. “But that comes with having pretty much the whole front office here watching you.”

The Sea Dogs roughed up Altoona right-hander John VanBenschoten, tagging the eighth overall pick in the 2001 draft for seven hits and six runs in 5 1/3 innings.

In the bottom of the first, Carlos Leon singled, Justin Headley doubled and Kevin Youkilis walked to load the bases.

After an infield pop out, Justin Sherrod’s sacrifice fly brought in Leon.

Sean McGowan then doubled to the gap in right-center field to make it 3-0.

The Curve got single runs in the second and third innings against Jorge De La Rosa on a Josh Bonifay home run and a sacrifice fly before the Sea Dogs struck for three more runs in the bottom of the third.

With one out, Youkilis beat out an infield hit and scored all the way from first on Kelly Shoppach’s wall double.

Sherrod followed with his eighth home run of the season to make it 6-2.

Altoona scored three unearned runs in the top of the fifth.

The uprising started when McGowan lost Youkilis’ throw from third base in the sun on a routine ground ball for an error.

De La Rosa left after his customary five innings having allowed five hits and five runs, with only one of the runs earned.

VanBenschoten (2-0), the Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect according to Baseball America, hasn’t loss in 23 starts dating back to last July 7.

“He missed his last start with a little soreness (in his shoulder) and I think he was rusty,” Altoona catcher Chris Heintz said of VanBenschoten.

bfoley@sunjournal.com

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