AKRON, Ohio – Portland Sea Dogs Manager Kevin Boles signaled for Chih-Hsien Chiang to be in motion from first base in the sixth inning Friday night.

The decision paid off when Jorge Padron smacked a double to left-center and Chiang scored the final run in a 4-3 victory against the Akron Aeros before a crowd of 6,319 at Canal Park.

“We were just trying to steal a base, and Jorge got a pitch he could drive and obviously he took a really good swing,” Boles said. “He showed some pretty good balance at the plate. Having that runner going, the timing just worked out great and we were able to score from first.”

The Sea Dogs, who had lost six of their previous seven, received solid relief pitching from Seth Garrison and Blake Maxwell.

“They were outstanding,” Boles said. “They just kept the ball down and they were able to get through the middle of their lineup. They have a very tough lineup over there. Seth and Blake had command in the (strike) zone and they maintained their stuff out of the stretch. They just attacked, got our defense involved and were very efficient.”

Sea Dogs starter Chris Balcom-Miller worked 32/3 innings, allowing two earned runs and five hits. He walked five and struck out four.

Garrison (1-2) was effective for 31/3 innings, allowing one earned run and two hits.

Maxwell pitched two scoreless innings to secure his sixth save.

“This is huge, especially after losing the last two at Erie,” Garrison said. “It’s good to come in and turn our spirits around and get a win.”

The Sea Dogs took a 2-0 lead in the first with three consecutive hits. Jon Hee doubled, and Tony Thomas and Chiang each singled. Hee scored on Chiang’s single, and Thomas scored after Chiang got in a rundown between first and second base.

The Aeros made it 2-2 with runs in the first and second. Jason Donald walked and scored in the first following singles by Beau Mills and Matt McBride and a wild pitch. Tim Fedroff doubled home Kyle Bellows, who had walked, in the second.

Reynaldo Rodriguez of Portland doubled in the fourth, advanced to third on Oscar Tejada’s single and scored on a wild pitch for a 3-2 lead.

Akron countered with a run in the fifth when Jordan Henry singled home Mills.

Garrison said he was prepared after Balcom-Miller struggled.

“I had the most rest and was pretty much the guy that could go the longest,” Garrison said. “I was ready.

“My change-up was big for me. I was able to get some quick outs early in the count.”

NOTES: The Sea Dogs are seeking volunteers for their third annual Father’s Day 5K. For more information, visit www.seadogs.com or call 874-9300.