TRENTON, N.J. — The season-opening road trip for the Portland Sea Dogs is quickly turning into a nightmare.

The Sea Dogs fell behind 4-0 in the first inning Monday night against the Trenton Thunder and couldn’t recover, losing 8-3 at Waterfront Park as they fell to 0-5 for the first time since the franchise’s inception.

Former major leaguer Billy Buckner got off to a rough start in his Sea Dogs debut, allowing seven of the first eight batters to reach base. He eventually settled down and made it through five innings, but his teammates didn’t muster much of a response, other than a booming home run and an RBI single by catcher Dan Butler.

The Sea Dogs have been outscored 32-14.

Yet you won’t hear any despair coming from Manager Kevin Boles or his players. Boles promised that his team will turn things around soon.

“It’s going to happen,” said Boles. “We believe in our guys. We trust them.

“There are definitely some areas we need to improve upon. But we’ll continue to stay upbeat and positive. We’re going to grind this thing out.”

Besides, it’s all a matter of perspective.

“If it wasn’t the first five games of the season, it would just be a five-game losing streak,” reasoned Buckner, who allowed eight hits and five runs. “It’s important to get the first one, but it’s five games into the season. It’s early.”

While Boles liked the way his team battled back from its 4-0 deficit, scoring twice in the second inning on Butler’s homer and an RBI single by Heiker Meneses, he knows the Sea Dogs will be in trouble if they’re constantly playing from behind.

But he’s convinced this club is more athletic than the team that finished 59-83 last season.

“When we get on base we’re gonna utilize our team speed a bit,” explained Boles. “And defensively, we’re going to make improvements because we have athletes in the field.

“I’m excited about what we have here.”

He’s not alone.

“You play 142 games,” said Butler. “I don’t think anybody’s pressing yet, at least I hope not.

“I think we’re gonna be fine. They just found some holes. But we have a bunch of guys who’ll go after the hitters and won’t back down.”

So far, of course, the Sea Dogs have nothing to show for it. They have two more games in Trenton before they return to Portland for their home opener Thursday against Binghamton.

 

NOTES: The Sea Dogs will send right-hander Chris Balcom-Miller to the mound tonight. He worked seven strong innings and didn’t figure into the decision in the season-opening 4-2 loss at Reading.

Chris Martin will pitch Wednesday’s 10:30 a.m. breakfast special, and Brock Huntzinger is the scheduled starter Thursday.