Fans may have flocked to Hadlock Field to watch Boston Red Sox right fielder Shane Victorino play on a rehab assignment Saturday, with plans to rejoin the big-league team.

But they also saw a former major leaguer trying to return.

New Britain starting pitcher Yohan Flande pitched a one-hitter as the Rock Cats beat the Portland Sea Dogs, 3-0.

Victorino made his second straight appearance on a rehab assignment but struggled like most of his temporary Portland teammates, going 0 for 3 with two groundouts and a fly out to the infield.

Victorino, on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring, said he plans to rejoin the Red Sox on Sunday in Toronto, with hopes of being activated soon afterward.

In two games in Portland, Victorino was 0 for 6.

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“It would have been nice to barrel-up a ball, but the most important thing for me was to come out of the game feeling good,” Victorino said.

In the first inning, Victorino hit a dribbler to Flande and took off out of the batter’s box before slowing halfway to the base.

“At first I went (fast), but then I realized there is no reason for me to kill it,” Victorino said. “Better to be smart than stupid.”

Victorino later popped up to the first baseman and then grounded to third. He left after the seventh inning.

Like Victorino, most of the Sea Dogs put the ball in play but with little to show for it.

Flande (5-0) struck out three but was around the plate all day – 70 of his 93 pitches were strikes.

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Flande, 29, came up through the Phillies’ system and later was with the Braves. He made his major league debut last year with the Rockies, but was 0-6 with a 5.19 ERA in 16 games (10 starts).

Colorado designated him for assignment in February. When no one claimed him, the Rockies assigned to the minor leagues.

He surprisingly was sent to Double-A, where he is dominating. Flande’s ERA is 1.36.

Flande allowed two baserunners – a Mike Miller single in the fourth and a walk to Carlos Asuaje in the eighth.

The game was scoreless until New Britain scored an unearned run off Portland starter Mike Augliera in the fifth. Tom Murphy hit his sixth home run for a 2-0 lead in the sixth. Augliera allowed six hits over six innings.

NOTES: The announced paid attendance was 6,956. … The Sea Dogs (11-18) have lost six straight home games.


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