NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — The Portland Sea Dogs had numerous chances to cool off the hottest team in the minor leagues, but couldn’t deliver a key hit.

The Sea Dogs went just 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position Thursday night and suffered a 4-2 loss to the New Britain Rock Cats, who extended their franchise-record winning streak to 13 games in front of 3,112 at New Britain Stadium.

The Sea Dogs brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the ninth, but Carlos Asuaje grounded into a game-ending double play with runners on the corners.

“I thought there was lot more improvement in our play today,” said Portland Manager Billy McMillon, whose team dropped to 12-22 and fell 141/2 games behind the Rock Cats, who have won 24 of their last 26 contests and stand in first place in the Eastern League’s Eastern Division.

“Starting pitching did well, (Robby) Scott did well coming out of the pen, we got 11 hits,” McMillon said. “We have to find a way to get hits with runners in scoring position.”

The Rock Cats struck quickly, scoring three runs in the first inning off Mike Augliera (1-6), who settled down to pitch into the seventh.

Mike Tauchman and Trevor Story started the bottom of the first with back-to-back triples. Story scored on Tyler Massey’s grounder and David Dahl belted a solo homer to give the Rock Cats a 3-0 lead.

“I was missing spots and they took advantage of some mistakes,” Augliera said. “They’re a good hitting team and they capitalized on pitchers’ mistakes.”

Portland, which outhit New Britain 11-6, pulled within 3-1 in the second on Luis Martinez’s RBI single off New Britain starter Gus Schlosser, who is normally a reliever and lasted only 22/3 innings.

After Portland loaded the bases with two outs in the third, Keury De La Cruz’s hard liner was tracked down by Tauchman in right field.

In the fifth, the Sea Dogs threatened again with two outs when Asuaje singled and Jantzen Witte doubled off the left-field wall. However, the Rock Cats executed a perfect relay, with Massey in left throw to Story, the shortstop, who fired home to put out Asuaje trying to score.

McMillon did not have any regrets about sending Asuaje.

“He’s running on the count so I think I have to send him,” McMillon said. “I think that was a clinic on how you do a double relay. That Story kid is eally good. He’s looking to be very special player and he made an unbelievable throw.”

After Portland wasted a leadoff double by Oscar Tejeda in the sixth, the Sea Dogs cut the deficit to 3-2 in the seventh when Mike Miller singled with two outs and eventually scored on a wild pitch. But the Rock Cats regained their two-run margin on Story’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the home seventh.

Augliera was charged with four runs and six hits over 61/3 innings. Scott followed with 1 2/3 innings of hitless relief.

Jason Gurka (3-0), the second of four New Britain pitchers, picked up the win, allowing three hits in 31/3 scoreless innings.

NOTES: Right-hander Jonathan Aro was promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday, and righty Joe Gunkel joined the Sea Dogs from High-A Salem.