Andrew Benintendi’s introduction to Double-A baseball has had its bumps in a small sample of three weeks.

But one factor has stayed true: the swing.

Benintendi’s smooth, compact left-handed swing is one reason he’s a highly regarded prospect. He hits the ball hard.

That swing was put to good use Friday night. Benintendi went 3 for 5 with a single, double and his first Double-A home run, leading the Portland Sea Dogs to an 8-3 win over the Richmond Flying Squirrels at Hadlock Field.

Benintendi had two chances for the cycle. In the sixth he lined out to leaping shortstop Christian Arroyo and in the ninth, he struck out looking.

After 21 games with Portland, Benintendi is batting .229. He fell below .200 on Thursday night but has four hits in his last six at-bats.

“Just trying to stick to my approach,” Benintendi said.

And why not?

“He doesn’t let things bother him because he knows he can hit,” hitting coach Jon Nunnally said. “He has a smooth swing.”

Benintendi’s single came in a five-hit first inning as Portland jumped ahead, 5-0.

The Sea Dogs (20-40) totaled 11 hits and snapped a four-game losing streak.

Tzu-Wei Lin led off with a double. Ryan Court (1 for 2) drew one of his three walks. Benintendi loaded the bases with a single to right. Nate Freiman and Cole Sturgeon followed with RBI sacrifices. Jake Romanski (RBI single), Aneury Tavarez (double) and Rainel Rosario (two-run single) followed.

“We put together a lot of good at-bats, down the line” Nunnally said.

Benintendi led off the third and crushed a fastball from Kyle Crick (1-5) into the sixth row of the right-field pavilion, traveling an estimated 399 feet.

“He’s been hitting the ball hard and had nothing to show for it,” Manager Carlos Febles said. “No doubt the guy has a nice approach and will hit. He’s adjusting to the league and it showed tonight.”

The lead was plenty for Sea Dogs starter Keith Couch (4-1), who gave up three runs on seven hits and two walks over seven innings, striking out five. Couch induced 11 groundouts and one flyout.

The seven innings was appreciated after Portland starters averaged less than four innings during the losing streak.

Austin Maddox, making his third appearance since coming up from Salem, pitched a hitless eighth. Chandler Shepherd followed with a 14-pitch, three-strikeout ninth, dropping his ERA to 1.98.

NOTES: The announced paid attendance was 5,285. … Tavarez had two doubles and has eight in his last 22 games, batting .313 during that time. … Court, in his 33 games with Portland, is batting .330 with a .430 on-base percentage. … Boston Red Sox Manager John Farrell has declared three candidates for the No. 5 starting spot, between Clay Buchholz, Roenis Elias and Henry Owens. Elias pitched Friday night in Pawtucket, throwing seven shutout innings, allowing five hits and no walks, striking out seven. … In advanced Class A Salem, second baseman Yoan Moncada went 1 for 4 with his 36th stolen base, and shortstop Mauricio Dubon was 2 for 4.

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