PORTLAND – The battle for the Portland Sea Dogs continues, and it has nothing to do with opposing pitchers or dangerous hitters.

The Sea Dogs keep fighting the weather, and losing. Monday’s scheduled game against the Trenton Thunder at Hadlock Field was rained out. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Aug. 31.

Normally this time of year, a rained out game is made up the next day, but a doubleheader is already scheduled for Tuesday — the result of the Thunder-Sea Dogs game on April 6 being rained out.

Officially, only three Sea Dogs games have been postponed by weather this season. But another was suspended by rain and others have been delayed or played in front of paltry crowds because of the weather.

The suspended game came last Tuesday. It was supposed to be completed as part of a doubleheader last Wednesday, but that was postponed.

“We have had plenty of days where it was drizzly during the day, but come game time we could still play,” Sea Dogs General Manager Geoff Iacuessa said. “Now we’re getting to game time and the rain is here. It’s been a challenge.”

The Sea Dogs’ record for postponed home games is eight, in 2005 and 2006. But those games are usually the result of poor weather in the months of April and May. The Sea Dogs have yet to experience a long stretch of good baseball weather at home.

“There have been times of bad weather (in previous years), but for this extended period of time, I don’t remember anything like this,” Iacuessa said.

TUESDAY’S DOUBLEHEADER will begin at 6 p.m. and feature Monday’s scheduled starter Keith Couch in the first game, and swingman Jeremy Kehrt in the second. Tuesday’s originally scheduled starter, Drake Britton, is set for Wednesday.

Former Red Sox outfielder Bernie Carbo will appear at Hadlock Tuesday, throwing out the first pitch, signing autographs, and promoting his book, “Saving Bernie Carbo.”

DANIEL BARD was not going to pitch Monday or Tuesday. But he hopes to get back on the mound soon.

Bard, 28, last pitched on May 15 when he walked five in one inning at New Hampshire. He was eventually placed on the disabled list June 9 with an abdominal muscle strain.

Bard recently began throwing long toss. He said the plan is for him to go to Fort Myers next week and pitch live batting practice in the Florida Instructional League.

GARIN CECCHINI’S bid to be named to the Major League All-Stars Futures Game came just short.

Cecchini, 22, the Sea Dogs’ third baseman, was one of five players whom fans could vote for — for the final spot on the U.S. roster in the Futures Game, which will be played July 14 at the Mets’ Citi Field.

Cecchini finished second in the voting to New York Mets prospect Brandon Nimmo.

Still, Cecchini is impressing the Sea Dogs, batting .364 in his first eight games, with a .475 on- base percentage.

“He manages his strike zone very well,” Portland Manager Kevin Boles said. “He works counts. Hits the ball to all fields. Just seems like he has a real steady approach at the plate. Has a knack for barreling up the baseball.”

Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases