PORTLAND – Some of the 5,558 fans at Hadlock Field on Thursday night came to watch Jackie Bradley make his debut for the Portland Sea Dogs.

Bradley did not disappoint them, and neither did fellow outfield prospect Peter Hissey.

Additional Photos

Peter Hissey of the Sea Dogs tumbles next to Harrisburg pitcher Robert Gilliam after scoring on a passed ball Thursday night. Hissey was a home run shy of a cycle, leading the Sea Dogs to a 6-1 victory. Photos by Tim Greenway/Staff Photographer

Jackie Bradley dives into second for a stolen base as Harrisburg shortstop Zach Walters chases the wild throw. Bradley was 1 for 4 in his first game with the Sea Dogs.

Hissey reached base four times, including a single, a double and a triple, knocked in two runs and scored once as Portland downed the Harrisburg Senators, 6-1.

Bradley, a highly touted center fielder, went 1 for 4. He singled on the first pitch he saw, drew a walk, stole a base, played gracefully in the field and showed off a rocket arm with a throw to third base.

“Impressive,” Portland Manager Kevin Boles said.

But Boles was also thrilled with Hissey, playing only his sixth game since coming back from a two-month layoff because of a broken hand.

“He swung the bat well,” Boles said.

Hissey, 22, may no longer be high on the Red Sox prospect list, but he was a fourth-round draft pick in 2008 out of Unionville (Pa.) High School. Boston handed over a $1 million signing bonus to keep Hissey from accepting a scholarship to the University of Virginia.

“He’s got a lot of talent,” Boles said. “Plus runner. Can play quality defense in all three spots (in the outfield).”

But Hissey struggled the past two seasons at advanced Class A Salem, hitting a combined .237.

“Mediocre years,” Hissey said. “I showed glimpses of what I can do. But overall, just was not consistent.”

Looking at a possible return to Salem, Hissey shined in spring training and was assigned to the Sea Dogs. In his first game at Hadlock Field, Hissey broke his hand when he was hit by a pitch.

“Spring was great but sometimes you can’t control what happens to you,” Hissey said. “But here I am. Now just taking advantage of my time.”

Besides Hissey, Jeremy Hazelbaker (two-run double), Reynaldo Rodriguez (RBI double) and Ryan Dent (2 for 3, two runs) paced Portland.

Chris Martin made his second start since returning from the disabled list (sore back). He was limited to four innings but dominated with eight strikeouts, allowing no runs, three hits and two walks. He fastball was consistently at 92-94 mph and on the corners.

“I started a lot of guys with sliders, getting them off balance, and then commanded the fastball to both sides,” said Martin, who recorded 15 strikes out of 17 pitches in the first inning.

Brock Huntzinger (2-4) was awarded the win after finishing the game with three perfect innings (35 pitches).

“His struggles have come with two outs but he maintained his focus throughout the outing,” Boles said.

The Sea Dogs left after the game for Trenton, N.J., where they will play a four-game series with the Thunder. They return to Hadlock Field on Tuesday for the start of a nine-game, eight-day homestand.

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases

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