PORTLAND — The Portland Sea Dogs dropped their third game in a row Monday night at Hadlock Field as the New Britain Rock Cats powered their way to a 14-4 victory in the opener of a three-game series.

Sea Dogs starter Mike McCarthy (0-1) started strong, retiring the first eight batters he faced to begin the game. But everything unraveled for Portland in the top of the third inning. New Britain would strike for six runs ”“ four coming off a grand slam by Trevor Story ”“ all coming after McCarthy had the bases empty with two outs. The slam against the Sea Dogs is the first by an opponent since Alex Dickerson of the Altoona Curve hit one off of Matt Barnes at Hadlock Field on June 2, 2013.

The Rock Cats used the long ball again to extend their lead in the fifth, with Tom Murphy and Mike Tauchman going back-to-back off McCarthy. Murphy finished the game a triple shy of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored. David Dahl added a two-run home run in the seventh inning, capping the Rock Cats homer total at four for the ballgame (they had hit just one as a team in their first four games prior to Monday night). McCarthy exited the game in the fourth, allowing nine runs (eight earned) on six hits in four-plus innings of work.

Jantzen Witte provided the majority of the Sea Dogs offense, notching his first Double-A home run in the fifth inning off of Rock Cats starter Yohan Flande. Witte finished the game 2-for-4 with a double, home run, three RBI and a run scored.

Flande (1-0) picked up the victory for New Britain, going 5 2/3 innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits, while walking two and striking out seven.

The Sea Dogs and Rock Cats will meet tonight for game two of the series at Hadlock Field, first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. William Cuevas will be making his Double-A debut for Portland, while Matt Flemer will be doing the same for New Britain. For tickets, visit the Sea Dogs website at www.seadogs.com, order by phone at 207-879-9500, or visit the Sea Dogs box office at Hadlock Field.