READING, Pa. — Manuel Margot, the Red Sox seventh best prospect (according to Baseball America), made his Double-A debut Monday night.

His presence, however, wasn’t enough to keep the Sea Dogs from dropping their third straight one-run game, losing to the Reading Fightin Phils 3-2.

For the second straight game, the Sea Dogs (26-44) got within a run in the top of the ninth, but lost for the seventh time in eight games. Monday, Oscar Tejeda hit a two-run single in the ninth, but was forced out at second on a ground ball by Margot to end the game.

Portland missed multiple opportunities, grounding into five double plays and leaving four men on base.

“There are no words to describe it,” said Sea Dogs Manager Billy McMillon on the double plays. “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that before. We hit balls right at people.

“We just need to start scoring early in games. We just had some tough breaks in this series.”

Manuel, who started in center field and batted sixth, went 1 for 4 with a single.

He looped a single to right in his first at-bat and lined out to right in his second at-bat. He also lined out to second in the seventh.

“Margot looked good out there,” said McMillon. “He hit the ball and made some plays in the field. He’s the type of player who can bring a spark to a team. He looks like he will be a good player.”

Margot didn’t appear to be rattled with his new surroundings. He played in all 46 games for Class-A Salem, hitting .282 with three homers, 17 RBI and 20 stolen bases. He did not strike out in his first 69 at-bats.

“I felt good out there and I wasn’t nervous,” Margot said through a translator. “The one difference is the speed of the pitches and how the pitchers deliver. I also felt good in the field.”

Portland starting pitcher Heri Quevedo (0-4) struggled in the first four innings, allowing five base runners (two walks, two hits, one error). He threw 40 pitches in the first three innings.

He left with one out in the bottom of the fifth after Reading took a 1-0 lead on a double to right by Kelly Dugan.

Margot nearly made a running catch on a shot off the bat of Brock Stassi, but he hit the wall and the ball came out of his glove. Right fielder Aneury Tavarez nearly caught the ball in the air, but it fell in allowing Dugan to score.

Simon Mercedes was able to limit the damage after that, striking out Art Charles and getting Brian Pointer to ground out to first to end the inning.

Quevedo allowed seven hits, struck out three and walked two. He threw 92 pitches.

“Quevedo went a little bit deeper than he had been going for us,” said McMillon. “He had some good stuff and had some trouble out there as well.”

Robby Scott pitched two scoreless innings for the Sea Dogs, retiring 6 of 7 batters. He has not allowed a run in his last 12 outings.

Reading made it 3-0 in the sixth when Portland left fielder Keury de la Cruz dropped a fly ball in the corner, allowing KC Serna to score from first.

The Sea Dogs stranded two runners in the first inning and also left runners on in two of the next three innings. They had only two runners reach second base off Reading starter Zach Elfin (5-4), who pitched six scoreless innings.

NOTES: Marco Hernandez was 2 for 3 for Portland. … Portland’s Carlos Asuaje singled in the first to extend his hitting streak to six games. … Outfielder Dave Sappelt was placed on the disabled list.