zPORTLAND — The New Hampshire Fisher Cats hit early and often on Wednesday, taking a 6-3 Eastern League decision over the Portland Sea Dogs at Hadlock Field.

The Fisher Cats pounded out 11 hits in the first three innings to take a big lead and held on.

New Hampshire jumped out to a 4-1 lead through three innings. Five consecutive singles in the third inning, with Kevin Howard and Sean Ochinko each driving in a run and Mark Sobolewski scoring on a fielder’s choice, plated three third-inning runs.

Portland jumped on top in the first. Jeremy Hazelbaker doubled, stole third base and scored on a Bryce Brentz sacrifice fly.

The Sea Dogs made it a 4-2 game in the sixth. Jackie Bradley Jr. led off with a double and scored on a double by Marquez Smith. Bradley was 2-for-5 to raise his batting average to .367.

New Hampshire added two runs in the seventh, with Portland completing the scoring on a solo home run by Matt Spring in the ninth inning.

Jeremy Kehrt (2-1, 5.36) took the loss for Portland. He struck out six and allowed 11 hits in five innings of work.

Deck McGuire (3-9, 6.27) earned the win for the Fisher Cats. McGuire went six innings, giving up two runs on five hits. He also walked two and struck out four.

The teams play the third game of the four-game series tonight at 7 p.m. Anthony Ranaudo (1-2, 6.67) gets the start for Portland against New Hampshire’s Yohan Pino (4-2, 3.08). Tickets are available by calling 879-9500 or by logging onto www.seadogs.com