MANCHESTER — Fans beyond center field kept shouting updates to Jacoby Ellsbury, who wanted to know the score between the Red Sox and Yankees while patrolling the outfield grass on Friday night against the Fisher Cats.

Ellsbury made his second rehab start for Portland, doubling and scoring in the team's 4-2 win before 7,687 fans at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. Ellsbury went 1-for-4, and Red Sox teammate Ryan Sweeney went 0-for-3 as the Sea Dogs snapped a six-game losing streak.

“Today I felt a lot better out there than I did (Wednesday),” said Ellsbury, who played center field for seven innings. “It's definitely progress in the right direction. The biggest thing is just doing anything I would normally do in a game. It was nice to get on base and score tonight.”

Ellsbury (shoulder) and Sweeney (toe) are nearing the end of their stint on the disabled list. They both signed autographs and connected with fans throughout the series. As the Red Sox and Yankees battled at Fenway Park, fans at the Hilton Garden Inn patio kept providing Ellsbury with scoring updates.

“They loved it. I enjoyed it, too. They were telling me (Jarrod Saltalamacchia) hit a three-run home run,” Ellsbury said. “Fans have been great to me. They were great when I was coming through the minor leagues.”

A three-game attendance total of 23,312 broke the franchise record. The previous three-game record (22,619) was set in 2009 during a series in which John Smoltz pitched for the Sea Dogs.

On the Play of the Night, Boston's center fielder of today clashed with Toronto's center fielder of tomorrow, Jake Marisnick.

Ellsbury laced a double to the wall in center field, and Ryan Dent attempted to score from first base. Marisnick fired to shortstop Ryan Goins, who nailed Dent at home plate with a perfect throw.

Ellsbury was then tested on Jackie Bradley's single to center, sprinting home and scoring on a one-hop throw from Marisnick. For a moment, it appeared Ellsbury might crash into catcher Jack Murphy, but the 2011 All-Star wanted no part of a collision in Double-A. That would've been foolish.

“That's the last thing you want is a collision at home or anywhere on the field. I just tried to avoid it with a little sidestep and touch home plate,” Ellsbury said.

Portland rallied for three runs in the ninth inning, hanging the loss on Fisher Cats reliever Stephen Marek (1-1). Jeremy Hazelbaker and Marquez Smith each singled to left, and Matt Spring homered to left field.

Sea Dogs reliever Caleb Clay (3-2) pitched the seventh and eighth inning and notched a win, while Josh Fields pitched a clean ninth for the save.

Kevin Howard went 3-for-4 to lead the Fisher Cats (35-50), who took a 2-1 lead into the ninth.

Sweeney, making his second straight rehab start for the Sea Dogs, was hitless with a lineout to shortstop Goins. Sweeney said he hopes to come off the 15-day DL and play against the Yankees this weekend. Ellsbury indicated he is also day-to-day and won't know his next stop until today.

Carl Crawford, who is scheduled to play for Triple-A Pawtucket this weekend, started three straight games for the Sea Dogs before a scheduled night off on Friday.

Crawford's absence was not related to an alleged racial slur directed at him by a fan on Thursday.

New Hampshire opens a four-game set with Twins affiliate New Britain tonight at 7:05.

Righty Deck McGuire (4-9, 6.22 ERA) will get the start for the Fisher Cats, opposed by Rock Cats righty Shairon Martis (6-3, 5.19 ERA).

Last season, Martis threw a no-hitter against the Fisher Cats while pitching for the Harrisburg Senators.

The contest, once again, will be followed by a fireworks show.