MANCHESTER — An exciting eighth-inning double steal placed the Fisher Cats in position to win their series opener.

But, again, the bullpen couldn’t protect the lead.

Reliever Sam Dyson surrendered a leadoff single in the ninth, and before the frame ended the Fishers committed two errors that contributed to a deflating 3-2 loss against the Portland Sea Dogs.

“That was as good as we’ve played, for awhile. Sometimes, when you have bad luck, it just keeps going bad,” said Fishers manager Sal Fasano, whose club dropped to 38-61 and 2-8 since returning from the All-Star break.

Brian Bocock’s late-game steal snapped a 1-1 tie at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. The crowd of 7,939 watched New Hampshire’s No. 9 hitter race home as Jake Marisnick safely slid head-first into second base.

Portland’s Marquez Smith opened the ninth with a single and advanced on Kevin Howard’s throwing error from third. Smith was replaced by pinch-runner Ryan Dent, who later scored on Howard’s second errant throw of the inning, a toss wide of home plate.

Dan Butler, who was hit by a pitch, scored the game-winning run on pinch-hitter Reynaldo Rodriguez’s sacrifice fly.

“Dyson’s been unbelievable this year. And he was still good tonight. I didn’t see any rocket balls,” said Fishers starter Chad Jenkins, who scattered three hits over seven innings in a duel with Portland’s Stolmy Pimentel (seven strikeouts).

Jenkins (five strikeouts, three walks) became the second starter in the team’s last 10 games to reach the sixth inning. Deck McGuire tossed 6 1/3 frames one week ago today, a 4-3 Fishers loss at Portland.

The outing for Jenkins also ended his rough stretch of starts. He allowed at least 10 hits in his previous four starts, three of them against the Sea Dogs (43-56).

“I thought both pitchers were outstanding,” Portland manager Kevin Boles said. “I thought both guys attacked the zone … and kept hitters off-balance.”

Jeremy Hazelbaker staked Portland to a 1-0 lead in the third.

Fresh off his three-hit, five-RBI game on Wednesday that included two home runs, the 2009 fourth-round pick of the Red Sox unloaded to deep right-center field. Portland’s No. 2 hitter tagged a 3-1 pitch, and Fishers right fielder Brad Glenn never moved.

Pimentel surrendered the lead in the home half of the inning. But the righty prevented a big rally.

After John Tolisano, Bocock and Ryan Goins opened the inning with singles, Pimentel induced a double play ball. Jake Marisnick’s grounder scored Tolisano with the game-tying run.

It also snapped Portland’s scoreless innings streak, which reached 22 frames.

“It was a good game. Unfortunately, we just came up a little bit short defensively and that kind of hurt us,” Fasano said. “It’s unfortunate. We played better. We should have closed the door there.”

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Marc Thaler may be reached at mthaler@unionleader.com.