The Portland Sea Dogs may not have had to wait a week to play their first game, but they did have to wait that long for their first victory.

Unlike last year, when foul weather kept the Boston Red Sox Double A minor league baseball affiliate from playing its first game for several days, the Dogs have been able to play ball on time. Unfortunately, they hadn’t tasted victory until Monday night, and that came grudgingly. The Dogs scored seven runs in the final three innings for an 8-6 road win over New Britain.

One week and five games into the season, the Sea Dogs find themselves already at the bottom of the Eastern League northern division standings – three games out of first place with a 1-4 record.

Tuesday night’s game at New Britain was the first rainout of the season, but it comes at a good time, on the heels of a 31/2-hour game in which Portland used four pitchers.

Former major league player and 14-year coaching veteran Ron Johnson is back for his second season as Portland’s manager.

Also back are righthanded pitcher Eric Glaser; lefthanders Greg Montalbano, James Johnson and Juan Perez; outfielder Justin Headley; catcher John Nathans; shortstop Kenny Perez; and utility infielder Raul Nieves. These eight players on the 30-man roster are the only returnees from the 2003 Portland opening-day roster but change is a constant in minor league ball and Johnson understands that as well as anyone.

“It’s always different every year, but I think that’s what keeps the interest and the spark alive,” said Johnson. “I don’t look at it as a challenge so much as I think it’s something that makes things more exciting.”

This season’s team leaders, at least right out of the gate, are second baseman Jesus Medrano, who’s hitting .474 with a home run, a double, two RBIs, three runs and a stolen base. Nieves, who is in the left field-DH-first base mix, is hitting .429 with one RBI and right fielder Eric Johnson is batting .421 after his first 19 at-bats with a home run, two doubles, three runs, five RBIs, and a stolen base.

The rest of the lineup includes John Hattig at third, Kenny Perez at shortstop, Edgar Martinez at catcher, and Sheldon Fulse in center.

“I think we’ll have a nice defensive team, on a par with last year’s team,” Johnson said. “Offensively, it’s early, but I think we’ll be better than last year’s team … And we have more speed.”

Righthander Jerome Gamble leads the pitching staff with six innings of two-run ball in his first start. He allowed seven hits and emerged with a no-decision.

This season’s Sea Dogs’ pitching staff features a knuckleballer. Sacramento native Charlie Zink (0-1, 3.60 ERA, five innings) was converted two seasons ago and is getting tutelage and tips from Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield, currently one of the best knuckleballers in the game.

It was Wakefield who helped Zink turn things around when the 24-year-old was suffering through a bad stretch in terms of his confidence and delivery two years ago.

“I think I walked six and gave up a home run with it my first game,” Zink said. “But then they made me work with Wakefield and after working with him for 20 minutes, he straightened me out. I was over-striding like a regular pitcher and he showed me what he did. I copied it and everything started clicking. I figured it out real quick.”

Last year, Zink was 7-9 with a 3.90 ERA at Sarasota (A) before coming to Portland. He was 3-2 with a 3.43 ERA with Portland.

Unlike last season, when Portland’s roster was dotted with the names of some of the highest-rated prospects in the minors, this year’s team has none of Baseball America’s top 100 prospects. Then again, the Red Sox farm system has only two of those 100: outfielder Hanley Ramirez (No. 39) and catcher Kelly Shoppach (No. 78). Shoppach was with Portland last year, but has moved up to Triple A.

“We’re very proud of the fact that we have eight guys who moved up to Pawtucket this year,” Johnson said. “That’s got to be considered a lot.”

That’s not to say the cupboard is bare. Lefthander Abraham (Abe) Alvarez was Boston’s third overall pick and first pick in the second round of the 2003 amateur draft. The 6-foot-2 prospect from Fontana, Calif., is the only 2003 draft pick on the team roster. Righty Chris Smith was also Boston’s third overall pick – in the fourth round of the 2002 draft.