Eastern Leaguers pay clubhouse dues of $11 per day, which usually pays for a delicious clubhouse spread and baseball extras — like having your spikes cleaned and a dugout stocked with gum and sunflower seeds.

If the Portland Sea Dogs are lucky, Carl Crawford and/or Jacoby Ellsbury will be paying for the postgame food spreads at New Hampshire this week. Crawford, who played for the Double-A Sea Dogs on a rehab assignment Tuesday night, and Ellsbury are scheduled to face the Fisher Cats in a three-game set beginning tonight at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.

The Fisher Cats play 12 of their next 20 games against Portland, which will also bolster its lineup with perhaps Ryan Sweeney during the series in Manchester.

Crawford played left field in his Eastern League debut Tuesday night at Portland, drawing a pair of walks, stealing third base and scoring a run while going 1-for-2. In the third inning, he fouled a pitch off his right knee and fell to the dirt but stayed in the game. He exited in the seventh inning, leaving for a pinch runner, before a packed house at Hadlock Field.

Meanwhile, Ellsbury spent the day in Fort Myers while working on his own return to the majors. Ellsbury (shoulder) will join Portland today and is expected to be in the starting lineup tonight against the Fisher Cats.

Crawford told reporters following Tuesday's game that he plans to travel to New Hampshire. The Red Sox are hoping their All-Star outfielders can return to the big leagues after the All-Star break, potentially joining the team in Tampa. Crawford, who signed a seven-year, $142 million contract before the 2011 season, has made significant strides during a rehab stint in the minors, playing five games in the Gulf Coast League before being shifted to Portland.

All three games at the Fisher Cats ballpark should be packed with fans — and limited tickets are available.

New Hampshire ended its road trip on a positive note, crushing the Reading Phillies on Tuesday night, 14-2, while pounding 18 hits. Brad Glenn had a pair of homers and four RBIs in the victory. Glenn and Brian Van Kirk each had three hits as the Fisher Cats improved to 33-49. Portland enters The 603 with a record of 34-50.

New Hampshire righty John Stilson, who has given up one earned in his past two starts, is the top prospect to watch among the Fisher Cats. He pitches Friday.

The flame-throwing Stilson (2-1, 3.18 ERA) was called up from Advanced-A Dunedin last month after dominating hitters in the Florida State League.

A third-round pick out of Texas A&M, Stilson suffered his only pro loss against Reading on June 21 in Manchester.

“It's been a learning experience. I'm trying to locate my fastball better and not spray everything over the plate. I've been working on trying to stay back over the rubber and not lean forward so much, which causes my arm to drag behind,” Stilson said following a bullpen session on Tuesday.

Asked about the possibility of facing Red Sox hitters, the 21-year-old said he would be excited for the challenge.

“It would be awesome to face them and kind of see where I'm at in my career. Those guys are pro hitters and know what they're doing. I would be excited to face them but it wouldn't be easy.”

Stilson has been zipping fastballs in the low 90s with an occasional heating touching 95 mph. And he still has more in the tank.

“I believe I do. I'm very satisfied with (the velocity). I just need to get my mechanics straightened out. Right now, I can't really give it everything because my fastball command isn't quite there yet.”

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ROSTER MOVES: Outfielder Justin Jackson, a supplemental first-round pick in the 2007 draft, was sent down to Advanced-A Dunedin on Tuesday. Jackson had a promising month of April before batting only .194 through May and June ... Fisher Cats catcher Sean Ochinko, who hit safely in 25 of 29 games since joining the Fisher Cats in May, was placed on the disabled list (concussion) after barrelling into Reading catcher Sebastian Valle on Saturday. Ochinko stayed in the game and caught two more innings before exiting in the fourth. Catcher Jack Murphy was promoted from Dunedin.

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Staff writer Kevin Gray covers pro baseball for the New Hampshire Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News. His email address is kgray@unionleader.com. Twitter: @graymatter11.