Big Inning Downs Reading in Second Straight Defeat

BOX SCORE

(Portland, ME) - Five runs in the bottom of the fifth lifted the Portland Sea Dogs (13-8) to an 8-3 win over the Reading Fightin Phils (10-13) on Wednesday night at Hadlock Field. With the win, the Sea Dogs have taken the first two games in this week's six-game series.

The game remained scoreless into the top of the fifth inning. In that frame, Reading broke it open with three runs. William Simoneit began the inning with a line drive to left field. Marcus Lee Sang was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second for Casey Martin. Martin reached on a fielder choice and Simoneit scored due to a throwing error by by Portland third baseman Eddinson Paulino. With Lee Sang on third, Carson Taylor grounded out two batters later to score Lee Sang and make it 2-0 Reading. Martin stole third and following that Trevor Schwecke walked. A balk by Portland pitcher Helcris Olivarez plated Martin to make it a three-run advantage for the Fightin Phils.

Portland roared back with five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Back-to-back walks to start the inning ended the night for Reading starter Christian McGowan. McGowan went four-plus innings, allowing two runs on two hits, with four walks and three strikeouts. Andrew Baker (L, 1-1) entered and surrendered most of the damage to Portland. Marcelo Mayer brought home two runs with his eighth double of the season to put the Sea Dogs on the board. Kyle Teel then brought home two-more runs with a single of his own. Teel scored on a single from Matthew Lugo to make it 5-3. That ended Baker's night and brought in Eury Ramos.

The Sea Dogs would go on to tack on one run in the sixth and two runs in the eighth to jump up 8-3. Mickey Gasper scored the lone run in the sixth, then Teel launched a two-run home run, his third of the season to give Portland its seventh and eighth runs of the night.

In total, Olivarez went 4.2 innings in the start. The lefty allowed three-unearned runs on just one hit, while walking four and striking out five Reading batters. Alex Hoppe (W, 1-1) followed and shut down the Fightin Phils lineup with 2.1-scoreless frames. Jacob Webb (S, 1) followed with two-scoreless innings for the save. Webb struck out four and did not allow a walk nor hit.

The Fightin Phils and Sea Dogs return to the field Thursday night at 6 p.m. LHP Matt Osterberg is schedule to start for Reading, and he will go opposite RHP Hunter Dobbins for Portland. A video stream is available via MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.

Reading returns home Tuesday, May 7 to begin a six-game series with the Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies) that runs through Sunday May 12. Tuesday is a School Kid Educations Day, thanks to Rip It Baseballtown Charities and MLB Play Ball. On Wednesday, Capital Blue Cross Hard Work in School Tickets are accepted. Thursday is a Nurse Recognition and Celebration, presented by Penn State Health St. Joseph. Friday features fireworks, presented by Kia and Saturday's fireworks by Adams and Associates. The series finishes Sunday with a Mother's Day Crossbody Phanny Pack for the first 1,500 women older than 18, thanks to Reading Hospital McGlinn Cancer Institute.

To buy tickets, call 610-370-BALL, go to rphils.com/tickets or in-person at the Customers Bank Ticket Office. The Fightin Phils Brentwood Industries Team Store is open both in-person or online 24/7 at rphils.com/shop.

The 2024 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.