Fightins Drop Third Straight at Portland
BOX SCORE (Portland, ME) - The Reading Fightin Phils (10-14) dropped their third-straight game to the Portland Sea Dogs (14-8), 9-3 on Friday night from Hadlock Field. With the win, Portland has now taken the first three games of this week's six-game series. After a quiet first couple of innings,
(Portland, ME) - The Reading Fightin Phils (10-14) dropped their third-straight game to the Portland Sea Dogs (14-8), 9-3 on Friday night from Hadlock Field. With the win, Portland has now taken the first three games of this week's six-game series.
After a quiet first couple of innings, the Sea Dogs got the scoring started in the bottom of the third inning. Mickey Gasper led the inning off with a double and advanced to third on a ground out from Alex Binelas to second. Phillip Sikes then hit an RBI single to score Gasper and make it 1-0. Roman Anthony followed with a single but was cut off at second on a fielder's choice from Marcelo Mayer. Mayer's fielder's choice did score Sikes to make it 2-0. Following that, Kyle Teel doubled and Blaze Jordan knocked home a pair of runs with a single to cap off the four-run inning for the Sea Dogs.
Reading responded with one run in the top of the fourth frame. Caleb Ricketts reached on a one-out single and scored when Bryce Ball doubled off the top of the right-field wall. Ball had his best game of the season with three hits, including two doubles, and two runs driven in.
Portland tacked on another tally in the bottom of the fourth inning when Matthew Lugo hit a solo home run to make it 5-1.
The Sea Dogs then broke the game open for good in the fifth, sending 10 hitters to the plate. It marked the third straight game Portland batter around against Reading this week. Mayer doubled to lead off the inning, then after a walk and single by Blaze Jordan, Nick Yorke brought home two runs with a single. Matthew Lugo then singled home a run and a few batters later, Anthony worked a bases-loaded walk to make it 9-1, Portland.
Fightin Phils starting pitcher Matt Osterberg (L, 0-3) was chased from the game in the fifth inning. Osterberg went four-plus innings, allowing eight runs on 10 hits, with one walk and four strikeouts. Matt Russell allowed one-earned run, but Andrew Schultz, Tommy McCollum, and Max Lazar followed with scoreless frames in relief.
Reading added two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Carson Taylor reached on a one-out walk and moved to third on a single from Trevor Schwecke. Taylor would then score on a throwing error from Mayer on the same play as the Schwecke single. With Schwecke on first, Ball hit his second double of the night, to drive home Schwecke and make it 9-3, with Portland still ahead.
Hunter Dobbins (W, 2-0) started and went five innings for Portland, allowing one run on four hits, with no walks and eight strikeouts. Christopher Troye allowed two runs in relief, but Wyatt Olds (S, 1) tossed three-shutout frames for a nine-out save in the victory for Portland.
The Fightin Phils and Sea Dogs return to the field Saturday at 1 p.m. for a doubleheader. RHP Robinson Pina will start game one for Reading, opposite RHP Angel Bastardo for Portland. TBA will get the ball for Reading in game two, and RHP Wikelman Gonzalez will start game two for the Sea Dogs. Radio coverage is underway at 12:40 p.m. at rphils.com/radio. 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.
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