Fightin Phils Take Rain Shortened Game to Claim Series over Portland

BOX SCORE

(Portland, ME) - The Reading Fightin’ Phils (29-21, 59-60) defeated the Portland Sea Dogs (25-26, 60-59) by a final score of 10-3 on Sunday afternoon.

The Sea Dogs sent RHP Morgan Sweeney to the mound to make his just his third appearance of the season, as the Fightins countered with RHP Luke Russo, making his 19th start. Both starters traded zeros through their opening frames before Portland struck in the second with a pair of back-to-back homers from Harry Godbout and Miguel Bleis for an early 2-0 lead. Russo would issue a walk to Mason White before retiring the side, including a pair of swinging K’s.

Reading’s offense got to work in the fourth as Bryan Rincon and Pedro León led off with a pair of singles. The former Sea Dog Alex Binelas snuck a ball past the diving second baseman and into right field to score Rincon for an RBI single, getting Reading on the board at 2-1. Carson DeMartini (PHI’s No. 24 prospect) then cleared the bases with a 2-run triple to gift the Fightins a 3-2 lead.

Russo ran into a bit of trouble during his fourth inning, as he struck Bleis with an inside pitch before issuing back-to-back free passes to load the bases for Portland. The right-hander battled with center fielder Nelly Taylor for seven pitches before getting him to chase at a breaking below the zone for the first out. The next batter was third baseman Tyler McDonough, who would drive in Bleis with an RBI groundout to tie the game at three. Russo finished off the frame with getting Red Sox star Roman Anthony to offer another low breaking ball for his fourth strikeout.

Right-hander Steven Brooks came on in relief of Sweeney to begin the top of the fifth. Sweeney finished his day tossing four innings, surrendering three runs on four hits, with no walks and six strikeouts. Following an immediate strikeout to Bryson Ware, Brooks lost the zone to issue three consecutive walks to load the bases. He then got Raylin Heredia to pop up for the second out of the inning before issuing another pair of walks to Alex Binelas and Raider Tello, which added two to Reading’s run total at 5-3. Brooks was promptly lifted from the ballgame for Colin Bolden and finished his day with a total of five walks in his lone frame of work.

The righty Russo would toss a scoreless inning in the fifth before giving way to left-hander Mavis Graves to begin the sixth. Russo finished his outing tossing five frames, allowing three runs on three hits. The 25-year-old walked a pair and struck out four. Graves pitched a swift bottom of the sixth, surrendering a walk and a hit, but picked up a punchout as well. The Phillies' No. 27 prospect hasn’t allowed an earned run in seven of his eight appearances (9.2 IP) since arriving to Double-A.

The Fightins got things going again in the seventh, first getting another leadoff knock from Bryan Rincon (PHI’s No. 5 prospect). Rincon would first advance up to second base on a Pedro León groundout before advancing further to third on a single from Raylin Heredia. Alex Binelas then drew a six-pitch walk to load the bases for Reading once again, this time for Raider Tello. On a 3-2 count against Portland’s Bolden, Tello shot a ball down the right-field line that just stayed fair for a two-RBI triple, scoring Rincon and Heredia. Carson DeMartini then clubbed a double of his own to score Binelas and add to Reading’s lead of 7-3. Caleb Ricketts followed that up with an RBI single of his own, making it a 9-3 game. Bryson Ware would add Reading’s final run to the board with a sacrifice fly, capping the scoring at 10-3.

Following the conclusion of the frame, the game was initially paused and went into a rain delay before the ultimate decision was made to call the ballgame final. Reading claims their 59th win of the season and takes the series win over Portland, four games to two. Luke Russo (W, 10-8) earns the win for Reading, while Steven Brooks picks up the loss for Portland. Carson DeMartini led the way for the Fightins with two hits (2B, 3B), three RBIs, and a run scored.

Reading returns to the field on Tuesday against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies at 11 a.m. Pregame radio coverage is Your aderwat at 10:40 a.m. on the Reading Fightin Phils Radio Network. A video stream is available via MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.

The Fightin Phils return home from Tuesday, August 25, through Sunday, August 30, against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets. Tuesday is the 23rd Annual Morning Game, with the first 2,000 adults getting a Reading Iced Coffees Game Camp (Reading Hospital). Wednesday is a Retro Animation Tribute with "Mickey Mouse" co-branded merchandise available. Thursday and Friday both feature fireworks. Thursday's show is presented by PA Virtual Charter School, Alvernia University, Members 1st Federal Credit Union, Berks Technical Institute, and Firetree Ltd. Saturday is a Post-Game Drone Show (Blue Ridge Remodeling) celebrating 60 Seasons of Phillies Affiliation and Celebrating "Swifties." The series ends Sunday with an appearance by the Phillie Phanatic (Berks County Intermediate Unit).

Tickets to all games are available at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL, or in person at the Customers Bank Ticket Office.

The 2026 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.