Reading’s Late Heroics Come Up Short In 6-4 Loss

BOX SCORE

(Reading, PA) - The Reading Fightin Phils (55-60, 25-21) lost to the Portland Sea Dogs (60-55, 25-22) by a score of 6-4 at Hadlock Field on Wednesday. The Fightin Phils have now lost four games in a row and the first two of this six-game set with the Sea Dogs.

Portland found an early scoring surge again, piling on three runs to jump on Reading in the first frame. Justin Gonzalez (1) smacked his first Double-A home run in lead-off fashion. The 19-year-old hit an opposite field blast before Henry Godbout (2) crushed a two-run homer over the Maine Monster in left field, scoring Jack Winnay.

Reading answered in the third inning, first on a Raylin Heredia RBI single that scored Pedro León. This was Heredia’s 132nd hit of the season, a mark that keeps him atop the Eastern League and in second place among Double-A hitters (behind MLB No. 6 prospect Josue De Paula).

The Fightin Phils found more offense in the fifth stanza when León lined a single to center field, sending Wuilfredo Antunez trotting home. This cut the deficit to 3-2.

However, the Sea Dogs had an immediate response in the bottom half of the inning. Tyler McDonough (9) crushed a deep fly ball to left field, scoring both Max Ferguson and Nelly Taylor for a decisive three-run home run. This pushed the Red Sox Double-A affiliate’s lead out to 6-2.

The Fightins retaliated in the seventh inning on an Antunez (14) solo shot to right field that cut into the lead.

Bryan Rincon (Phillies No. 5 prospect) followed Antunez up with his 20th double of the season on a ball that pierced the left-center field gap. He is now only two home runs shy from having 20 long balls, 20 doubles and 20 stolen bases. Rincon advanced on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch to bring the Fightin Phils to within a pair of runs.

The R-Phils aimed to put together another late-game rally in the ninth, and Al Pedrique’s squad applied plenty of pressure. Bryson Ware swatted a lead-off single to center field before Antunez and Rincon were retired on a lineout and groundout. León drew a walk, and Ware eventually took third base on a balk. Heredia stepped up with the tying run on base, and he flew out to the edge of the warning track to end the ball game.

Joe Vogatsky (2-3) got the victory for Portland, firing 2.1 innings of one-run ball with three strikeouts in a bullpen game.

Adam Seminaris (11-8) took the loss for Reading, tossing 6.2 innings while allowing six runs on six hits with five strikeouts.

Antunez led all Fightin Phils hitters out of the nine-spot, going 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and a solo shot. The former Guardians farmhand has now cleared the fence in two of his last four games.

The Fightin Phils hold a narrow half game lead atop the Eastern League-Northeast standings, as Portland continues to surge closer in second place.

Reading returns to the field on Thursday against the Portland Sea Dogs at 6 p.m. RHP Cody Bowker will start for Reading, and he will go opposite LHP Hayden Mullins for Portland. 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.