Wood Tosses Five Strong as Fightins Win Second Straight

BOX SCORE

(Portland, ME) - Five-strong innings from Gage Wood and timely hits catapulted the Reading Fightin Phils (27-21; 57-60) to a 5-2 win over the Portland Sea Dogs (25-24; 60-57) on Friday night at Delta Dental Park.

Wood matched a season and career-high with five innings of work. The Phillies top prospect allowed two hits and one-unearned run, while sending down five Sea Dogs on strikes.

The Fightin Phils got the scoring started with a run in each of the first and second innings to race out to a 2-0 advantage. Bryan Rincon led off the game with his 19th home run of the season on the second pitch of the night. In the second frame, Raider Tello reached on a single and moved to third on a base hit from Caleb Ricketts. Luke Ritter knocked in Tello with a ground out.

Portland got a run back in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Reading lead in half. Justin Gonzales led off the inning with an infield single, then Roman Anthony doubled and Gonzales scored on a throwing error from Aroon Escobar at second base.

After Wood exited, Evan Gates (W, 2-4) entered for the sixth and was immediately greeted with a leadoff triple from Gonzales. Anthony followed with a sac fly to plate Gonzales and even the game at two.

The Fightin Phils immediately responded with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning. Carson DeMartini led off the inning with a walk and scored when Tello doubled to right-center field. Tello moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sac fly from Ritter to make it 4-2.

In the eighth, Raylin Heredia walked and advanced to second on a single from Alex Binleas. Escobar then walked to load the bases and DeMartini drove in Heredia on a RBI groundout to grow Reading's lead to 5-2.

Following Gates, Daniel Harper and Jack Dallas each tossed a scoreless frame each in the seventh and eighth, respectively. Estibenzon Jimenez (S, 4) pitched the ninth for the second-straight game and secured the second-straight win for the Fightin Phils.

Devin Futrell started for Portland and allowed two runs over six innings and ultimately took a no-decision. Tyler Davis (L, 1-1) allowed three runs over two innings, then Erik Rivera struck out two in a scoreless top of the ninth inning.

With the win, Reading increases their lead to 2.5 games over Portland for first place in the Eastern League's Northeast Division. The Fightin Phils lead can't be any less than 2.5 by the end of Friday night with 20 games to play.

Reading returns to the field on Saturday against the Portland Sea Dogs at 6 p.m. RHP Jean Cabrera will start for Reading, and he will go opposite LHP Michael Sansone 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.