Fightins Take Series Opener Over 'Dogs 14-3

The Reading Fightin Phils (14-8) jumped out to a 6-0 lead and never looked back, taking game one of their three-game series with the Sea Dogs (6-16) by a final score of 14-3 Friday night at Hadlock Field.
 
Carson Smith made his Red Sox organizational debut on a rehab assignment and faced two batters in relief in the sixth inning, striking out one and inducing a groundout.
 
Reading took the early lead on a two-out, solo home run by Rhys Hoskins off of Aaron Wilkerson (L, 1-1). The Fightins added two more in the third off of Wilkerson on an RBI single by Hoskins and an RBI double by Angelo Mora. Hoskins added a two-run double in the fourth to extend the lead to 6-0.
 
Wilkerson allowed six runs (five earned) in 3.1 innings, walking three and striking out four. Ben Lively (W, 3-0) worked five innings and allowed one run on four hits, walking four and striking out three.
 
Reading padded their lead with a four-run eighth inning off of Rob Wort and Luis Ysla. Wort struck out a career-high six over two-plus innings.
 
The loss for the Sea Dogs is their eighth straight, their longest losing streak since an eight-game streak July 13-19, 2013. The two clubs meet again tomorrow afternoon for a 1:00 PM start at Hadlock Field. RHP Justin Haley (0-2, 3.44) of Portland faces off against RHP Nick Pivetta (1-1, 4.12) of Reading. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the Sea Dogs ticket office at Hadlock Field, by phone at 879-9500, or online at seadogs.com.