R-Phils Shutout Sea Dogs 5-0

Portland, Maine- Reading Phillies starter Ethan Martin fired seven shutout innings as Reading topped the Sea Dogs 5-0 on Sunday afternoon at Hadlock Field. Phillies pitchers held the Sea Dogs to just three hits on the afternoon. It was Field of Dream day at the ballpark and Reading's dream of making the playoffs became one step closer as they clinched at least a tie for the final playoff spot with one game left to play. Reading improved to 75-66, while the Sea Dogs fell to 68-72.

The pitching match-up featured a pair of ex-teammates in Allen Webster and Ethan Martin. Both were members of the Chattanooga Lookouts in the Dodgers organization this year before trades sent them in different directions. Webster was acquired by the Red Sox in the nine player trade that sent Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, and Nick Punto to the Dodgers. Meanwhile Martin was sent to the Phillies organization in the deal that sent Shane Victorino to the Dodgers.

Webster, who was ranked by Baseball America as the #2 prospect in the Dodgers organization, made his Hadlock Field debut. He surrendered two runs in the first inning. Webster loaded the bases with a walk and two hit batsmen. Tyson Gillies scored on a Tug Hulett ground out and Tommy Joseph chipped-in with a RBI single.

The Phillies extended the lead to 3-0 when Jake Fox hit a solo home run over the Maine Monster in the third inning.

Reading struck for two additional runs in the fifth off Webster when Leandro Castro delivered a two run single by the diving shortstop Xander Bogaerts.

Webster (0-1) took the loss allowing five runs on seven hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out five including the team's 1,000th strikeout of the season.

Meanwhile, his ex-teammate Martin held the Sea Dogs to two hits over seven shutout innings improving to 5-0. He did not walk a batter and struck out eight.

Bogaerts singled in the fifth for Portland and has now hit safely in 18 of 22 Double-A games.

Marquez Smith and Ronald Bermudez collected the other Portland hits.

Michael Olmsted pitched the ninth for the Sea Dogs. He allowed a one out triple to Gillies but got out of the inning unscathed. He has not allowed an earned run in 14 Double-A games (19 innings).

The Sea Dogs will conclude the 2012 season with a 1:00 PM game on Monday against the Phillies. Team awards, presented by Irving Oil and Creative Awards, will be handed out in a pre-game ceremony. Right-handed pitcher Brandon Workman (3-1, 3.60) will get the start for Portland. He will be opposed Reading lefty Adam Morgan (3-1, 3.30). The game can be heard live on 95.5/95.9 FM WPEI. Tickets are available for the season finale and can be purchased by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or online at www.seadogs.com.