Lugo collects four hits in 9-3 win
Portland, Maine – Matthew Lugo tied a career-high with four hits leading the Portland Sea Dogs (14-8) to their third straight win with a 9-3 victory over the Reading Fightin Phils (10-14) on Friday night at Hadlock Field. Every Sea Dog recorded a hit in the fifteen-hit affair on Friday
Portland, Maine – Matthew Lugo tied a career-high with four hits leading the Portland Sea Dogs (14-8) to their third straight win with a 9-3 victory over the Reading Fightin Phils (10-14) on Friday night at Hadlock Field.
Every Sea Dog recorded a hit in the fifteen-hit affair on Friday night. Roman Anthony, Blaze Jordan, and Nick Yorke went two-for-four while Matthew Lugo went four-for-five with his team-leading sixth homer of the season.
Hunter Dobbins fired 5.0 innings striking out eight while Wyatt Olds earned his first save after 3.0 scoreless innings with five strikeouts.
Portland scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning to get on the board first. Phillip Sikes singled to bring home Mickey Gasper before Marcelo Mayer grounded into a force out to score Sikes. Jordan hit a two-run single to right field to score Mayer and Kyle Teel to give Portland a 4-0 lead.
Bryce Ball put Reading on the board in the top of the fourth with an RBI double to score Caleb Ricketts.
Lugo took the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the fourth over the Maine Monster in left field for his sixth homer of the season. With the leadoff solo shot, Portland led 5-1.
Portland sent ten batters to the plate in the bottom of the fifth to bring home four more runs. A two-run single from Yorke along with an RBI single from Lugo would extend a seven-run lead before Anthony worked a bases-loaded walk to bring home Yorke.
Reading plated a pair of runs in the top of the sixth courtesy of an RBI single from Trevor Schwecke along with another RBI double from Ball. However, Olds came in for 3.0 innings in relief to retire nine of the ten Fightins he faced to power Portland to a 9-3 win.
RHP Hunter Dobbins (2-0, 2.14 ERA) earned the win after pitching 5.0 innings allowing one run on four hits while striking out eight. He did not issue a walk. Wyatt Olds (1) earned his first save with 3.0 scoreless innings allowing one hit while striking out five. He did not issue a walk. The loss was issued to LHP Matt Osterberg (0-3, 7.71 ERA) after pitching 4.0 innings allowing eight runs on ten hits while walking one and striking out four.
The Sea Dogs return to Hadlock Field tomorrow, Saturday, May 4th for a doubleheader with the Reading Fightin Phils. First pitch for game one is slated for 1:00pm. RHP Angel Bastardo (0-1, 2.89 ERA) will have the start for Portland while Reading will give the ball to RHP Robinson Pina (2-1, 3.79 ERA) in game one. RHP Wikelman Gonzalez (1-1, 7.59 ERA) will start for Portland in game two while the arm for Reading has yet to be announced.