Fightins Host Portland Sea Dogs in Home Opener on Tuesday 

(Reading, PA) - The Reading Fightin Phils (1-2) open their season at home on Tuesday, April 9, vs the Portland Sea Dogs (0-1) at 6:45 PM. After dropping two out of three to Bowie over the weekend, Reading looks to start afresh with their first win at home.

The Fightins won three out of five games in their last series vs Portland last September. Carlos De La Cruz hit .264 with three runs scored, four hits, one homer, and six RBI in the series. Marcus Lee Sang also had a strong series with three hits and a home run.

R-Phils starting pitcher Zach Haake executed well in his last outing against the Sea Dogs, allowing only one hit and striking out four through six innings of work.

Reading looks to solidify their offense on Tuesday, as they laid a nice foundation in their opening series vs. Bowie. Gabriel Rincones Jr. swung the bat well against the Baysox, smashing two home runs with a 1.035 OPS. Carson Taylor also hit a game-tying homerun in Sunday’s game and is hitting .250 with three RBI. De La Cruz and Lee Sang also recorded RBI in the Bowie series.

Portland comes to Reading with just one game on the season, as their first two games were postponed due to a snowstorm. They fell to the Hartford Yard Goats on Opening Day on Sunday, 1-0.

Despite the loss, the Sea Dogs roster is filled with top prospects. Marcelo Mayer enters the 2024 season ranked as the Red Sox’ No. 1 prospect for the second-consecutive season. He’s ranked as the No. 15 prospect in Minor League Baseball by MLB.com and the best power hitter and defensive infielder in the Red Sox farm system by Baseball America. The 21-year-old was a first-round pick in 2021 and has made 173 starts at shortstop and one at third base. In 2023, he hit .236 with 19 doubles, 13 homers, 54 RBI and 43 runs scored.

Outfielder Roman Anthony is also ranked as the Red Sox No. 2 prospect by both Baseball America and MLB.com and as the #24 prospect in Minor League Baseball. He made his Double-A debut in 2023 at 19 years old. In 10 games with Portland, he posted a .343 batting average with four doubles, one homer, 8 RBI, and three stolen bases.

Lastly, catcher Kyle Teel returns to the Sea Dogs after a stellar stint in 2023. In 10 games with Portland, he hit .323 with two doubles, one home run, 11 RBI, and two stolen bases. The Red Sox first-round pick in the 2023 draft enters the 2024 season ranked as the No. 3 prospect according to Baseball America and MLB.com, and #40 prospect in Minor League Baseball. Mayer, Anthony, and Teel played in the inaugural Spring Breakout Game.

Other notable names on the Sea Dogs roster this season are No. 8 prospect, Nick Yorke, who was ranked as the Sox’ best hitter for average in 2022 and 2023, entering 2024 with the same title according to Baseball America. The Sea Dogs' game-one starter, Wikelman Gonzalez, is ranked as the Red Sox’ No. 7 prospect. He has struck out 30.4% of batters faced in his minor league career.

On Wednesday, LHP Lachlan Wells is scheduled to make the start for the Fightins, facing Isaac Coffey for the Sea Dogs. On Thursday Matt Osterberg will take the mound vs Zach Penrod, and Friday the R-Phils starter Efrain Contreras will face Hunter Dobbins. On Saturday, Robinson Pina will make his second start of the year against Helcris Olivarez, and Sunday's finale will feature Lachlan Wells vs righty, Angel Bastardo.

Don’t miss the action on Tuesday night, as the Fightins welcome the Sea Dogs to FirstEnergy Stadium at 6:45 p.m. Pregame radio coverage gets underway at 6:30 p.m. and fans can listen at rphils.com/radio. A video stream is also available via MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.

Tuesday features a Bryson Stott bobblehead (with walk-up song!) for the first 3,000 adults. Wednesday and Thursday and unused ticket games. On Friday, the first 1,500 adults will receive an America's Classic Ballpark Renovation Commemorative Cup, Saturday the first 1,500 kids will get a 2024 R-Phils Team Photo with Home Schedule, and the series finishes Sunday with an R-Phils Mascots and Characters Meet and Greet and Photo Session for all kids starting at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets for all games at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL or in-person at the Customers Bank Ticket Office.

The 2024 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.