Resilient Reading Responds to Portland Rally with Late Win

BOX SCORE

(Portland, ME) - A ninth-inning single from Carlos De La Cruz gave the Reading Fightin Phils a late 5-4 win over the Portland Sea Dogs on Wednesday night. Reading has now won the first two games of this week's series, the final of the first half.

For the second night in a row, Reading struck first. In the top of the second, Casey Martin led off the inning with a walk and Baron Radcliff followed with his first double of the season to score Martin and put Reading up 1-0. The next batter, Oliver Dunn homered to score himself and Radcliff and grow Reading's lead to 3-0, still in the second. Dunn has now homered in back-to-back games and four times in his last five games.

The Fightin Phils were not done yet in the second. Cody Roberts followed with a double, then Matthew Kroon subsequently doubled home Roberts to put Reading up 4-0.

Reading's offense would go quiet and Portland would begin to battle back. In the bottom of the third, Corey Rosier hit a one-out triple off Mick Abel, and then Ceddanne Rafaela doubled to score Rosier and make it 4-1. Abel would settle in and get through the fifth, still with a one-run lead.

The Phillies No. 2 prospect returned for the sixth inning. Marcel Mayer led off the frame with a solo home run off Abel to make it 4-2. Then Abel allowed a double to Chase Meidroth, which would end Abel's day. Keylan Killgore entered for Reading and allowed a single to Tyler Dearden to score Meidroth and make it 4-3 Reading.

Andrew Baker entered for Reading in the bottom of the seventh. Baker quickly retired the first two batters but issued three-straight free passes, which would quickly end Baker's night and bring Braden Zarbnisky in. Zarbnisky walked Niko Kavadas to tie the game up at four. He would get out of the seventh inning without any further damage.

In the ninth, Cody Roberts led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a softly-hit ground ball from Kroon. Carlos De La Cruz then singled up the middle to score Roberts and put Reaidng up 5-4. Tyler McKay entered for the ninth inning and sent Portland down in order to secure the win for Reading.

Isaac Coffey lasted just two innings in his double-A debut for Portland. He went just two innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, with a trio of strikeouts. On the Reading side, Abel went five-plus innings and allowed three runs on five hits with four strikeouts in the no-decision.

Zarbnisky earned the win for Reading to improve to 3-1 on the season and Ryan Zeferjahn suffered the loss for Portland to fall to 0-2 on the year. McKay earned the save, his third. With the win, Reading improves to 26-38 and Portland falls to 38-27 with the loss. The R-Phils have won two-straight games and three-of-four contests.

Reading and Portland are back in action Thursday night at 6 p.m. RHP Griff McGarry is scheduled to start for Reading and Portland will send RHP Grant Gambrell to the mound. Coverage is available on MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.

The Fightin Phils return home on Wednesday, June 28 to begin a series against the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants), that runs through Monday, July 3. Tickets to all games are still available at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL or in person at the Customers Bank Ticket Office.

The 2023 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.