Reading Falls at Home for First Time this Season

BOX SCORE

(Reading, PA) - The Reading Fightin Phils (3-3) fell to the Portland Sea Dogs (1-3) 11-0 on Friday, as they returned to play after a rainout on Thursday. Tonight's loss is Reading's first home loss of the season as they fall back to the .500 mark.

Portland got on the board first in the fourth inning. After back-to-back singles by Marcelo Mayer and Kyle Teel, first-baseman Blaze Jordan hit a sac-fly, driving in a run, 1-0. They tacked on two more runs in the fifth, as Max Ferguson drove in a run after an error by Carlos De La Cruz in center-field, allowing Ferguson to reach third base. Mickey Gasper came in to score the Sea Dogs' second run. After hitting into a fielder's choice, Roman Anthony also earned an RBI and Ferguson came into score. Sea Dogs increased their lead 3-0.

Right-hander, Andrew Schultz relieved Matt Osterberg (L, 0-1) in the 6th. Osterberg gave up one earned run and struck out five batters through five innings. In the seventh, Beau Burrows replaced Schultz after he gave up a two-run homer to Ferguson, giving the Sea Dogs a 5-0 lead. Two batters later, Marcelo Mayer hit a solo shot to center, and the Sea Dogs led, 6-0.

The Fightins bats struggled, as the team had only four hits in the game. Sea Dogs starter Zach Penrod (W, 1-0) was lights out, allowed just two hits, and struck out eight.

The Sea Dogs broke the game open in the ninth inning as they scored five runs off of Reading pitcher, Carlos Francisco. After two walks, Teel hit an RBI single, making the score 7-0. Jordan followed with his own RBI single on a line drive to left and another run scored, 8-0. Nick Yorke increased their lead 9-0 as he hit an RBI double, scoring Jordan. Eddison Paulino drove in two more runs on an RBI single, scoring Yorke. Portland tacked on a couple more runs in the ninth to grow its lead to 11-0.

The Fightin Phils and Sea Dogs are back in action Saturday night for a single-admission doubleheader. The first pitch of game one is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. and RHP Efrain Contreras will start game one for Reading, and he will go opposite LHP Helcris Olivarez for Portland. Game two will begin approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of game one and will feature RHP Robinson Pina for the Fightin Phils, against RHP Hunter Dobbins for the Sea Dogs. Pregame radio coverage begins at 5 p.m. and fans can listen at rphils.com/radio. A video stream is also available via MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.

On 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.