Coyle Connects in 'Dogs 9-4 win at Reading

Henry Owens first 10-game winner in the E.L., sets franchise record

Reading, Pa. -- Sean Coyle nailed a 3-run double in the seventh with two outs, and Henry Owens earned his 10th win of the season, as the Portland Sea Dogs (51-27) took the opener in Reading, 9-4 on Friday night at First Energy Stadium.  Noe Ramirez wrapped up the win with a three-inning save.

Trailing 4-3 after six innings, the 'Dogs rallied for three runs off losing pitcher Colton Murray (0-2).  Reading starter Hoby Milner got the first 2 outs of the seventh, but was lifted for Murray. Derrik Gibson drew a walk, Deven Marrero reached on an infield single and Blake Swihart reached on an error by 2B Carlos Alonzo. Coyle worked a count 3-2 and smoked the game-winning double off the right-field wall.

Lefty Henry Owens (10-3) left the game trailing, but earned his league-leading 10th win of the season. With
his performance tonight, Owens now holds the Sea Dogs franchise record for career ERA at 2.13, surpassing Jon Lester's 2.57 career mark.  The lefty tossed six innings on four hits, four runs, two walks and six strikeouts. He allowed two homers, snapping a streak of 54.1 innings pitched without allowing a long ball.

Ramirez made it 8-for-8 in save chances, working the final three innings on one hit and one walk.

Portland received an RBI from the top seven in the lineup and the top four had multi-hit games. The 'Dogs scored six runs off the Reading bullpen. Matt Spring blasted a homer in the eighth to extend the lead to three. Portland scored twice in the ninth inning off former Red Sox farmhand Nefi Ogando. David Chester picked up his team-leading 11th RBI with the bases loaded and Keury De La Cruz added a sac-fly.

Gibson led off the game in style, nailing a double down the left-field line.  After a ground out by Marrero, Swihart gave the 'Dogs a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly.

Reading rebounded in their first turn off Owens. Carlos Alonzo drew a four-pitch walk and Peter Lavin hit a two-run homer to right field.

Portland grabbed the lead back in the third inning off Milner. Heiker Meneses began the frame with a single and scored on a double by Gibson.  On the hit, Gibson took third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Marrero.

Owens yielded a two-out homer to Aaron Altherr in the fifth inning, but retired the final four batters to close out his start.

Portland is 7-4 against Reading this season and improve to 24 games over .500 for the third time this season.


The Sea Dogs and Fightin Phils get set for game two of their four-game series Friday night at 7:05PM from FirstEnergy Stadium LHP Brian Johnson (6-1, 1.66) is scheduled to take the hill for the Sea Dogs and will face RHP Perci Garner (4-4, 4.14) of the Fightin Phils. Radio coverage begins at 6:45PM on the WPEI U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network. MiLB.tv coverage begins at 6:55PM.