Sea Dogs win in Reading 3-0, 1st shutout of the season

Reading, Pennsylvania - Keury De La Cruz knocked in three runs, including the game-winning two-run double in the eighth inning, lifting the Portland Sea Dogs (9-13) to a 4-1 win over the Reading Fightin Phils (12-9) on Saturday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Sea Dogs have won the first 2 games of the series and look for their first sweep of the season on Sunday afternoon.


Jonathan Aro (3-1) closed out the game with four perfect innings of relief and three strikeouts. Portland's bullpen had to cover 8.2 innings due to an injury to starter Justin Haley, who pitched a 1/3 of an inning on one hit and one walk. The 'pen retired the final 15 batters.


 The Sea Dogs got to Mike Nesseth in the eighth inning, snapping a 1-1 tie with a 3-spot. Jantzen Witte and Oscar Tejeda (2-for-4) started the inning with singles and De La Cruz hit a two-run double. Luis Martinez added the final run with a two-out RBI single.


 The Sea Dogs cracked the ice in the third inning, taking a 1-0 lead off reliever Anthony Vasquez (5 IP, 3 H, R). Tejeda led off with a double, stole third base, and scored on an RBI single from De La Cruz.


Portland drew seven walks in the first 2 innings off starter Tom Windle (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 7 BB, 2 SO, 53 pitches/21 strikes), who left the game after two innings.


 Reading tied the game in their half of the third off Simon Mercedes. Gustavo Pierre smoked the first pitch of the inning for a double and scored on KC Serna's triple to center. Mercedes took a no-decision, working 4.2 innings on 3 hits, one run and 2 strikeouts.


 The Sea Dogs and Reading Fightin Phils wrap up their three-game series this afternoon beginning at 1:35 PM. Luis Diaz (0-1, 5.63) starts for Portland against Reading's Ben Lively (1-0, 2.25). Pre-game coverage begins live at 1:15 PM on the WPEI U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network.