Reading holds on for an 8-6 win over Portland

Hernandez 3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI

Reading, PA - The Reading Fightin Phils (45-39) scored in the first 5 innings and held on to beat the Portland Sea Dogs (31-54), 8-6, Tuesday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. Portland dropped to 2-2 on their six-game roadtrip.

Marco Hernandez led the offensive charge for Portland, going 3-for-5, HR and 2 RBI. Reading's Cam Perkins homered and drove in three runs.

Jerome Williams (ND) made a Major League Rehab Assignment for Reading, working 3.2 IP on three hits and two runs.

Both teams scored single runs in the first inning. Hernandez led off the game with a homer to center, his 5th of the season. Reading responded with a two-out RBI single from Andrew Knapp.

Reading took a 2-1 lead in the second, scoring their second two-out run. Harold Martinez led off with a single and scored on a single by J.P. Crawford.

Cam Perkins gave the Fightins a 4-1 lead in the third, blasting a two-run homer to left off Augliera. The homer was the first for Reading in July.

Manuel Margot extended his hitting streak to six games with a two-out RBI single in the fourth, scoring Keury De La Cruz, and cutting Reading's lead to 4-2. Reading responded in the fourth, receiving a two-run single by Brock Stassi. The hit knocked Mike Augliera (L, 2-12) out of the game. Augliera suffered the loss, allowing eight hits and six runs over 3.1 IP.

Hernandez's hot hitting continued, picking his third of the game in the fifth, a single, driving home Tim Roberson. Once again, Reading responded, courtesy of Brian Pointer's two-out RBI double.

The Sea Dogs cut the lead to 7-5 in the sixth inning off Hoby Milner (W, 2-1). Jantzen Witte led off with a double and scored on Sam Travis' triple. Following a walk, Margot forced in a run with a fielder's choice. Portland added a run in the eighth on David Chester's sac-fly, but Perkins executed a perfect squeeze bun in the eighth for the game's final run.

Stephen Shackleford pitched a perfect ninth for his 18th save of the season.

The Sea Dogs and Reading Fightin Phils continue their three-game series on Wednesday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. RHP Mike McCarthy (4-3, 4.05) makes the start for Portland. LHP Jesse Bilddle (7-2, 4.24) goes for Reading. Pre-Game coverage on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network begins at 6:45 PM.


Tickets are still available for the next Sea Dogs homestand beginning July 10th as well as the Eastern League All-Star Game on July 15th at Hadlock Field.  Call 207-879-9500 or visit seadogs.com to book your nine-inning vacation today!