Sea Dogs score early, win at Reading 9-1

William Cuevas earns his 8th win of the season

Reading, PA - The Portland Sea Dogs (32-55) scored six runs over the first 2 innings, and grabbed the series finale from the Reading Fightin Phils (46-40), 9-1, Thursday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. Portland finished the roadtrip at 3-3 and 8-13 against Reading this season.

William Cuevas (8-5) fired five innings, allowing one hit, one run (unearned) and fanning four, earning his team-leading eighth win of the season. Cuevas' next outing will be in the Eastern League All-Star Game on Wednesday at Hadlock Field.

The Fightins scored that run off Cuevas in the fifth inning. Brian Pointer reached on an error and scored on a double by Art Charles.

Portland scored two in the first inning off losing pitcher Mark Leiter (1-4). Jantzen Witte (1-for-3, 2 BB) and Manuel Margot (1-for-3, RBI, 2 BB) delivered RBI singles to give the 'Dogs a 2-0 lead. In the second, Marco Hernandez (3-for-4, .330 - leads the league) and Carlos Asuaje (3-for-4) each had run-scoring singles - Sam Travis nailed a two-out, two-run single.

Leiter Jr., who tossed a complete-game on June 29th at Hadlock Field, suffered the loss. The righty yielded six runs on nine hits over 6 IP, but retired 12 of the final 14 batters faced.

Madison Younginer tossed two scoreless innings of relief for Portland, allowing two hits and three strikeouts. Robby Scott closed out the game with two scoreless, working out of a bases-loaded, one-jam in the eighth.

Catcher Jake Romanski extended his hitting streak to five games, going 2-for-4 with an RBI single in the eighth.

The Sea Dogs open up their final series before the All-Star Break tonight against the Binghamton Mets at Hadlock Field. Justin Haley (3-9, 4.84) makes the start for Portland. John Gant (2-4, 4.29) toes the rubber for Binghamton. Pre-Game coverage on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network begins at 6:450PM.

Tickets are available for the homestand beginning and 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!