Wilkerson shines in Opening Act! 'Dogs win 3-1 at Reading Career-high 11 K's for Aaron Wilkerson

Reading, PA - The Sea Dogs did not disappoint on Opening Night, defeating the Reading Fightin Phils 3-1 on Thursday night at FirstEnergy Stadium.  Portland improved to 12-11 All-Time on Opening Day, including three straight wins against Reading.

 

Aaron Wilkerson set the tone for the Sea Dogs, fanning a career-high 11 batters on just two hits, and one walk over 5.2 innings. Wilkerson retired the first 9 batters, before a lead-off double to Roman Quinn. The righty improved to 5-1 in eight career Double-A starts.

 

Reading made things interesting in the ninth inning off Rob Wort. Jake Fox singled home J.P. Crawford.  Wort uncorked a wild pitched but stranded two runners in scoring position to earn his first Double-A save.

 

Mike Miller gave the Sea Dogs a 1-0 lead in the third inning with a run-scoring double off losing pitcher Alec Asher.

 

Jantzen Witte knocked in the next two runs for the 'Dogs.  In the fifth, his line-drive sacrifice fly scored Tzu-Wei Lin. In the seventh, Witte hit a rocket into the left-field seats with two outs off Tom Windle.

 

Portland's bullpen received scoreless outings from Williams Jerez (1.1 IP) and Luis Ysla.

 

Wilkerson's 11 strikeouts were the most since Brian Johnson fanned 12 on July 25, 2014 at New Britain.

 

The Sea Dogs and Reading Fightin Phils continue their four-game series night on Friday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. Pre-Game coverage on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network begins at 6:45 PM. Justin Haley gets the starting nod for Portland against Reading's Ben Lively.

 

Portland's first homestand begins April 14^th against the Hartford Yard Goats. Tickets are available at 207-879-9500 or online at seadogs.com.