Witte homers again, but the Sea Dogs fall to Reading 8-3

Reading, PA - The Reading Fightin Phils (1-1) got even with the Portland Sea Dogs (1-1), taking Friday night's contest, 8-3 in front of 4,771 fans at FirstEnergy Stadium. Reading scored in seven of eight frames and received six strong innings from winning pitcher Ben Lively.

 Jantzen Witte got the 'Dogs off to a great start, blasting his second homer in many games, a solo-shot with two outs in the first. Witte finished 3-for-4, 2 RBI and a run scored.

Reading scored in five straight innings, knocking Justin Haley (loss) out of the game after two

innings. Jorge Alfaro (4-for-5, 2 RBI) tied the game in the first with a single. Angelo Mora (3-for-4) gave Reading the lead for good in the second inning with an RBI single.

Alfaro and Mora struck in the middle innings against Mitch Atkins. Alfaro nailed a run-scoring single in the third and Mora launched a solo-homer in the fourth. Atkins worked 3.2 innings in his Red Sox Organizational debut, giving up five hits and three runs, but fanned five.

Witte would cut the Portland deficit to 5-2 in the sixth inning with an RBI single to score Mike Miller (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RS). Jake Fox answered in the seventh with a solo-homer off Simon Mercedes.

Portland added a run in the eighth inning on a wild pitch and Reading put the game away with two runs in their half of the eighth.

The Sea Dogs and Reading Fightin Phils play game three of their series tonight at FirstEnergy Stadium, first pitch is 6:05 PM. Pre-Game coverage on the U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network begins at 5:45 PM. RHP Kevin McAvoy makes his Double-A debut for Portland. RHP Nick Pivetta gets the start for the Fightins.

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.