Hernandez fans 10 as Portland beats Reading, 6-0

Dalbec and Witte homer/'Dogs pitchers record 17 strikeouts

Portland, Maine - Darwinzon Hernandez shined in his first Double-A start and led the Sea Dogs (1-3) to their first win of 2019 as Portland defeated the Reading Fightin Phils (3-1) 6-0 on Sunday afternoon at Hadlock Field.

Hernandez (W, 1-0) threw five scoreless innings and allowed just two hits while walking four and matching a career-high with 10 strikeouts.

Bobby Dalbec hit his first home run over the season - over the Maine Monster in left - to begin the scoring in the second inning. Later in the frame Jantzen Witte scored from second base on a throwing error by shortstop Luke Williams. Luke Tendler followed with an RBI single to put Portland ahead 3-0.

After Dalbec singled to lead off the sixth, Witte blasted a 411-foot home run over the Dunkin' video board in to extend the Portland lead to 5-0.  Dalbec added another RBI single in the sixth for the sixth Sea Dogs' run.

The Sea Dogs combined for a season-high 14 hits. Dalbec and Witte each finished 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs, and two RBIs.

Reading starter Bailey Falter (L, 0-1) allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits in 5.1 innings, he struck out five and walked none.

Andrew Schwaab worked two scoreless innings of relief and allowed just one hit while fanning four.  Durbin Feltman pitched a perfect eighth with one strikeout. Matthew Gorst closed out the game with a perfect ninth and two strikeouts. Sea Dogs pitchers combined to strike out 17 Reading batters. The Fightins didn't advance a baserunner past second
base. The 17 strikeouts by Portland pitchers was the most since April 5, 2013, vs. Trenton at Hadlock Field.

The Sea Dogs begin a three-game series at Hadlock Field with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Mets' affiliate) tomorrow night at 6:00 pm. LHP Dedgar Jimenez makes his 2019 debut for Portland against RHP Harol Gonzalez of Binghamton.