READING, Pennsylvania — The Reading Fightin’ Phils built a 7-0 advantage, then held on to post an 8-7 Father’s Day victory over the Portland Sea Dogs at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Portland (26-43) has lost consecutive one-run games in Reading.
Trailing 8-6 in the ninth inning, Aneury Tavarez led off with a double and scored on a two-out single by Marco Hernandez. Carlos Asuaje drew a walk, but Tyler Knigge fanned Jantzen Witte to end the game.
Reading (36-32) scored seven times off losing pitcher Mike Augliera (2-11) in just 3⅓ innings. Art Charles went 2-for-4 with 4 RBI while Aaron Altherr and Kelly Dugan each finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored.
Augliera gave up nine hits, seven runs (five earned) on one walk and a solo homer to Logan Moore.
Jesse Biddle (7-1) worked five scoreless for the win, despite five walks and two hits, but fanned four and stranded eight runners.
The Sea Dogs made their noise off Reading’s bullpen, scoring seven runs and picking up 11 hits. Cole Sturgeon (2-for-5) put Portland on the board with an RBI double off Joely Rodriguez in the sixth. Hernandez added an infield RBI single, then a balk cut the deficit to 7-3.
Trailing 8-3 in the seventh, the ‘Dogs scored three times off Colton Murray. David Chester began the inning with a long homer to center field.
Later in the frame, Danny Bethea (2-for-5) added a two-run single to close the game to 8-6.
Portland had 14 hits, but left 14 runners on base and went 5-for-19 with runners in scoring position.
Kyle Kraus worked 3⅔ innings of relief, giving up n 3 hits and a run. Madison Younginer pitched a scoreless eighth.
The Sea Dogs and Fightin Phils conclude their four-game series on Monday night beginning at 7:05.