The Reading Fightin Phils (85-49) scored seven runs in the second inning and grabbed the series opener from the Portland Sea Dogs (53-79), 7-1 on Monday night at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Ricardo Pinto (6-6) worked seven scoreless frames on just three hits, one walk, and two strikeouts. Pinto improved to 2-0, 2.27 ERA in five starts against Portland this season.
Kevin McAvoy was saddled with the loss, yielding seven runs on seven hits over 6 innings. McAvoy allowed just one baserunner after the second inning, and finished with four strikeouts. The righty retired 14 of the final 15 batters faced.
KC Serna ignited the seven-run second inning, nailing a run-scoring single to center. Jorge Alfaro and Christian Marrero (2-for-4, 2 2B) delivered two-run doubles and Dylan Cozens added a two-run single. Cozens leads the Eastern League with 116 RBI.
Portland cracked the ice in the eighth inning off reliever Gregory Infante. Jake Romanski (2-for-3) led off the frame with a solo-homer to left field, his fourth of the season.
The Sea Dogs had four hits and dropped their third straight game. Reading clinched the season-series win and improved to 49-19 at home.
The Sea Dogs and Reading Fightin Phils continue their four-game series on Tuesday night at FirstEnergy Stadium, beginning at 6:35 p.m. RHP Mitch Atkins (5-7, 4.54) gets the start for Portland against RHP John Richy (4-3, 4.63) for Reading. Pre-game coverage begins on the WPEI U.S. Cellular Sea Dogs Radio Network at 6:15 p.m.
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