From STaff Reports

Reading — The Reading Fightin Phils (2-2) stymied the comeback of the Portland Sea Dogs (2-2), for the second game in a row, and won 4-3 Sunday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, Penn. The loss for the Dogs marks the second in a row and forces a split of the four game series.

For the first time in the young season, the Fightins jumped out to a lead, thanks to a four-run second inning against Portland’s Mike Augliera, Brock Stassi, Matt Tolbert, and Chris Serritella began the frame with three straight singles, the last of which produced the first run of the game.

Following a sacrifice bunt from Edgar Duran, leadoff man and second baseman Carlos Alonso drove a three-run shot to left that increased the home team’s lead to 4-0.

The Dogs began the comeback in the following frame as Bo Greenwell reached via a passed ball on a third strike and was moved to second on a throwing error by the pitcher Perci Garner. With two outs, Deven Marrero picked up the RBI with an infield single and pulled Portland to within three at 4-1.

Garner (1-0) showed solid command of the zone, but was touched up for two more runs over his final three innings.

In the fourth, Henry Ramos singled and moved into scoring position courtesy of a passed ball. Matt Spring was next and doubled home Ramos in his second at-bat of the season. Two innings later, it was again Spring (1-3, 2RBI) that drove home a run and brought Portland to within one, at 4-3, with a sacrifice fly.

That would be all she wrote offensively for the Sea Dogs as the bullpen took over for Reading and shut the door. For the second night in a row, Jay Johnson worked the eighth in scoreless fashion and Ken Giles was called upon for the ninth.

Giles struck out the side in order, with his final pitch clocked as 101 miles per hour, and earned his second save in as many games.