Reading, Pennsylvania- The Portland Sea Dogs extended their winning streak to nine games with a 5-2 victory over the Reading Fightin Phils on Wednesday night. Triston Casas connected for his second home run in as many games.
Enmanuel De Jesus (3-2) was given the winning decision tossing 5.0 innings allowing two runs on four hits while walking two and striking out seven. The seven strikeouts ties his season high. Victor Santos (1-1) took the loss also pitching 5.0 innings allowing four runs on six hits while walking one and striking out three. Zack Kelly earned his fourth save of the year tossing 1.1 perfect innings with one strikeout.
Portland (36-23) plated their first two runs in the top of the second inning. After a leadoff double by Joey Meneses, Hudson Potts drew a walk. Ronaldo Hernandez then drove home Meneses with an RBI double and Potts scored on a RBI groundout to second base by Ryan Fitzgerald. Reading (26-36) scored in the bottom of the second inning. Rodolfo Duran hit his fifth home run of the year to left field and the Fightin Phils were on the board at 2-1.
In the top of the fifth inning, Grant Williams hit a leadoff double to left field then moved to third on a groundout by Jeisson Rosario. Pedro Castellanos then hit a sacrifice fly to right field allowing Williams to score. Casas then blasted his sixth homer of the season to right field, extending the lead to 4-2. Portland scored again in the top of the seventh inning. Williams reached on his second leadoff hit of the game, then advanced to second on an error and stole third base. Casas drove him home with a sacrifice fly to centerfield to finish the scoring on the night.
RHP Kutter Crawford (2-2, 3.67 ERA) will start for the Sea Dogs Thursday at 7:05 p.m. in game three at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Fightin Phils will send RHP Francisco Morales (2-7, 7.80) to the mound.
