Ninth Inning Rally Secures 6-3 Portland Victory
August 19, 2022 - Eastern League (EL)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release
Cody Scroggins Strikes Out the Side in Double-A Debut Box Score Play-by-Play Reading, Pennsylvania - The Portland Sea Dogs (56-56, 26-17) used a four-run rally in the top of the ninth inning to complete a comeback win, 6-3 over the Reading Fightin Phils (50-62, 21-21) at FirstEnergy Stadium on Friday.
Reading broke onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning against Portland starter Sterling Sharp. Johan Rojas worked a leadoff walk and stole second base. Two outs later, Jhailyn Ortiz hit a soft single to center, scoring Rojas to give the Fightin Phils a 1-0 lead.
The Sea Dogs responded in the top of the third inning against Fightin Phils starter Griff McGarry. David Hamilton and Cameron Cannon earned back-to-back walks, and Ceddanne Rafaela grounded out, placing runners at second and third. Christian Koss hit a sacrifice fly to center, plating Hamilton, tying the game 1-1.
Reading regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning with Sharp still pitching. With one out in the inning, Carlos De La Cruz homered to left-center. It was his third long ball of the year and it gave the Fightin Phils a 2-1 advantage.
One run came around to score for the Sea Dogs in the top of the fifth against McGarry. Cannon walked with one out and Rafaela doubled. McGarry balked home Cannon, tying the game again, 2-2.
The Fightin Phils took the lead again in the bottom of the eighth inning against Sea Dogs reliever Jacob Wallace. Wendell Rijo led off with a walk. One out later, Ortiz doubled into the right field corner, scoring Rijo from first, giving Reading a 3-2 lead.
Portland fought with their backs against the wall, taking the lead in the top of the ninth inning against Reading reliever Brian Marconi. Hamilton walked and Cameron Cannon singled. Rafaela grounded out, advancing the runners. Christian Koss singled to right, scoring Hamilton and Cannon to give Portland a 4-3 lead. Stephen Scott kept the offense rolling with an RBI base hit to right, scoring Koss, and extending the Sea Dogs lead to 5-3. Niko Kavadas added on with an RBI hit of his own, making it a 6-3 game. Cody Scroggins entered in the bottom of the inning for his Double-A debut, closing out the game for a 6-3 Sea Dogs win.
Wallace (4-2, 4.53 ERA) tossed 2.0 innings in relief, allowing one run on two hits, walking one, and striking out four in his fourth win of the season. Marconi (4-6, 4.53 ERA) recorded just one out and surrendered four runs on four hits and one walk in his sixth loss of the year.
The Sea Dogs and Fightin Phils play the penultimate game of the series on Saturday at FirstEnergy Stadium with a 6:45 PM first pitch. Portland sends LHP Shane Drohan (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound against Reading's pitcher that is to be announced.
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