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EL Reading Fightin Phils

Portland's Pitching Overpowers Reading to Take Series

April 23, 2023 - Eastern League (EL)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


(Portland, ME) - Portland pitcher Sterling Sharp and the Sea Dogs' bullpen combined for a 6-1 victory over the Reading Fightin Phils on Sunday afternoon. The win gave Portland the four-games to-two series victory this week.

Portland got a runner on in the bottom of the first after Nick Yorke walked, but Yorke would be thrown out at second by Reading catcher Max McDowell to end the frame.

Reading would get a couple of runners on in the top of the second. Wendell Rijo walked and that was followed by an Ethan Wilson single. But, Sharp induced a shallow fly out and line out on back-to-back at-bats to escape the inning with no damage.

Edwin Diaz would get Portland's first hit of the day in a loud way. Diaz crushed a home run over the Maine Monster in left that traveled 333 feet to give the Sea Dogs a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Portland would threaten again in the bottom of the fourth with runners on the corners and two outs and Ceddanne Rafaela would score on a wild pitch from Reading pitcher David Parkinson to make it 2-0.

Reading cut the lead in half in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Oliver Dunn hit a ground ball that hit off Portland first baseman Alex Binelas that scored McDowell. But, any chance of a continuing rally from the R-Phils was stifled when Cam Cannon was thrown out at third to end the inning. The score would be 2-1 Portland at the mid-way point of the game.

After allowing a two-out single to Phillip Sikes in the fifth, Parkinson's day would come to an end. The lefty for Reading would go 4.2 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits, while striking out a Reading season-high eight hitters. Parkinson's eight strikeouts are also the most he has had in a game since May 13, 2021, when he was with Lehigh Valley.

On the other side, Sharp was "sharp" for Portland again to continue his fantastic start to the season. He went six innings, allowing one run on three hits, while walking four R-Phils and sending three down on strikes.

Braden Zarbnisky entered after Parkinson and kept the Portland bats quiet. Zarbnisky threw 1.1 innings, allowing no runs and hits, while surrendering two walks and striking out a pair of Portland hitters. Andrew Schultz would enter after Zarbnisky in the bottom of the seventh inning. Schultz would dance around some trouble in the bottom of the seventh but left the inning unscathed.

Keylan Killgore entered for Reading in the bottom of the eighth looking to keep it a 2-1 game. But, Portland added insurance thanks to an RBI single from Stephen Scott to make it 3-1 Sea Dogs. That would end Killgore's quick day and Adam Leverett would come in for the R-Phils. Leverett was quickly greeted with a two-run triple from Tyler McDonough to increase Portland's lead to 5-1. Another run came home on a ground ball up the middle from Diaz to make it 6-1 Sea Dogs.

The win went to Portland's Sharp, who improves to 1-0 on the season through three starts. Reading's Parkinson suffered the loss to drop to 0-1 on the year.

With the loss, Reading falls to 4-11 and Portland improves to 11-4 with the win. Portland takes the series this week over the R-Phils, winning four-of-six games.

Next up, the Fightin Phils return home on Tuesday, April 25 for the Morning Game against the Altoona Curve. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. and tickets are still available. You can purchase tickets at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL or in person at the Customers Bank Ticket Office.

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Eastern League Stories from April 23, 2023


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