READING, Pa. — After a day off Thursday, the Portland Sea Dogs ended a four-game losing streak in efficient and impressive fashion Friday night.

William Cuevas pitched a stellar five innings, relievers Pat Light and Dayan Diaz followed suit, and David Chester launched a two-run homer as the Sea Dogs blanked the Reading Fightin Phils 3-0 at First Energy Stadium for their first shutout of the season.

It was the opener of seven-game trip for the Sea Dogs (8-13), who play three in Reading before starting a four-game set in Binghamton, New York, starting Monday.

Cuevas (3-1) kept Reading’s hitters off balance from the outset with his slider, changeup, and two-seam fastball. He held the Phils to three hits while striking out four in the first four innings, then retired the side in order in the fifth, striking out the final two batters swinging.

He left the game with a good feeling from his six-strikeout, one-walk, 73-pitch performance.

“I was mixing my pitches and making adjustments,” Cuevas said. “This can help me the rest of the season. I knew and played with a couple of these guys in the offseason and I know they have a good lineup.

“It was a good game for all of us.”

Light also had a strong showing, taking over in the sixth and retiring six of the seven batters he faced. Light struck out two in the sixth and after a leadoff walk fanned the side in the seventh.

Diaz earned his second save of the season as he struck out three of the seven batters he faced.

“Cuevas mixed his pitches well and had a number of first-pitch strikes,” said Sea Dogs Manager Billy McMillon. “All three pitchers threw well and we had a good game tonight. The day off must have helped.”

Chester, who entered the game in an 0-for-11 slump and batting .193, came up in the second with Oscar Tejeda on the first and smacked the first pitch he saw from Reading starter Zach Eflin (2-1) high over the left field wall into the outfield stands for a 2-0 lead.

Elfin, who had not allowed an earned run in his first three starts, settled in after the home run, allowing just two hits over the next six innings.

But in the eighth inning, Jonathan Roof hit a long drive over the head of Roman Quinn to the warning track in center field for a leadoff triple. It was Portland’s first hit since a Tejeda double in the fourth.

Luis Martinez followed with a sacrifice fly to right that to give the Sea Dogs an insurance run.

“We had some good situational hitting tonight especially getting the run late,” McMillon said. “It is always good to get the first win of a series.”

NOTES: Portland’s Mike Miller ended a five-game hitting streak. … Carlos Asuage has reached base in 18 of 19 games for the Sea Dogs and Blake Tekotte 16 of 19. … Reading ended a four-game winning streak.