READING, Pa. — The Portland Sea Dogs scored six runs over the first two innings Thursday night and rolled to a 9-1 victory against the Reading Fightin Phils at First Energy Stadium.

The Sea Dogs (32-55), who head home off a 3-3 trip, ended their season series against Reading with an 8-13 record.

After a 37-minute rain delay, Portland scored two runs in the first. Marco Hernandez was hit by the game’s first pitch, advanced on a Carlos Asuaje single and scored when Jantzen Witte singled. Manuel Margot added another RBI single.

The Sea Dogs added four runs in the second off Reading starter Mark Leiter Jr. (1-4). Hernandez and Asuaje – who both finished with three hits – had RBI singles and Sam Travis added a two-run single. Jake Romanski had an RBI single in the eighth, and Margot and Keury De La Cruz drove in runs with bases-loaded walks.

“It was good to see our bats come alive,” said Manager Billy McMillon. “Sometimes good things come out of a rain delay. We’ve had some additions to our lineup with guys called up. We just hope it can be contagious.”

Starting pitcher William Cuevas (8-5) raised his record to 6-2 on the road. It was his fifth career start against Reading and his second win this season.

Cuevas retired eight of the first nine batters, four on strikeouts. He didn’t allow a hit in the first three innings and walked two.

He used a combination of a two-seam fastball, four-seam fastball, slider and change-up effectively.

“I felt good with my pitches,” he said. “They were all working tonight for me. It makes everything easier. My teammates also helped with the six runs. I felt confident all night.”

“Cuevas got some confidence with the big start,” said McMillon. “He mixed his pitches well and he was throwing his off-speed pitches for strikes.”

Cuevas took a no-hitter into the fifth when Travis, at first base, bobbled a grounder and was charged with an error.

Art Charles then followed with Reading’s first hit, an RBI double over the head of right fielder Henry Ramos on the warning track.

Cuevas left after five innings, striking out five and walking one over 65 pitches.

Madison Younginer started the sixth and allowed two hits with three strikeouts over two innings.

Robby Scott took over in the eighth and worked his way out of a jam, then retired the side in order in the ninth.

Portland had eight hits through the first two innings and finished with 12.

NOTES: Justin Haley (3-9, 4.84) will open the series against John Gant (2-4, 4.29) of Binghamton when the Sea Dogs return to Hadlock Field on Friday night. … Portland has a 21-11 overall record and 16-8 road record when scoring the first run of a game, and is 27-13 when scoring four or more runs. …Travis made a diving grab on a high hopper in the fifth and flipped from his knees to Cuevas covering. … Margot has hit safely in 15 of his 18 starts in Double-A for the Sea Dogs.