Cole Sturgeon singled in two runs Saturday afternoon and starting pitcher Jalen Beeks shined as the Portland Sea Dogs beat the Reading Fightin Phils 4-1 at Hadlock Field.
Beeks allowed just two hits in five scoreless innings while striking out eight.
Luis Ysla and Williams Jerez each followed with two innings of relief, with Jerez allowing no runs.
Sturgeon, who first joined the Sea Dogs in 2015, went 2 for 4 while playing a stellar right field. He singled home Aneury Tavarez in the first inning for a 1-0 lead.
Portland scored three runs in the fifth. Jose Rosario and Sturgeon each had RBI singles. With two outs and Rosario on third and Sturgeon on first, Portland tried a double steal. Sturgeon was caught in a rundown and Rosario scored for a 4-0 lead.
After playing left field in Friday’s season opener, Sturgeon covered a lot of ground in right, running down a fly ball in foul territory and another in right-center.
“He’s a pretty good outfielder,” Sea Dogs Manager Carlos Febles said, “and he proved he can hit, which is not a surprise.”
Tavarez, who hit a home run Friday, had another good game. His bunt single and stolen base set up the first run. He also singled and scored in the fifth.
Top third-base prospect Rafael Devers went 1 for 4 with a double off the left-field wall.
The Phils scored in the seventh, getting a walk and two singles off Ysla.
Jerez, who converted from the outfield in 2014, allowed one walk and one hit in his two innings.
The two teams meet again at 1 p.m. Sunday. Left-hander Trey Ball makes his Double-A debut for Portland.
Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or:
kthomas@pressherald.com
Twitter: ClearTheBases
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