READING, Pa. — They were outhit and outpitched, but the Portland Sea Dogs still had a chance to steal one Saturday night.

Twice, the Sea Dogs loaded the bases with two outs. But the clutch hit didn’t come as Reading topped Portland 4-1 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Reading outhit the Sea Dogs, 15-7. A three-run second inning won the game for the Phillies.

“Other than the one bad inning, it was a good ballgame,” Portland Manager Arnie Beyeler said. “We threatened a lot of times but couldn’t get the big hit.”

The Sea Dogs enjoyed some individual efforts. Che-Hsuan Lin batted leadoff for the first time and reached all four times with two singles and two walks.

Shortstop Jose Iglesias went 2 for 4 with a double, single and the only Sea Dogs’ run.

Iglesias led off the fifth inning with his double down the left-field line. He advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Jason Place’s groundout.

But the innings that got away from Portland were the third and seventh.

In the third, singles by Matt Sheely and Ray Chang, and a walk to Lin loaded the bases with two outs. Lars Anderson then grounded out to second.

In the seventh, an Iglesias single and two walks loaded the bases with two outs for Chang. He flied to center.

“They made the big pitches when they needed to,” Beyeler said.

Phillies starter Michael Crisco (1-0) gave up five hits and one run over six innings.

The Sea Dogs stranded eight runners. Reading stranded 10.

Kyle Weiland (0-1) gave up nine hits but also kept Portland in the game. He retired the side in the first but trouble was looming.

Weiland was a closer for Notre Dame before the Red Sox drafted him in 2008 and made him a starter. His forte is a sinking fastball that induces grounders.

So when the Phillies began spraying line drives in the second inning, Weiland had to battle to contain the damage.

“I didn’t find a rhythm until the fourth or fifth inning,” Weiland said. “I came out strong but I didn’t continue attacking in the second inning.

“Obviously they were gearing up for my fastball because I wasn’t locating the off-speed.”

Reading got three runs on five hits in the second, and another run in the third. Weiland retired seven of the last eight batters he faced, striking out the last two. He never backed down, walking none and throwing 75 pitches, 48 for strikes.

Weiland left after five innings, his team down 4-1.

“He did a nice job,” Beyeler said.

Ryne Lawson gave up six hits but no runs in three innings.

NOTES: As expected, outfielder Ryan Kalish sat out Saturday’s game with a sore shoulder. He also may miss today’s game, but expects to be playing by Monday when the Sea Dogs are in New Britain. Today’s 1 p.m. game completes the series in Reading. Portland right-hander Stephen Fife, a third-round draft pick in 2008, will make his Double-A debut.

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com