PORTLAND — The Portland Sea Dogs (70-41) and Reading Fightin Phils (45-63) split a doubleheader Tuesday night at Hadlock Field.

Henry Owens became the first pitcher in franchise history to win 14 games, as the Dogs took the twin bill opener 3-2 at Hadlock Field. Owens is also the first pitcher in professional baseball this season to reach 14 victories.

Reading made things interesting in the final two innings of the seven-inning game, but Aaron Kurcz earned the save, working around a lead-off double by Kelly Dugan in the seventh. In the sixth, Kurcz stranded two runners with one out.

Owens tossed five innings, giving up six hits, two runs, two walks and fanned three.

Reading’s Ryan O’Sullivan (5-6) went the distance, but took the loss for Reading.

Portland took a 1-0 lead in the second inning off O’Sullivan. Keury De La Cruz started the rally with a one-out single. With two outs, Jonathan Roof was hit by a pitch, and Ryan Dent (3-for-3, RBI) nailed a run-scoring single.

De La Cruz gave Portland a 2-0 advantage in the third inning, delivering a run-scoring fielder’s choice.

Reading got on the board against Owens in the fourth inning with two outs. Zach Collier scored on a double by Edgar Duran (3-for-3, RBI).

The Dogs responded with a run-scoring double from Derrik Gibson, improving Portland’s lead to 3-1. Reading answered the bell again, however, plating its second two-out run. Carlos Alonso led off with a triple and came home on a two-out single by Jake Fox.

The Fightins bounced back from a game one loss and returned the favor 4-1 to the Sea Dogs in game two of the doubleheader.

Portland jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first, courtesy of an RBI single off the bat of Michael Almanzar. The knock plated Blake Swihart from second, after the designated hitter singled and stole second off of the starter Chris Bootcheck.

Reading scored in the next half inning and tied it at 1-1 with an RBI single from shortstop K.C. Serna against Jeremy Kehrt.

The Fightins continued to roll and plated a pair against the starter in the third. Carlos Alonso had the go-ahead RBI single, which scored Raywilly Gomez from second, following his double. Jake Fox pushed the lead to two with a two-out RBI single and made it 3-1. 

Kehrt (1-2) pitched into the sixth inning, where he gave up the fourth and final run of the night. Duran connected for his fourth double of the day, which plated Brock Stassi and gave the Phils the 4-1 lead.

Portland had no response after the first frame for Reading’s pitchers. Bootcheck went the first two, but was backed up by three strong innings of work from Kyle Simon. Simon (3-2) earned the win with the three scoreless innings of work; he gave up two hits and struck out one.

Nefi Ogando earned a hold with a scoreless sixth and Colton Murray closed out the night with a perfect seventh, locking down his second save of the season.