PORTLAND — The Portland Sea Dogs (85-52) fell for the second straight night to the Reading Fightin’ Phils (61-76), dropping a 5-2 decision Wednesday night at Hadlock Field.

The loss is the second straight for Portland, which holds a two-game lead over Binghamton in the Eastern Division standings.

The Phils exploded for four runs in the second inning and took an early lead against starter Keith Couch. Jake Fox began the frame with a solo homer down the line in left field and over the Maine Monster. Couch (8-2) failed to settle in after the homer and gave up three straight singles for a 2- 0 Reading lead. Logan Moore capped the Reading uprising with a two-run home run for a 4-0 lead.

Adam Loewen pitched well for the Phils. He kept the Sea Dogs off the board over the first three frames before running into trouble in the fourth. A walk, single and another walk loaded the bases, but Loewen retired Heiker Meneses on a groundball to end the threat.

The Sea Dogs loaded the bases again in the fifth, this time with nobody out. David Chester drove in a run on a fielder’s choice, and Mike Brenly picked up an RBI in the sixth to get Portland to 4- 2.

Loewen went five-plus, allowing two runs on four hits and six walks with three strikeouts.

Reading completed the scoring in the seventh. Couch (8-2) took the loss, going 6.2 innings on eight hits and three strikeouts.

The series concludes tonight at 6 p.m., with Brian Johnson (10-2) pitching for Portland against Reading’s Hoby Milner (9-6).