Jantzen Witte’s first RBI came from a double crushed to right center.
His second RBI was not as memorable, but it ended the game.
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WHO: Reading Fightin Phils (Ben Lively 3-1) at Sea Dogs (Luis Diaz 0-3)
WHEN: 1 p.m. Sunday
With the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning of a seven-inning game, Witte was hit by a pitch – a breaking ball that grazed his jersey – forcing in the winning run to give the Portland Sea Dogs a 2-1 victory over the Reading Fightin Phils in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday at Hadlock Field.
The win gave Portland (18-25) a split with Reading (22-19), which won the first game 3-2.
Madison Younginer (1-2) picked up his first Double-A win with two innings of scoreless relief. Mike McCarthy allowed four hits and one run over four innings.
Portland took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Witte doubled home Carlos Asuaje.
With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Jonathan Roof led off with a single. Catcher Danny Bethea, just called up to the Sea Dogs, singled with one out and Blake Tekotte walked to load the bases. After Asuaje struck out, right-hander Stephen Shackleford was brought in to face Witte.
“His fastball runs in on you and his slider breaks away from you,” Witte said. “That’s a tough combination. I was just hoping to get a pitch to hit.”
Witte got ahead 2-0 and then watched two sliders break over for strikes. Shackleford went inside with his next slider, just clipping Witte’s jersey.
“If you’re going to get hit by a pitch, that’s the way to do it,” Witte said.
The Sea Dogs managed only two hits in the opener and trailed the whole game.
Reading starter Tom Waddle (1-3) allowed two runs over five innings. Tyler Knigge shut down the Sea Dogs over the final two innings for his first save.
Portland starter Justin Haley allowed three runs (two earned) in 5 2/3 innings.
Oscar Tejeda singled for Portland in the second inning and scored on a double play. In the fifth, Marco Hernandez singled and eventually scored on Roof’s sacrifice fly.
Pat Light pitched the final 1 1/3 innings for Portland and did not allow a run, although he loaded the bases in the seventh on two walks and a single.
NOTES: The announced attendance was 5,899. … Asuaje had his on-base streak stopped at 29 games in the first game. He was 3 for 4 in the second game. … Infielder Mike Miller was transferred to Triple-A Pawtucket. Bethea was called up from extended spring training to fill Miller’s spot. … Catcher Tim Roberson sat out the doubleheader after his right hand was hit by a pitch Friday night, causing some swelling. Roberson is batting .345. … Infielder Reed Gragnani left the second game after one at-bat because he reaggravated a groin strain. Gragnani, who had missed 10 days, was the designated hitter.
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