READING, Pa. — The Reading Fightin Phils not only broke a 20-inning scoreless streak but received strong pitching Saturday night in a 3-2 victory against the Portland Sea Dogs at First Energy Stadium.

Reading starter Ben Lively scattered four hits over seven innings and Art Charles had a timely hit for the Phils in the second of a four-game set.

It was the third time Lively beat Portland (26-42) this season. Overall, Portland has lost four of its last five.

Lively (5-5), ranked as the Philadelphia Phillies’ seventh-best prospect, beat Portland on May 3 (6-5) and May 24 (3-2).

His lone blemish Saturday night was a two-run homer by Marco Hernandez in the third. Lively allowed a single and a walk the rest of the way.

“We had a good game plan going in against him,” said Sea Dogs Manager Billy McMillon. “He didn’t show us anything different. We just didn’t get any hits.”

Portland starter Luis Diaz (0-5) matched his longest outing of the year, throwing six innings. He allowed three runs and eight hits with a walk and two strikeouts over 88 pitches.

Diaz was in jams the first three innings, throwing 40 pitches and allowing runners in scoring position. But he retired eight of the next nine batters before Rene Garcia singled in the sixth.

In his previous outing, Diaz threw five innings and allowed four runs and six hits in a 5-1 loss at Richmond.

“He worked out of some tough spots and it was good to see him throw six innings tonight,” said McMillon. “We have been seeing progress and he has been pitching better lately. We just couldn’t support him tonight.”

Miguel Celestino relieved in the seventh and worked out of trouble after Reading put runners on first and second with nobody out. He struck out Charles to end the inning.

Reading scored in the first. Brian Pointer walked, stole second and moved to third on a high throw from catcher Luis Martinez that sailed into center. K.C. Serna’s groundout scored Pointer.

Portland took a 2-1 lead in the third when Hernandez smacked the first pitch from Lively over the right-field wall with Cole Sturgen on base. Before the homer, the Sea Dogs didn’t have a runner advance past second base.

But Reading regained the lead in the bottom of the inning after loading the bases with a pair of singles and a walk. Charles followed with a looping single to right to drive in two, before Diaz struck out Pointer swinging to end the inning.

Portland’s Dave Sappelt left the game in the top of the fifth, limping after rounding second base when Lively threw high into center field trying to start a double play.

NOTES: Aneury Tavarez of Portland entered with three straight multihit games, going 7 for 11 (.636) with a homer and two RBI. He finished 0 for 3. … Carlos Asuaje had the lone multihit game for the Sea Dogs (2 for 3). … Mike Augliera (2-10, 4.67) opposes Jesse Biddle (6-1, 3.76) on Sunday and Heri Quevedo (0-3, 9.58) opposes Zach Elfin (4-4, 2.99) on Monday night. … Portland missed a chance to even its road record. The Dogs are 15-17 away from Hadlock.

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