The Portland Sea Dogs took an early 8-0 lead Sunday, and the invigorated Trey Ball was locating his fastball well while mixing in an improved slider.

Ball was in line for the win after giving up three runs – one earned – over six innings

Sea Dogs starting pitcher Trey Ball allowed just one earned run in six innings Sunday and left with an 8-3 lead, but the Reading Fightin Phils rallied for a 13-8 win. Staff photo by Carl D. Walsh

There was so much to cheer about for the Hadlock Field crowd on a pleasant afternoon.

Then all of a sudden, there was so much to groan about.

The Sea Dogs bullpen gave up the lead and then some, as the Reading Fightin Phils rallied for 13-8 victory. Jiandido Tromp had three doubles for Reading (15-11), which scored seven runs in the seventh inning and kept adding to its lead.

“It’s a rough one,” said catcher Jake DePew, who recorded a run and a RBI in the third inning, when the Sea Dogs (15-10) scored all their runs. “Not much we can do about it but move on to tomorrow.”

Portland reliever Luis Ysla (0-2) entered with a 1.64 ERA, but he started the seventh by giving up a Tromp double and Mitch Walding RBI single.

After a strikeout, Ysla walked three to force home two runs.

“One of those days. He couldn’t throw his fastball for a strike,” Sea Dogs Manager Carlos Febles said. “I thought his change-up was pretty good, but if you can’t throw the fastball for a strike … But he had been throwing the ball well.”

After a sacrifice fly, Kyle Martin hit a fly ball, and right fielder Nick Longhi slipped. The ball dropped in and Martin had a two-run double, tying the game.

Josh Smith relieved and walked his first batter. Tromp then stroked another double, scoring two for a 10-8 Reading lead.

Smith gave up three more runs – two earned – in the eighth and ninth innings.

The Sea Dogs, after their big third inning, managed only two more hits.

In the third inning, two-run singles from Josh Tobias and Joseph Monge highlighted the rally.

Ball was in line for his second straight win, following a six-inning scoreless performance in Hartford. Ball worked in his 92 mph fastball while getting three strikeouts with his slider.

“His last couple of starts, he’s been really good getting ahead of hitters,” DePew said. “His slider’s been his best pitch.”

Ball allowed one hit through four innings.

Tromp led off the fifth with a double, then tried to steal third and was initially called out, but third baseman Rafael Devers dropped DePew’s throw. Tromp scored on a sacrifice fly.

With two outs, Scott Kingery homered over the left-field wall.

In the sixth, Andrew Pullin homered to right on a hanging slider. Kingery and Pullin each have seven home runs, tied for the Eastern League lead.

Still, Portland had an 8-3 lead. It vanished quickly.

Portland plays at Hadlock again at 6 p.m. Monday against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies.

NOTES: The last time the Sea Dogs blew a lead that large was in 2008 when they lost in Akron after being ahead by 10 runs. … Devers went 1 for 4 with an RBI. He’s batting .322. … The announced paid attendance was 6,131. … Before the game, the Sea Dogs presented road race organizer Howard Spear with the William Troubh Community Service Award. … Also before the game, a moment of silence was held for Falmouth native and Cheverus High graduate Kyle Milliken, the Navy SEAL who was killed in Somalia on Friday.

Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases

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