PORTLAND — The Portland Sea Dogs (85-53) dropped their third straightgame with a 3-1 loss to the Reading Fightin Phils (62-76) on Thursday. The loss, coupled with the New Britain Rock Cats’ 5-3 win over the Binghamton Mets, decreases Portland’s magic number for a division title to two games, keeping the Dogs two games up over the Mets.

The game headed to the seventh tied up at 1-1, but the Phils jumped in front with two runs against a shaky Portland bullpen in the top half of the frame. Aaron Altherr sparked the rally with a lead-off walk and moved to third on KC Serna’s double with one out.

Pete Ruiz was in the jam on the mound and walked Logan Moore, filling the bases with one down. The righty battled back to strike out Edgar Duran, but walked Albert Cartwright on four pitches to give Reading the 2-1 lead, as Altherr scored from third. Dayan Diaz took over for the Dogs on the mound and walked the first man he faced, which upped the lead to 3-1.

Portland tallied three base runners over the final two innings, but could not score against Kyle Simon, who locked down the three-inning save.

Ruiz (3-2) took the loss in relief, allowing three runs on two hits, three walks and one strikeout. Diaz went 2.1 scoreless innings and allowed three base runners on a hit and two walks; he also struck out two.

Brian Johnson took the mound for the Dogs in his 20th start of the season and was stellar again in his final start of the regular season. The southpaw gave up a one-out single to the second man he faced, but went on to retire the next 13 Fightins he faced in order.

His final tune-up start came to an end after five scoreless innings. He allowed two hits, did not walk a batter and struck out one.

Hoby Milner (10-6) climbed the mound for Reading in his final start of the regular season and held the Sea Dogs to one run over six innings, despite the fact that he allowed seven hits and walked six batters. The lone run for Portland against the lefty came in the form of a Keury De La Cruz single, which plated Mike Miller in the third inning.

The Sea Dogs welcome in the Harrisburg Senators for the final home series of the season with the opener of a four-game set tonight at 7 p.m. at Hadlock Field. Portland is scheduled to send Mike Augliera (7-10, 4.69) to the mound against Omar Poveda (1-2, 6.00) of the Senators.