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READING, Pa. — Mickey Pena (2-0) fired five scoreless innings, and Portland (19-10) used a three-run third inning to beat the Reading Fightin’ Phils (14-14), 4-0 on Tuesday night at FirstEnergy Stadium in Eastern League baseball action.

Portland has won four straight and is nine games over .500 for the first time this season.

Pena allowed one runner past second base, yielding three hits (two infield singles), two walks and fanning five.

Reading starter Severino Gonzalez (3-2) beat the Sea Dogs in his last start on April 30 at Hadlock Field, but took the loss on Tuesday. Gonzalez gave up four runs on six hits over six innings.

The Sea Dogs got to Gonzalez in the third inning, sending eight hitters to the plate. Shannon Wilkerson led off the frame with a single and Deven Marrero drew a one-out walk. Travis Shaw knocked in the game’s first run with a single off the shortstop’s glove. With two outs, Blake Swihart and Henry Ramos delivered back-to-back RBI singles.

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In the fourth, Betts picked up a hit for the 26th time in 28 games, blooping an RBI single to plate Derrik Gibson and giving Portland a 4-0 advantage. Betts extended his on-base streak to 58 straight games.

Nate Reed fired three scoreless to earn his first Double-A hold. Aaron Kurcz closed out the win, working around a pair of singles in the ninth.

The teams were to wrap up the three-game series today at 11:35 a.m.


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