READING, Pa. (AP) – Sheldon Fuse’s three-run double sparked the Portland Sea Dogs to an 8-3 Eastern League win over the Reading Phillies on Wednesday night.

Chris Smith (1-0) got the win, pitching six innings. He allowed nine hits and three runs, but did not walk a batter. Eddie Candelario (0-1) took the loss, allowing two hits and four runs over 3 2-3 innings. He walked five.

The Phillies led 2-0 in the fourth after a pair of Ryan Howard homers, his fifth and sixth of the season.

Portland scored four times in the fourth. Jeff Bailey, John Hattig and Kenny Perez all walked ahead of Fulse’s bases-clearing double. Fulse scored on Jesus Medrano’s double.

Kevin Barker homered for Reading, his third of the year, to make it 4-3 in the sixth.

Jeff Bailey had a pair of RBI singles for the Sea Dogs, including one in the three-run ninth. Medrano singled, doubled, walked and scored once.

AP-ES-04-28-04 2241EDT