Hard to think that this game was once a pitcher’s duel, since it ended up a Reading Fightin Phils’ 8-3 win over the Portland Sea Dogs.

But for five innings Monday, the left-handers were dealing, with Ranger Suarez of Reading firing mid-90’s fastballs and Matt Kent of Portland mixing an 88 mph fastball with a variety of pitches and speeds.

“(Kent) definitely had both slider and change-up working, and he’s really crafty with his fastball,” said Reading slugger Zach Green, who struck out in the first inning. “But we can grind out at-bats.”

Indeed, the Phils drove up Kent’s pitch count. Portland led 2-1 when Reading began the sixth inning with two singles sandwiched around Kent’s only walk (a nine-pitch effort by Cornelius Randolph, who struck out two previous times).

His pitch count at 102, Kent left the game with the bases loaded and no outs.

On Trey Ball’s fourth pitch, Jan Hernandez swatted a grand slam over the left-field wall. Reading led 5-2 and suddenly Kent’s line wasn’t so hot: five-plus innings, eight hits, four runs, one walk and eight strikeouts, five in the first two innings.

“We had a good game plan going in and it showed in the first innings,” Kent said. “They scratched across a run in the fourth. … They had eight singles and put them together at the right time, and got the big hit when they needed it. … Just baseball. It happens.”

Kent, a 13th-round draft pick out of Texas A&M, has a 3.53 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 352/3 innings. With his fastball and slider, which can come from over the top or sidearm, he throws a cutter, curve and change-up.

“He keeps them off balance with his mix,” Sea Dogs pitching coach Paul Abbott said. “Changes speeds, moves the ball in and out. Gives them different arm angles and gives (batters) fits.”

Suarez, the Phillies’ No. 9 prospect according to milb.com, was dominant with four of his five innings going 1-2-3. Portland got to him in the third, loading the bases with no outs. Jeremy Rivera singled in a run and Jantzen Witte, with one out, walked in a run. But Suarez got out of it with a strikeout and groundout.

Suarez hit a solo home run in the eighth off Austin Davis, his fifth.

Sea Dogs reliever Adam Lau allowed three runs over two innings, including a two-run homer by Deivi Grullon in the ninth.

Reading (20-28) is in fifth place in the six-team Eastern League’s East Division, 3½ games ahead of last-place Portland (17-32).

NOTES: The Memorial Day jerseys worn by the Sea Dogs, featuring the flag-raising scene from Iwo Jima, will be auctioned online. Proceeds will benefit the Travis Mills Foundation, a nonprofit organization that assists wounded and injured veterans, and their families. Details of the auction can be found later this week at www.seadogs.com. … The first pitch was delivered by World War II veteran Tryg Lund of Saco. … Both starting pitchers were called for a pitch-clock violation and the batter was awarded a ball … Josh Ockimey was 0 for 4, ending his hit streak (eight games) and on-base streak (22). … The announced paid attendance was 5,114.

Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-7411 or:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: @ClearTheBases