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EL Reading Fightin Phils

Abel Sharp as Reading Evens Series

August 23, 2023 - Eastern League (EL)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


(Harrisburg, PA) - Mick Abel led the way as the Reading Fightin Phils (22-25, 50-65) defeated the Harrisburg Senators (23-24, 54-61) 6-1 on Wednesday night. The win for Reading evened this week's series at one.

Abel (W, 4-5) pitched a career-high seven innings, topping a previous high of 6.1 frames, which came last season while with High-A Jersey Shore. The Phillies No. 2 Prospect allowed just two hits and one run, with three strikeouts in the win.

Reading struck early and often, scoring runs in the game's first three frames and four of five frames. Carlos De La Cruz reached via a one-out walk in the first and moved to third when Oliver Dunn doubled. Jhailyn Ortiz grounded out to score De La Cruz and give Reading its first run.

In the second, Madison Stokes led off the inning with a home run for Reading's lone run of the inning. With two outs in the third, Dunn was hit by a pitch and stole second. He then scored when Jhailyn Ortiz lined a double down the left-field line to make it 3-0.

Harrisburg got its lone run in the bottom of the third. Israel Pineda was hit by a pitch to begin the inning, then Jackson Cluff walked to put two on. Lucius Fox bunted to move both runners and put them on second and third. Dylan Crews grounded to third, but Nick Ward threw the runner out at home to keep Harrisburg off the score initially. Crews got caught in a rundown trying to steal second, which allowed Cluff to score and make it 3-1 Reading.

After a scoreless fourth, the Fightin Phils put two more runs on the board in the top of the fifth. Cody Roberts led off the inning with a walk, then Ward was hit by a pitch. With two outs in the inning, Ortiz's strong night continued with a double down the left field line again to score two and make it 5-1. The Fightin Phils tacked on another run in the ninth when Dunn doubled home Roberts to make it 6-1.

Dustin Saenz (L, 3-5) started for Harrisburg and suffered the loss over six innings. He allowed five earned runs on four hits with four strikeouts.

Following Abel, Tristan Garnett, and Keylan Killgore each tossed scoreless frames and combined for four strikeouts to secure the victory for the Fightin Phils. Dunn had two more hits for Reading to stay red-hot and Ortiz had two hits, four runs and four RBI on the night.

Reading and Harrisburg are back in action for game three of this week's series tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. RHP Zach Haake is scheduled to start for Reading, and he will go opposite LHP Andrew Alvarez for Harrisburg. A video stream is available via MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.

Reading returns home for a 12-game homestand, running August 29 through September 10. It'll start with a series against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on the 29th. Tickets to all games are available at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL or in person at the Customers Bank Ticket Office.

The 2023 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.

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Eastern League Stories from August 23, 2023


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