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Reading Fightin Phils

Another Close One Gets Away

May 10, 2018 - Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


(Reading, PA) - For the first 30 games of their season, the Fightin Phils (11-19) have played more tight games than any other team in the Eastern League. While the team's searching for ways to break through, the first game of their eight game homestand echoed an all too common refrain. In the end, the Curve (17-14) found a way to escape with a 5-4 win before a Thursday night crowd of 3,490 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Coming off his best Double-A start on Saturday night against the Flying Squirrels, Franklyn Kilome surrendered the game's first run three batters in on an RBI single from Jason Martin. Like he did against Richmond, the righthander responded well and retired the next eight batters he faced through the top of the third.

The Fightin Phils later tied the game against Curve starter Taylor Hearn, who appeared to strike out Brandon Bednar to start the bottom of the third on a breaking ball in the dirt. However, the ball got away from catcher Christian Kelly, which allowed Kilome to lay down a sacrifice bunt and send the tying run to second base. Zach Coppola kept the line moving with a single into left, and Malquin Canelo tied the score with a sacrifice fly to the right field wall for his ninth run batted in.

Altoona went back in front for good in the top of the fourth on back-to-back singles to start the frame from Martin and Logan Hill. A walk to Jordan George loaded the bases, and eventually Kelly broke the tie with a groundout to first for a 2-1 lead. In the fifth, Cole Tucker led off with a liner to center that got by Zach Coppola for a three-base error and a 3-1 game. A walk and a hit batter brought up George with two outs, and the right fielder came through with a two-RBI double into left center to go up 5-1.

Facing reliever Logan Sendelbach in the bottom of the sixth, the Fightin Phils got walks from Damek Tomscha and Zach Green to get things going. Jan Hernandez then ricocheted a double into the right field corner to make it 5-2 and bring up the tying run. Cornelius Randolph's first hit was sliced into left to drive in a pair, but with the tying run aboard, Sendelbach got a double play to turn his night around and retire five straight.

The Fightins bullpen duo of Tyler Viza and Tyler Gilbert worked two scoreless innings each, allowing just two hits and a walk while combining on seven strikeouts to keep the deficit at 5-4. With Jesus Liranzo back for the ninth after a 1-2-3 eighth, Randolph led off with a base hit to put the tying run on. He scampered to second on an errant pickoff attempt, and after walking Jiandido Tromp with two outs, Liranzo finished off the game with his second strikeout for his third save.

America's Classic Ballpark is proud to be a part of Pennsylvania's Americana Region. Season tickets for the 2018 season are available online at Fightins.com, by phone at 610-370-BALL, and in-person at FirstEnergy Stadium. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter at @ReadingFightins and like them on Facebook via www.facebook.com/fightins.

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