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EL1 Reading Fightin Phils

Clutch Homer by Gillies Powers Fightins Past Squirrels, 5-3

June 21, 2013 - Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


READING, Pa.---Tyson Gillies' go-ahead, two-run blast to right field in the sixth inning led a home run barrage as the Reading Fightin Phils (31-41) defeated the Richmond Flying Squirrels (35-36), 5-3, Friday night in front of 8, 302 fans at FirstEnergy Stadium. His fifth home run of the season finished off a three-run rally that saw Reading grab the lead for the first time of the night.

Heading into the inning, the Fightins trailed by two runs after the Flying Squirrels scored a pair of runs in the fifth inning on pitcher Craig Westcott's RBI double and an error by Albert Cartwright. Jim Murphy led off the sixth inning with his league-leading 14th home run and trimmed Richmond's lead to one.. Later in the inning, Zach Collier hit a two-out single, his second of the night, to set the scene for Gillies. On the first pitch of the at-bat, the Vancouver native slammed the critical two-run homer to give the Fightins a one run lead. Anthony Hewitt added to the team's lead in the eighth inning with a two-run double that plated catcher John Suomi.

Reading scored its first run in the fourth inning when third baseman Maikel Franco continued his torrid season by launching his first Double-A home run over the left field deck. Ranked no. 8 in the Phillies system by Baseball America, Franco has a combined 17 home runs between Clearwater (A+) and Reading.

Starter David Buchanan delivered a solid effort on the mound for Reading, tossing 98 pitches over six innings. The right-handed pitcher gave up three total runs, two earned, on five hits and one walk. The Atlanta, Georgia native also struck out a season-high seven batters for the second start in a row as he rolled to his fourth win of the season.

Bobby Bramhall took over for Buchanan in the seventh inning to kick start another terrific bullpen outing by the Fightins. The southpaw struck out two in 1 1/3 perfect innings of relief. Tyler Knigge came on and picked up his third save of the season after 1 2/3 scoreless innings. With the outing, the 24-year old increased his scoreless streak to 13 2/3 innings over his past eight appearances.

Since giving up three runs in the seventh inning on June 13th versus Bowie, the Reading bullpen has allowed just one run over its last 30 2/3 innings (0.30 ERA), striking out 30 batters. The team is 7-2 over that stretch.

Lefty Austin Wright (2-3, 7.96 ERA) gets the call for the Fightins against the Flying Squirrels' lefty Jack Snodgrass (5-3, 2.43 ERA). Tune into Oldies 1340 WRAW-AM, Service Electric's 2Sports, or MiLB.TV for the game broadcast with Fightins play-by-play announcer Anthony Oppermann starting at 6:05 p.m.

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Eastern League Stories from June 21, 2013


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