EL1 Reading Fightin Phils

Eastman Deals, Fightins Pull out 3-1 Win in 11

Published on July 31, 2019 under Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


(BOWIE, MD) - Colton Eastman delivered seven innings of one-run ball in just his second Double-A appearance, and the Fightin Phils squeezed past the Bowie Baysox, 3-1 in 11 innings at Prince George's Stadium on Wednesday night.

Reading (25-18) (64-46) was limited to just one hit through the first four innings by Bowie starter Alex Wells, the Eastern League's ERA leader.

The Fightins loaded the bases with nobody out in the fifth, after Jose Gomez reached on an error, Raul Rivas put down a bunt single, and Henri Lartigue blooped a single to right. Jose Antequera hit a slow grounder up the third base line, which Wells raced over to field, spun around, and fired to the plate to nab Gomez for the first out.

Wells got Williams to fly to shallow left for the second out, and Mickey Moniak chopped a grounder toward the hole on the right side. Preston Palmerio made a quick backhand reach to snag it, and tossed to Wells covering to end the inning on Bowie's second defensive gem of the frame.

Eastman held Bowie scoreless until the sixth.

TJ Nichting opened the frame with a soft single to center, and with one out, Cedric Mullins flared a broken bat single to center to set up runners at the corners.

Mullins took off on a two-strike pitch to Rio Ruiz, who swung and missed. The throw to second from the catcher Lartigue was a hair late, and Nichting broke for the plate and scored ahead of a low throw from shortstop Jose Gomez to put the Baysox up, 1-0.

Gomez led off the seventh with a single to left, and Rivas pulled a grounder through the left side to put runners at first and second. Lartigue attempted to put down a bunt, but popped it to the third baseman Ruiz, who fired to first to double off Rivas.

Antequera followed with a grounder to first that caromed off Palmeiro and trickled up the first base line, allowing Gomez to score the tying run on what was ruled an RBI double.

Eastman took a no-decision after a terrific start. The right-hander held Bowie (29-11) (59-49) to one run on four hits, did not issue a walk, and struck out five across seven innings.

Jakob Hernandez worked a scoreless eighth, and Adidson Russ went three up, three-down in the ninth.

After Reading was held scoreless in the top of the 10th, Palmeiro put down a sacrifice bunt to move Jesmuel Valentin to third representing the winning run in the home half.

The Fightins elected to play a five-man infield, bringing Williams in from left and positioning him at the shortstop spot, with three infielders on the right and the infield in all the way across. Russ (3-5) got Ryan Ripken to ground to Williams for the second out, and with the defense dropping back to normal positioning Nichting flied to center to end the threat.

Reading went ahead without the aid of a hit in the 11th.

With Stephen starting the inning as the free runner at second base, Rivas reached on a one-out error on Valentin at second. Lartigue then drew a walk to fill the bases.

Antequera hit a potential double play ball to short, but Valentin's relay to first got away from Palmeiro as both Stephen and Rivas scored to put Reading up, 3-1.

Jeff Singer worked out of trouble in the bottom half to earn his third save. With the bases loaded and one out, he snared a comebacker off the bat of Ryan McKenna and doubled off Ruiz at first to end the ballgame.

Following an off day on Thursday, the Fightins will open up a weekend series with the Altoona Curve at FirstEnergy Stadium on Friday at 7:10 p.m. Coverage begins with This Week in Baseballtown at 6:10 p.m. on 610 ESPN and the Fightins Radio Network.

America's Classic Ballpark is proud to be a part of Pennsylvania's Americana Region and was voted the #1 stadium in all of Double-A by MiLB's Ben Hill. Follow the Fightins on Twitter at @ReadingFightins and like them on Facebook via www.facebook.com/fightins. Purchase tickets TODAY - call or TEXT 610-370-BALL, and download the Fightins game and promotional schedule at fightins.com/calendar.

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Eastern League Stories from July 31, 2019


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