EL Reading Fightin Phils

Fightin Phils Fall After Late Hartford Rally

Published on May 7, 2023 under Eastern League (EL)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


(Hartford, CT) - A late rally from the Hartford Yard Goats, helped them salvage their second win this week in a 5-4 triumph over the Reading Fightin Phils on Sunday.

The Fightin Phils struck first. After a scoreless first two innings, Madison Stokes tripled to straightaway center field. It was the third-straight game Reading has recorded a triple. With the infield drawn in, Johan Rojas ripped a single back up the middle to give the R-Phils a 1-0 lead in the third.

Hartford wasted zero time to respond in the bottom of the inning. With Ronaiker Palma on base, Zac Veen's torrid series continued when he lined a double to the right-center gap to score Palma and tie the game up at one.

The bats for both sides remained quiet until the seventh inning when the R-Phils hit around. Reading got two runners on base and then Stokes lined a double down the left-field line to score McCarthy Tatum and put Reading up 2-1. It was Stokes' second extra-base hit of the game. The Fightin Phils were not done there, Johan Rojas poked a double down the line to score two more runs and make it 4-1 Reading.

Like Reading has done to Hartford all week, the Yard Goats punched right back. They loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh and Bladimir Restituyo singled home Niko Decolati to make it 4-2 Fightin Phils. With the bases still juiced, Andrew Schultz left the game and Keylan Killgore entered for Reading in a jam.

The first batter Killgore faced, Zac Veen, walked on four pitches. Ronaiker Palma scored from third and that made it 4-3. Then, Hunter Goodman singled to center to score two more Yard Goats' runs and put Hartford in front 5-4. The Yard Goats would hold on to win by that margin.

Nick Nelson was strong again for the Fightin Phils. Nelson went five innings, allowing one run on three hits, while striking out five Yard Goats. The righty also threw 44 strikes on 59 pitches in an efficient outing. Nick Garcia was also excellent for the Yard Goats over 6.2 innings. Garcia allowed eight hits and four runs on two walks and four strikeouts.

The win went to Hartford's Adam McKillican, who improves to 2-0 on the season. Andrew Schultz suffered the loss for the Fightin Phils, to drop to 0-3. Dugan Darnell had the save for Hartford, his third.

With the loss, Reading falls to 11-16 on the season but took four-of-six games this week over Hartford. Hartford climbs back over .500 to 13-12 with the win. Next up for the Yard Goats, is a series at Binghamton, beginning on Tuesday.

Up next, Reading returns home Tuesday, May 9, at 11 a.m. as the Fightin Phils welcome the New Hampshire Fisher Cats to FirstEnergy Stadium. Tickets to all games are still available and can be purchased 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 May 7, 2023


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