Fightin Phils Fall in Penultimate Contest of the Season
EL Reading Fightin Phils

Fightin Phils Fall in Penultimate Contest of the Season

Published on September 13, 2025 under Eastern League (EL)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


(Reading, PA) - The Reading Fightin Phils (29-39; 54-81) fell 6-2 to the Somerset Patriots (37-31; 73-64) on Saturday night at FirstEnergy Stadium in the penultimate game of the 2025 season. The Patriots now lead this week's series three games to two.

After a 1-2-3 first inning from Reading starter Jack Dallas, Somerset struck quickly in the top of the second off of Gabriel Barbosa. Tyler Hardman and Garrett Martin hit back-to-back home runs to make it a 2-0 lead for the Patriots. Barbosa settled in from there and only allowed one other run, which came on a sac fly from Dylan Jasso in the sixth.

Reading responded with a run each in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings. Caleb Ricketts and Alex Binelas hit back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners to start the fourth. Nick Dunn then grounded out to third to score Ricketts and make it 2-1. Robert Moore then led off fifth with a double and later scored on a single from Aroon Escobar to tie the game at two.

Back on top 3-2, the Patriots managed to add another run in the top of the seventh off Saul Teran. Garrett Martin led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A double from Coby Morales scored Martin to move the Somerset advantage to 4-2.

Alex McFarlane entered for the top of the eighth inning and allowed a one-out walk to Jace Avina. Two batters later, Hardman tripled to score Avina. Then, Martin doubled to plate Hardman and complete the two-run inning for Somerset and make it a 6-2 advantage for the Patriots.

Reigning Eastern League Pitcher of the Week Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (W, 5-3) started for Somerset and allowed two runs on four hits over five innings, with three walks and seven strikeouts. Barbosa (L, 0-2) provided much-needed length out of the bullpen for Reading after Friday's 13-inning game. He allowed three runs on five hits over 4.2 innings, with three strikeouts.

The Fightin Phils return to the field on Sunday at 1:15 p.m. against the Somerset Patriots. RHP Braydon Tucker will start for Reading, and he will go opposite LHP Kyle Carr for Somerset. Pregame radio coverage is underway at 1 p.m. on the Reading Fightin Phils Radio Network. A video stream is available via MiLB TV or the Bally Live App. The season and series ends Sunday with a R-Phils Uncut Player Baseball Card Poster for the first 2,000 kids, thanks to Baseballtown Charities. Tickets are available at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL or at the Customers Bank Ticket Office.

The 2025 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 September 13, 2025


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