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Reading Fightin Phils

Fightin Phils Fall to Binghamton to Open Final Series of Season

September 12, 2023 - Eastern League (EL)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


(Binghamton, NY) - Strong hitting and pitching led the Binghamton Rumble Ponies 36-25, 71-59) to a series-opening 8-1 win over the Reading Fightin Phils (29-34, 57-74) on Tuesday night. Binghamton grabs the 1-0 series edge in Reading's final series of the season.

The Rumble Ponies scored early and often, starting in the bottom of the first inning. Jett Williams was hit by a pitch and moved to second when Drew Gilbert walked. Kevin Parada hit his second double of the season to left to score Williams and put Binghamton up 1-0.

After a scoreless second, the Rumble Ponies added two more runs in the third. Williams was aboard again, this time on a single to left. Gilbert reached on catcher's interference from R-Phils backstop Cody Roberts. Roberts would exit the game after being hit in the hand. Parada followed with a single to move each runner up one base and load the bases. With the bases full, JT Schwartz singled to left, scoring Williams. Rowdey Jordan then hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Gilbert and make it 3-0 Binghamton.

Binghamton broke the game wide open with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Gilbert led off the inning by again reaching on a catcher's interference, this time on Max McDowell. Schwartz walked, moving Gilbert up to second. A wild pitch then shifted each runner to second and third. Jordan followed with a single to score Gilbert and move Schwartz to third.

That would spell the end of the day for Zach Haake (L, 2-5), as he would last just 4.1 innings, and allow six runs, but four earned. He also allowed six hits, walked two, and struck out one.

Tristan Garnett entered for Reading and after Jordan swiped second base, Agustin Ruiz doubled to score both Schwartz and Jordan. With Ruiz then on third, Rhylan Thomas reached on a fielding error by shortstop Casey Martin, which allowed Ruiz to score and make it 7-1 Binghamton.

Reading got a run back in the top of the sixth after Binghamton starter Blade Tidwell (W, 3-3) exited. Tidwell tossed five innings and allowed no runs, three hits, with nine strikeouts and no walks. David Griffin entered for Tidwell and the first hitter he Marcus Lee Sang singled to center. Lee Sang advanced to second on a balk and moved to third on a Nick Ward ground out. Carlos De La Cruz then lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Lee Sang and making it 7-1.

Binghamton would tack on one more insurance run in the eighth. Williams led off the inning with a hustle double to shallow center and then scored when Gilbert doubled to left center to make it 8-1. Reading would go down in order in the ninth.

The Fightin Phils were held to just four hits on the night, with Lee Sang contributing two of them. Four Rumble Ponies turned in two-hit performances as Binghamton totalled 11 hits.

Reading continues its final series of the regular season at the Binghamton Rumble Ponies on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. RHP Mick Abel is scheduled to start for Reading, and he will go opposite RHP Christian Scott for Binghamton. Pregame coverage is underway at 6:15 p.m. and you can listen at rphils.com/radio. A video stream is available via MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.

The Reading Fightin Phils return to FirstEnergy Stadium to open the 2024 season on April 9, 2024, against the Portland Sea Dogs. Season tickets, mini plans and group outings for 2024 are now available. For more details, go to rphils.com, call 610-370-BALL or 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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