EL1 Reading Fightin Phils

Fightin Phils Walk on the Wild Side to Take Series

Published on April 17, 2017 under Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


Reading raced out to a 2-0 lead against Cory Taylor, who surrendered an RBI single to Andrew Pullin in the first inning. Then in the second, Taylor threw two wild pitches that allowed Walding to come around and score after he opened the inning with a walk. The Flying Squirrels came out swinging against Fightins starter Shane Watson in the third, which started with a leadoff home run from Slade Heathcott. A one out walk by Miguel Gomez brought up the dangerous Chris Shaw, who continued his impressive series with a drive over the center field wall for a 3-2 lead. Taylor nearly retired the heart of the lineup in order in the third, but walked Jiandido Tromp on four straight to bring up Walding for his second at-bat. The third baseman capitalized and crushed his first home run of the season to put the Fightin Phils back in front 4-3. Watson's final inning was the fifth, which started with a leadoff double from Shaw that put the tying run at second. A flyout from Hunter Cole ended Watson's day, and started the bullpen carousel for both managers. Lefthander Mario Hollands got the first call for Reading in his 2017 debut, and he quickly loaded the bases with a pair of walks before Adam Sonabend tied the game at four with an RBI groundout. In the bottom of the sixth with the game tied at four, Harold Martinez worked a one out walk as a pinch-hitter to send it to Kingery at the top of the order. After walking in his first three plate appearances, he got a hold of a 2-0 pitch from lefthander Christian Jones and drilled his team-leading fourth home run to give the Fightin Phils a 6-4 lead. But once again, the lead was trimmed to one when T.J. Bennett skied an opposite field home run to left to make it 6-5 in the top of the seventh. Good news arrived In the home half when Aaron Brown delivered his second single of the game to drive in a crucial run and put the Fightins back in front 7-5.

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS RETURN TO READING : +The Akron RubberDucks roll into Reading in the middle of a league-worst five-game losing streak, putting them 5 GB in the West -> In their most recent 3-game series in Altoona, they lost each game by a run, and have only scored first once in the first 10 games -> Last season, their low water mark came following a loss to Portland on August 9, when they were 56-59 -> Over the final month of the season, the RubberDucks went 21-5 & finished 77-64 to win the division by half a game over Altoona + After taking care of Altoona in the 1st rd of the EL Playoffs, Akron swept Trenton 3-games-to-none for the city's 5th EL championship + In 7 postseason games, the 'Ducks outscored their opponents 35-21 * 8 of those runs came in Game 1 vs Altoona (12-8 win) + Manager David Wallace, in his third and final season on the bench, left with two playoff appearances and a record of a 223-202 INDIANS TOP PROSPECT ON THE POND : + 40-man member Francisco Mejia has an 8-gm hitting streak; Ranked 6th in the EL in batting average (.414) and 1st in doubles (7) + Last season, he was a Midseason & Postseason All-Star, a Futures Game selection, an MiLB.com Organization All-Star, a Baseball America Minor League All-Star, and the Midwest League's Player of the Month in June + This year, he is ranked by Baseball America as the Indians # 1 overall prospect...Last year, had a 50-game hitting streak from May 27-August 13, the 4th-longest in the history of Minor League Baseball. FINAL TOTALS : .386/.414/.599 with 78 hits, 15 doubles, eight homers, 10 walks, and only 29 strikeouts in 215 plate appearances PHILS FACTS : + Scott Kingery extended his hitting streak to 7 games w/ a 2-run HR in the 6th inning Saturday off Richmond LHP Christian Jones -> It's the second time this season Kingery's hit a home run in back-to-back games. He's T-1st in the EL w/ 4 HRs & T-2nd w/ 12 RBIs + The Fightin Phils have now homered in seven straight games and their 13 team home runs lead the Eastern League + The offense totaled 32 strikeouts despite taking 2 of 3 from Richmond. Saturday, Squirrels pitchers both walked and struck out 11 + With 1.2 scoreless IP in his debut Saturday, Mario Hollands won his first decision since August 7, 2014 against the Houston Astros + Mitch Walding hit his first home run on Saturday and scored a pair of runs while Aaron Brown had his first 2-hit game, including the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the seventh off RHP Pat Young RADIO CREW VOTES : In a recent press box poll, Akron radio broadcaster David Wilson tied Portland's Mike Antonellis as the most likable announcer in the Eastern League UPCOMING HOMESTAND PROMOTIONS : + 4/17 vs AKR - Unused Tickets from ANY year of Reading Professional Baseball are accepted - Presented by Karlene's Konsulting + 4/18 vs AKR - Unused Tickets Promo; $3 OFF Box Seats for Seniors, Military Personnel, & Vets - Pres. by Berks & Exeter Pediatrics + 4/19 vs AKR - Unused Tickets Promo; $5 Yellow Box Seats when purchased in adv - Pres. by Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology BIG LEAGUE CLUB & AFFILIATES WATCH : + MLB - The Phillies (4-8) lost the deciding game in D.C. 6-4 thanks to Bryce Harper's GW, 3-run homer in the 9th off Joaquin Benoit + AAA - Lehigh Valley (5-6) is off again and can get to .500 for the second time this season when they host Columbus tomorrow + A+ - Clearwater (8-3) hits the road in Bradenton tonight in a matchup between the two teams with the best record in the FSL + A - Lakewood (6-5) continues the homestand tonight against Hagerstown, who won all three games in Maryland last week ON THIS DAY IN READING HISTORY : April 17, 2004: Ryan Howard hits his first home run at FirstEnergy Stadium, a two-run shot in the 1st inning off Akron's Kyle Evans.

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Eastern League Stories from April 17, 2017


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