EL1 Reading Fightin Phils

Fightins' early runs do the job in Erie

Published on June 9, 2018 under Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


(Erie, PA) - The Reading Fightin Phils (26-34) offense scored five runs over the first two innings that propelled them to an 8-5 win on Saturday night against the Erie SeaWolves (25-35). Reading's three-game losing streak would end as would Erie's five-game winning streak.

Jan Hernandez hit a two-run home run off SeaWolves starting pitcher Sandy Baez (0-5) in the top of the first inning to give Reading a 2-0 lead. The home run was Hernandez's seventh of the season. Malquin Canelo scored on the home run. Reading extended their lead to 5-0 off Baez in the top of the third inning. Cord Sandberg homered with one out, hitting his third of the season and Cornelius Randolph hit a RBI single. Jiandido Tromp scored on a fielding error by Dominic Ficociello.

The SeaWolves scored four runs off Fightins starting pitcher JoJo Romero (4-4) in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut Reading's lead to 5-4. Ficociello hit a bases-clearing single and error that scored Danny Woodrow, Jacob Robson and Will Maddox. Josh Lester grounded out to first base in the following at-bat to score Ficociello and make it a one run game.

Tromp hit a two-run home run off Baez in the top of the fourth inning to extend the Fightins lead to 7-4. The home run for Tromp was his second of the season. Sandberg scored on the home run after leading off the inning with a single. Canelo hit a sacrifice fly off SeaWolves relief pitcher Drew Carlton to score Sandberg and give Reading an 8-4 lead.

Romero left the game after six innings as he recorded seven strikeouts while only issuing one walk. Tyler Gilbert entered the game to pitch in relief in the bottom of the seventh inning. Gilbert was charged an unearned run as Kody Eaves brought in a RBI off Alexis Rivero on a groundout in the bottom of the eighth inning. Erie would trail 8-5 heading into the top of the ninth inning.

Jeff Singer would earn his first save of the season as he retired the side in the bottom of the ninth inning. Tromp fell a triple shy of the cycle while Sandberg recorded his first four-hit game of the season.

America's Classic Ballpark is proud to be a part of Pennsylvania's Americana Region. Individual and season tickets for the 2018 season are available online at Fightins.com, by phone at 610-370-BALL, and in-person at FirstEnergy Stadium. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter at @ReadingFightins and like them on Facebook via www.facebook.com/fightins.

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Eastern League Stories from June 9, 2018


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