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Reading Fightin Phils

Fightins Walk-Off Again on Murphy's Bomb

August 27, 2013 - Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


READING, Pa.---Jim Murphy pounded a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to give the Reading Fightin Phils (59-77) their second walk-off win in as many nights as they outmatched the Richmond Flying Squirrels (68-68), 9-8, on Tuesday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. The walk-off win was the Fightins' seventh of the season.

Heading into the ninth inning, it didn't look like the Fightins would need a walk-off win to carry them to a win. Yet, the Reading bullpen imploded in the frame, allowing six runs to Richmond to see their five-run lead vanish. Juan Ciriaco homered to start the inning off reliever Seth Rosin. The misstep opened the floodgates as Rosin was tagged for the second of his four runs after issuing a walk and giving up an RBI double to Javier Herrera. Herrera advanced to third on a wild pitch and took home when Rosin made a fielding error.

The error proved to be the final straw for Rosin since he was pulled in favor of Hector Neris. Neris's outing wasn't much better, though, as he yielded three straight doubles that resulted in three runs to score, including the go-ahead run for the Flying Squirrels.

Murphy didn't waste much time after Maikel Franco's hit to put away the game for the Fightins on his blast. His 22nd homer of the season tied the Eastern League lead held by New Hampshire's Ryan Schimpf. The slugger was 3-for-4 with three RBIs in the win.

The Fightins grabbed a hold of the game in the second inning by scoring six runs in support of Mario Holland's effective outing. Anthony Hewitt led off the frame with a double and was joined on the base path by Sebastian Valle when he was hit by Richmond starter Jack Snodgrass. Edgar Duran put Reading on the board after legging out a triple to plate Hewitt and Valle.

Reading loaded the bases when Hollands was plunked and Collier was walked two at-bats later with two outs. A string of three consecutive hits, capped off by Hewitt's second of the inning, extended the Fightins' lead by four runs. Following the second, the Fightins led the Flying Squirrels, 6-1.

Richmond added a run in the fifth inning on an RBI single from Javier Herrera. The Fightins added an insurance run in the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly by Matt Tolbert to give Reading a five-run lead heading into the final frame.

Hollands lasted 5 2/3 innings and gave up two earned runs on six hits and three walks. He struck out five batters after throwing 122 pitches, 73 of which were strikes.

Franco, Hewitt, and Duran each had two hits on Tuesday night. Franco was 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored, Duran was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs, and Hewitt went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.

LHP Jesse Biddle (5-13, 3.66 ERA) takes the mound for the Fightins against LHP Ryan Bradley (0-6, 7.39 ERA) and the Flying Squirrels. Tune into Oldies 1340 WRAW-AM or MiLB.TV for the game broadcast with Fightins play-by-play announcer Anthony Oppermann at 6:35 p.m.

Tickets for the final two games of the 2013 season at FirstEnergy Stadium are available by visiting Fightins.com, calling the Fightin Phils Ticket Office at 610-370-BALL, or by visiting the Fightin Phils Ticket Office 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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