EL1 Reading Fightin Phils

Fightins Win Third Straight Behind Hammerin' Hewitt's HR

Published on May 22, 2013 under Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


READING, Pa.---Facing an 0-2 count in the ninth inning, Anthony Hewitt hammered a three-run walk-off home run to left field to guide the Reading Fightin Phils (18-26) to their third straight win over the Altoona Curve (19-27), 7-5, Wednesday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. Hewitt's first Double-A home run wrapped up a late inning rally that saw the Fightins' outfielder play hero twice in the comeback bid.

Trailing by one run heading into the eighth, Hewitt led off with a single and made his way around the base path via a Derrick Mitchell sacrifice bunt and a Tyson Gillies groundout. The former first round pick scored the tying run after Altoona shortstop Gift Ngoepe picked up an Edgar Duran grounder and double clutched the throw for the error.

In the ninth inning, starter-turned-reliever Brody Colvin returned to the mound after pitching a perfect eighth inning. On the first pitch of the inning, though, Colvin gave up a tie-breaking home run to Jarek Cunningham. Colvin, who was making his first appearance since being activated from the 7-Day D.L. on Tuesday, ended up picking up his second win of the season after the team bounced back in the ninth.

Trailing in the bottom half of the frame, Cameron Rupp started the team's second rally with a double to right field. Second baseman Albert Cartwright beat out a bunt to third base for the Fightins' second hit of the inning. With Rupp and Cartwright on base, Curve reliever Jason Townsend punched out Miguel Abreu before giving way to Hewitt's game-winning blast.

Starting pitcher Hector Neris had a rocky outing in which he surrendered a career-high three home runs in four innings pitched. A newly-turned starter this season, Neris' miscues blew a three-run lead that the Fightins established in the first inning after catcher Cameron Rupp hit a three-run home run for his seventh of the season.

Through the first two innings, Neris retired eight of the first nine batters faced before Justin Howard hit the first of Altoona's trio of solo home runs. The power attack continued in the fourth inning when the Dominican served up back-to-back shots to Andrew Lambo and Charlie Cutler. After Neris was pulled after four innings, relievers Mike Nesseth and Jay Johnson combined for three no-hit innings before Colvin took over.

RHP David Buchanan (1-5, 5.65) looks to guide the Fightin Phils to their first series sweep since April 22-24 at Harrisburg. RHP Casey Sadler (5-3, 2.79) will start for Altoona. Tune into Oldies 1340 WRAW-AM or MiLB.TV for the game broadcast with Fightins play-by-play announcer Anthony Oppermann starting at 11:05 p.m.

Fightins Fillers: Nine of Neris' ten home runs surrendered this season have been solo shots....It was the first time Reading has strung together three straight wins this season since sweeping Harrisburg on April 22-24 this season...By taking a 3-0 lead in the first inning, the Fightins have jumped on the board first for three straight games....The Fightins rank second in the Eastern League in team home runs with 39 this season. New Hampshire leads the league with 40 homers.

The Fightin Phils continue their 47th season affiliated with the Philadelphia Phillies at FirstEnergy Stadium on Thursday, May 23 when the team takes on the Altoona Curve at 11:35 a.m. Tickets for the

2013 season can be purchased online at Fightins.com, by phone at 610-370-BALL, or in-person by visiting the FirstEnergy Stadium Ticket Office.

Check out the Reading Fightin Phils Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from May 22, 2013


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