EL1 Reading Fightin Phils

Gindl's Fly Sinks Fightins in Eighth

Published on July 26, 2018 under Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


(Richmond, VA) - Looking for a bounceback effort after surrendering a career-high eight runs in last Friday's 10-8 loss to the Curve, Fightin Phils starter Connor Seabold was spectacular on Thursday night at The Diamond. Last year's third round pick locked horns with Mike Connelly, and both starters went seven on a night where the ball was flying out of the pitchers' paradise. The difference was the Fightins wasted opportunities in the seventh and eighth, and a Caleb Gindl eighth inning home run that broke the tie and gave Richmond a 3-1 win in game one of the long weekend series.

Early on it looked like both hurlers would struggle because two batters in Cornelius Randolph came through with his third home run of the season to give the Fightin Phils the early lead. Connelly settled down immensely, and didn't allow his next hit until the top of the fifth.

In terms of promising starts, Flying Squirrels right fielder Luigi Rodriguez greeted Seabold coldly with his 12th home run to right to open up the bottom of the first and tie the ballgame. Seabold later worked through a jam after surrendering a one-out triple to John Riley in the second, and at one point retired 10 straight after Gindl and Dylan Davis opened up the fourth inning with singles.

Control was pinpoint for both starters all night, with Seabold's only two walks coming during his final inning in the seventh. After losing Riley with one out, he intentionally walked pinch-hitter Ryan Howard with first base open. The righthander then ended his night with an exclamation point, striking out number nine batter Jeff Arnold to tie a career-high and toss a new career-high 106 pitches in just his 18th start.

Reading had its best look in the top of the seventh when Darick Hall laced a double down the left field line and Deivi Grullon spiked a single up the middle. Jiandido Tromp then hit a comebacker to the mound, where Connolly pivoted and threw back to first to nab Hall for the first out to start the end of the threat. In the eighth, lefthander Garrett Williams (3-7) surrendered singles to pinch-hitter Austin Listi and leadoff batter Adam Haseley. Again, the Fightins let the opportunity slip through their grasp when Randolph struck out and Williams got an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.

In the bottom of the eighth, Ali Castillo snuck on with a bunt single off Kyle Dohy. The lefthander got to 1-2 on Gindl, who laid into the next pitch and sent it over the right field wall for a 3-1 lead. Down to their last three outs, Hall was hit by a pitch to start the ninth and bring up the tying run to the plate. Patrick Ruotolo then came on and got another double play before closing it out with a strikeout for his fourth save.

America's Classic Ballpark is proud to be a part of Pennsylvania's Americana Region. 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 July 26, 2018


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