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EL Reading Fightin Phils

McGarry Stellar as Reading Evens Series with Altoona

July 21, 2023 - Eastern League (EL)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


(Altoona, PA) - It was a stellar night on the mound for Griff McGarry as the Reading Fightin Phils (9-9, 37-49) defeated the Altoona Curve (7-9, 41-43) on Friday night. The win for Reading evens up this week's series at two.

McGarry (W; 1-0) stole the show and was dominant. The Phillies No. 4 Prospect set a career-high with seven innings pitched, while also registering a season-high ten strikeouts. The right-hander allowed no runs and just three hits and did not issue any walks.

His seven innings also were the most an R-Phils' pitcher has thrown in a game this season, with the previous high being six frames. McGarry's ten punch outs matched a team season-high and it was the fourth time in his career McGarry had double-digit strikeouts in a game.

The offense for Reading got going in the third inning. Pedro Martinez led off the inning with a single and moved to third when Cody Roberts singled in the following at bat. Altoona starter Anthony Solometo threw a wild pitch which allowed Martinez to score and put Reading up 1-0.

In the fourth, Jhailyn Ortiz led off the inning with an infield single and came around to score on a Casey Martin single to extend the R-Phils lead to 2-0. In the following frame, Carlos De La Cruz crushed his 18th home run of the season to left-center field to grow the lead to 3-0 Reading.

That would be it for Solometo (L; 1-2) on the mound for Altoona. The Pirates' No. 5 Prospect went 4.2 innings, allowed six hits, three runs, walked one and struck out seven.

Reading's offense would remain quiet until the eighth. Ortiz reached base on catchers' interference but was replaced at first when Cam Cannon hit on a fielders choice. Max McDowell and Casey Martin each subsequently walked to load the bases, then Martinez was hit, scoring Cannon and putting Reading up by four.

The R-Phils went to the bullpen in the bottom of the eighth. Andrew Baker entered and immediately found himself in trouble after walking the bases loaded. Baker exited and was replaced by Brett Schulze, who faced bases loaded and no outs. Schulze proceeded to send three-straight Curve hitters down on strikes to end the inning and keep Altoona off the board.

Altoona did score a run in the ninth. Abraham Gutierrez doubled to left and moved to third on a ground ball. Lolo Sanchez then singled to score Guiterrez, making it 4-1 Reading and erasing the shutout. Orion Kerkering got Claudio Finol to ground out to second to end the game and give Reading its second win of the series.

Reading and Altoona are back on the field tomorrow at 6 p.m. LHP David Parkinson is scheduled to start for Reading and he will go opposite RHP Sean Sullivan for Altoona. Radio coverage gets underway at 5:40 p.m. and can be listened to at rphils.com/radio. A video stream is also available on MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.

The Fightin Phils return home Tuesday, July 25, as the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Mets) are in town. The series runs from Tuesday, July 25 to Sunday, July 30 and tickets are available at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL or in person at the Customers Bank Ticket Office.

The 2023 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.

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Eastern League Stories from July 21, 2023


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