EL1 Reading Fightin Phils

Mitchell, R-Phils Do It Again in Final Frame, Beat Trenton 4-2

Published on June 7, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


(Reading, PA) -- Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra once said "It's déjà vu all over again." On Tuesday, those words echoed throughout Baseballtown.

Derrick Mitchell launched a two-run game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth inning -- the second-straight night he hit the game-winner, and the R-Phils beat the Trenton Thunder by a score of 4-2 on Tuesday evening at America's Classic Ballpark. The win for Reading was their second-straight against Trenton, and it put the team back at .500 at home this season (14-14).

A night ago, Mitchell came through with the game-winning single in the bottom of the 12th inning to give Reading an 8-7 win in the opening game of their four-game series with Trenton. On Tuesday, he once again came up to the plate in a big spot, and he once again delivered.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, with the game tied at 2-2, Carlos Rivero stepped to the plate to begin the inning. Rivero singled off Trenton reliever Fernando Hernandez (5-3, 4.28), and reached second base on a throwing error by third baseman Bradley Suttle to put the go-ahead run on second.

With Rivero now on second base and nobody out, things were once again setup for Mitchell. The Paw Paw, Michigan native, who was 1-2 at the moment, roped a home run over the left field wall for his ninth home run of the season, and it gave Reading their sixth win over their last 10 games. Mitchell finished the game 2-3 with the home run, two runs scored, and two RBIs.

For the season, Mitchell, 24, now has 38 RBIs, which is tied with teammate Matt Rizzotti for second in the Eastern League. Both Rizzotti and Mitchell are behind league leader and teammate Cody Overbeck, who has 43. Mitchell is now hitting .275 on the year and has a hit in eight of his last 10 games.

Reading reliever Phillippe Aumont (1-5, 2.60) tossed two scoreless innings to earn the win -- his first of the season. Aumont, a native of Gatineau, QC, came on in the eighth inning with the game tied and held things together. The 22-year-old right-hander struck-out three batters and now has 36 strikeouts over 27.2 innings pitched.

Tyler Cloyd made his first start of the season for Reading and was solid over five frames. The Bellevue, NE native allowed just two runs on four hits, but did not factor in the decision. He fanned four and walked just one. Trenton starter Kei Igawa allowed just one run on three hits over 6.2 innings pitched. Igawa, a native of Japan, walked two batters and struck-out four.

The two teams will battle in game three on Wednesday. RHP Austin Hyatt (6-3, 3.90) gets the nod for Reading, who will look to make it three-straight wins. Hyatt, a native of Atlanta, GA, was outstanding in his last start back on June 3. The 25-year-old tossed seven scoreless innings and allowed just four hits. It was his first win in nearly a month.

Taking the ball for Trenton will be LHP Shaeffer Hall (5-3, 3.63). Hall, 23, was solid against Reading on May 24 in Trenton. The lefty allowed just five hits over six scoreless innings to earn the victory. He enters play on Wednesday having won three-straight starts.

Coverage on Wednesday begins with the R-Phils pre-game show on ESPN Radio 1240 AM WIOV and readingphillies.com. Brian Seltzer will have the call for all of the action. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

Phillers... Mitchell hit a career-high 13 home runs last year with Clearwater... Hernandez allowed three runs over just 1.1 innings and was saddled with the loss... Cody Johnson hit his 11th home run of the season in the fourth inning off Cloyd... Johnson now has three home runs against Reading this year... Michael Spidale had two more hits to up his average to .333 on the season... Jordan Ellis tossed two hitless innings... He allowed just one walk and struck-out one batter... Paco Figueroa had his first stolen base of the season... Tuesday was Bark at the Park at the ballpark and fans were allowed to bring their dog to the FirstEnergy Stadium to watch the game... Trenton's "bat dogs" Chase and Derby, were on-hand to retrieve Trenton's bats.

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Eastern League Stories from June 7, 2011


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