Sports stats



Reading Fightin Phils

Offense Strikes as R-Phils Take Down Thunder, 7-2

August 14, 2012 - Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


(Reading, Pa.)---Anchored by a pair of three-hit games from Cody Asche and Darin Ruf, the Reading Phillies (66-56) handed the Trenton Thunder (70-52) its seventh straight loss in a 7-2 triumph at FirstEnergy Stadium on Tuesday night.

The win inches Reading one game closer to the Eastern Division title as it trails first-place Trenton four games in the standings. The R-Phils are still locked in a tie with the New Britain Rock Cats for the second place wild card berth following wins from both squads on Tuesday.

Reading found itself buried by a two run deficit after the top half of the first inning, but the team quickly erased Trenton's lead after Tyson Gillies, Cody Asche, Darin Ruf, and Leandro Castro strung together four consecutive hits to tack two runs on the scoreboard. Asche, who furthered his ten-game hitting streak by going 3-for-4, plated Gillies on a single while Leandro Castro hit a run-scoring single to score Asche. Asche later hit the game-winning RBI double in the third inning.

The R-Phils broke the game wide open in the sixth inning after the team loaded the bases when first baseman Jake Opitz was intentionally walked with two outs following a single from Ruf and double from catcher Tommy Joseph. In the next at-bat, Miguel Abreu dropped a bloop single to shallow right field, scoring Ruf and Joseph.

Reading piled on two more runs in the seventh inning when slugger Ruf hit a two-run home run down the left field line for his tenth home run in 12 games. His 28th home run of the season now ranks fifth among all-time single season leaders in Reading baseball history where Ruf finds himself in good company alongside Marlon Byrd (2001), Pat Burrell (1999), Ozzie Virgil (1980), and Rocky Colavito (1953). He sits just nine home runs shy of all-time leader Ryan Howard (2004).

After allowing a two-run home run to David Adams in the first inning, Adam Morgan never looked back as the southpaw retired 17 of the next 20 batters he faced to pick up his second winning decision at the Double-A level. Morgan hurled six innings where he gave up five hits and two earned runs while striking out five. Sixty-three of the Georgia native's 92 pitches landed for strikes. He walked none.

Relievers Kyle Simon, Jay Johnson, and Jordan Whatcott combined for three innings of scoreless relief to close out the team's third win in a row.

RHP Austin Hyatt (6-3/4.80) will toe the slab in his first start since making his return from Lehigh Valley (AAA) on Monday. Tune into 1340 WRAW-AM on the radio dial or online at 1340WRAW.com starting at 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday for the game broadcast with the voice of the Reading Phillies, Brian Seltzer. Steve Degler and Tim Neiman will also have the call in sparkling high-definition live on SECTV 2 Sports.

Tickets for all regular season and playoff home games, including the Harry Kalas Talking Bobblehead giveaway on August 27th, can be purchased online at www.RPhils.com, by phone at 610-370-BALL, and in person at the R-Phils Ticket Office at FirstEnergy Stadium. The 2012 season featuring the Baseballtown All-Star Classic at America's Classic Ballpark is presented by Pepsi.

Check out the Reading Fightin Phils Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Eastern League message board...

Eastern League Stories from August 14, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central