EL1 Reading Fightin Phils

R-Phils Drive Squirrels Nuts, Win 7-3 Friday

Published on May 21, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


The R-Phils returned home on Friday evening with something to prove. After getting swept by the Harrisburg Senators, they fell to just 6-14 on the road this season - on Friday they showed why there's no place like home.

Vance Worley tossed seven solid innings, Matt Rizzotti ripped two hits in his FirstEnergy Stadium debut, and the R-Phils powered their way to a 7-3 win over the Richmond Flying Squirrels in front of 9,784 fans at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading on Friday evening.

Worley (3-2, 4.26) allowed three runs on six hits, over seven impressive innings en-route to his third win of the season. The Sacramento, CA native improved to 2-0 with a 3.60 ERA during the month of May, and has now won two-straight games. Worley, 22, walked three and fanned four, and was helped out by his offense, which belted out 12 hits on the evening.

After allowing two runs to the Squirrels in the top of the first inning, the Reading offense ignited in the bottom of the second inning, courtesy of an RBI double from Ozzie Chavez and an RBI single from Freddy Galvis, which made it a 2-2 ballgame.

The offensive output continued one inning later when the R-Phils put up four runs on the scoreboard against Richmond starter Mike MacDonald (1-3, 3.35). Quintin Berry started the inning off with a single, and two batters later it was Domonic Brown, who doubled home Berry - putting the R-Phils on top 3-2.

Rizzotti, who then followed with an RBI double of his own, gave the R-Phils a 4-2 lead at that point. The New York native finished the contest 2-3 with a double, RBI, and a walk, and has now hit safely in six-straight games. Originally selected by the Phillies in the sixth round of the 2007 draft, Rizzotti was recalled from Clearwater on May 13 where he was hitting an astounding .358 on the season.

With the victory, Reading (16-24) snapped their three-game losing streak, and did so in front of the seventh-largest crowd in the stadium's history. Three players had at least two hits in the game, and every starter had a hit except for Worley, who went 0-2. Rizzotti, Michael Spidale, and Kevin Nelson enjoyed solid days at the dish, combining to go 6-11 with four runs and two RBIs.

On Saturday in the middle game of the three-game series, the R-Phils will send RHP Jason Anderson (0-0, 1.80) to the hill. Anderson, 30, will make his second start of the season and first since May 14 in Akron. After beginning the season with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA), Anderson has appeared in six games this season for Reading.

Taking the mound for the Flying Squirrels (23-18) in game two will be RHP Ronnie Ray (0-1, 5.68). Ray, a native of St. Louis, MO, will make just his second start of the season as well, after beginning the season in the Richmond bullpen. His only start of the season came on May 10 in Bowie, where he allowed three runs on two hits over just 3.2 innings pitched.

Brian Seltzer will have the call beginning with the R-Phils pre-game show at 5:35 p.m. on ESPN Radio 1240 AM WIOV and readingphillies.com. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m.

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Eastern League Stories from May 21, 2010


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