EL1 Reading Fightin Phils

R-Phils Fall In Finale In Harrisburg 3-0

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


(Harrisburg, PA) - Highly-touted pitching prospect Stephen Strasburg took the hill on Wednesday afternoon looking to help the Senators sweep the R-Phils - he would did just that.

Strasburg allowed just one hit over five shutout innings, catcher Sean Rooney went 2-4 with two RBIs, and the Senators finished off a three-game sweep of the R-Phils with a 3-0 victory on Wednesday afternoon in Harrisburg.

After dropping the first two games of the series, the R-Phils looked to LHP Yohan Flande (0-2, 0.96) to help them salvage the series on Wednesday. Flande, 24, allowed two runs on 12 hits over 6.2 innings and was saddled with his second loss of the season. Flande, a member of the Philadelphia 40-man roster, fanned three batters and walked none in his third outing of the season.

The R-Phils, who struggled to score runs during the seven-game stretch, ran into the Nationals top prospect Strasburg (2-0, 0.73), who dazzled on the hill Wednesday. A native of San Diego, CA, Strasburg fanned six batters and walked just one over his marvelous five frames to earn his second victory of the season.

The loss for the R-Phils was the sixth on their seven-game road trip, and third-straight overall. After salvaging a game in the finale of their four-game set with Richmond on Sunday, the R-Phils dropped all three games in Harrisburg -- scoring just one run combined in the three-game series.

The R-Phils are off on Thursday, but return to FirstEnergy Stadium on Friday evening as they begin an exciting six-game homestand. On Friday, Reading (6-8) will begin a three-game set with the Richmond Flying Squirrels, who travel to Reading for the first time this season. Last week in Richmond, the R-Phils dropped three of four games to the Flying Squirrels.

On the hill in the opener Friday night will be Philadelphia Phillies starter Joe Blanton, who will be making a rehab appearance. Blanton, who is recovering from a left oblique strain, made his first rehab appearance on Tuesday evening, retiring all six batters he faced for Lakewood (A). He threw 13 pitches and fanned two over his two scoreless frames.

Taking the mound for Richmond in the opener will be Phoenixville, PA native Craig Clark (1-1, 3.00), who will make his third start of the season. Clark, who is a product of Penn State University, was solid in his last outing, tossing five shutout innings against the R-Phils in Richmond on April 17. A graduate of nearby Spring-Ford High School, Clark, 25, made his season debut with Richmond on April 12. He allowed three runs on three hits over four innings, and was saddled with the loss in his Double-A debut.

Friday's coverage will begin at 6:05 p.m. on ESPN Radio 1240 AM WIOV with the "Philling You In Phridays" progam live from FirstEnergy Stadium. Join host Tommy Viola as he gives you some insight into the R-Phils, the Eastern League, and the Majors, each and every Frida -- one hour before the R-Phils game. R-Phils radio play-by-play announcer Brian Seltzer will have the call on Friday beginning with the R-Phils pre-game show at 6:35 p.m. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

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Eastern League Stories from April 21, 2010


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