EL1 Reading Fightin Phils

R-Phils Get Past 'Cats 5-4

Published on May 15, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


Reading, PA - J.C. Ramirez was nearly un-hittable during the month of April. After a solid outing on Sunday, he looks to have regained that form.

Ramirez tossed eight outstanding innings, Derrick Mitchell and Fidel Hernandez each homered, and the R-Phils beat the New Hampshire Fisher Cats 5-4 in the finale of their four-day, five-game homestand at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday.

A native of Managua, Nicaragua, Ramirez went 4-0 with a 1.03 ERA over his first four starts of the season. He earned the Philadelphia Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month award for April, and turned heads with his solid efforts on the mound. In all four starts, Ramirez went at least six innings, and tossed seven innings twice - including a seven-inning complete game shutout on April 23 in Akron.

Recently, however, Ramirez, 22, had some troubles on the hill. Over his last two games, he posted just a 0-2 mark with an 11.12 ERA. In one of those games, which happen to come against New Hampshire, Ramirez allowed six runs -- three earned, over just 2.2 innings. He was charged with his first loss of the season, but, on Sunday, he redeemed himself in a big way against a team that had won three of the last four games against Reading.

In all on Sunday, Ramirez allowed three runs on five hits and notched his fifth win of the season, which now ties him with teammate Austin Hyatt and Harrisburg starter Brad Peacock for tops in the Eastern League. The win was also his second of the season against New Hampshire, as he beat the club back on April 11 with seven solid innings.

With the win, the R-Phils salvaged the series and moved back to just 0.5 game behind New Hampshire in the standings. Reading (22-15) was helped out by another good offensive surge - one which came early in the game this time.

In the bottom of the first inning, R-Phils designated hitter Cody Overbeck launched his Eastern League leading 11th home run of the season - a two-run shot, which gave Reading an early 2-0 lead. Overbeck went 1-3 with the home run and two RBIs.

One inning later, the R-Phils got back on the board and rattled New Hampshire starter B.J. LaMura (2-3, 3.46), who took the loss. R-Phils third baseman Carlos Rivero lead off the inning with a walk, and then Mitchell roped his sixth home run of the season over the left field wall - giving Reading a 4-1 lead at that point. Next batter up was Hernandez, who followed with a solo home run - his first of the year to give the R-Phils a 5-1 lead.

New Hampshire (22-14) rallied back in the top of the fourth inning. The club scored two runs off of Ramirez, but he settled back in and did not allow a run the rest of the way. Reading reliever Phillippe Aumont came on in the ninth inning and avoided a shaky start to the inning to earn his third save of the season.

The R-Phils have an off-day on Monday, but will hit the road and make the trek to Portland, ME for a three-game series beginning on Tuesday. RHP Austin Hyatt (5-1, 3.18) will take the ball for Reading in game one. Hyatt, 24, will vie for his fourth-straight win of the season, when he gets the nod in the opener. The Atlanta, GA native is 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA in three starts this month.

RHP Michael Lee (1-3, 4.45) gets the start for Portland in the opener. Lee, a native of Issaquah, WA, has faced the R-Phils once this season and was saddled with the loss. He allowed three runs on four hits over 4.2 innings on May at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Coverage begins on Tuesday with the R-Phils pre-game show at 5:30 p.m. with R-Phils play-by-play broadcaster Brian Seltzer on ESPN Radio 1240 AM WIOV and readingphillies.com. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.

Phillers... Hernandez had two hits on the day to up his average to .325 on the season... Overbeck is the Eastern League leader with 30 RBIs... Carlos Rivero had another solid day at the plate... A night after ripping two home runs, Rivero added two hits... He's now batting .276 on the season... Aumont allowed a home run to 'Cats right fielder Moises Sierra in the top of the ninth... Matt Rizzotti added two hits to up his average to .351 on the season... Reading Phillies players wore special pink jerseys for a belated Mother's Day celebration... Rizzotti's jersey raised $250 during the special Raffle Jersey Auction - the highest of all of the players... Michael Spidale's jersey raised $220 and Overbeck's jersey raised $200... Reading also raffled off the pink bases from Sunday's game... The R-Phils return to FirstEnergy Stadium on Friday, May 20 for game one of a three-game series with the Flying Squirrels.

Check out the Reading Fightin Phils Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Eastern League Stories from May 15, 2011


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