EL Reading Fightin Phils

Reading Falls to New Hampshire in Rain-Shortened Game

Published on August 10, 2023 under Eastern League (EL)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


(Manchester, NH) - A career night from Nick Ward wasn't enough as the Reading Fightin Phils (16-19, 44-59) fell 11-8 to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (13-20, 48-53) on Thursday night in a rain-shortened game. New Hampshire has now won the first three games of this week's six-game series.

Reading struck early and often. Nick Ward led off the game with a solo home run, which was his first homer since being promoted to Double-A Reading. It was also the third leadoff home run hit by Reading this season. Ward then knocked his second home run of the night in his next at-bat in the top of the third to make it 2-0. It was the first multi-homer game of Ward's career.

New Hampshire responded in the bottom of the fourth. Damiano Palmegiani reached on a one-out walk and came around to score thanks to Miguel Hiraldo to make it 2-1.

In the fifth, Cody Roberts led off the inning with a double and moved to third on an error from right fielder Sebastien Espino. Ward then hit a sacrifice fly to Roberts for his third RBI of the day. Carlos De La Cruz then walked and Oliver Dunn followed with his 17th home run of the season to extend Reading's lead to 5-1.

The Fightin Phils put up another three-spot in the top of the sixth. Pedro Martinez reached on a two-out single and Roberts subsequently singled to put two runners on. Ward's stellar night continued when he doubled to score both Martinez and Roberts to make it 7-1. After a walk from De La Cruz, Dunn doubled to score Ward and make it 8-1 R-Phils.

The five RBI from Ward are a career-high, along with his two home runs. Ward's three-extra-base hits added to a list of career highs for Ward tonight.

New Hampshire battled back with five runs in both the sixth and seventh innings. Damiano Palmegiani doubled to score two runs in the fifth, which ended Reading starter Mick Abel's day. Andrew Schultz entered and a wild pitch from him scored Palmegiani. Will Robertson tripled home Rainer Nunez to make it 8-5 Reading. Andres Sosa followed with a sacrifice fly that plated Robertson and cut the deficit for the Fisher Cats to two.

Keylan Killgore (L, 3-2) entered for Schultz in the seventh. With two runners on base, Palmegiani hit a three-run home run to put New Hampshire up for the first time on the evening. Robertson doubled home Nunez and then Max Kuhns entered for Killgore. After a throwing error from Roberts, a wild pitch from Kuhns scored Robertson to make it 11-8 New Hampshire. The game then went into a rain delay following the run scoring. The game would be called soon after.

Adrian Hernandez (W, 2-2) was strong out of the bullpen for New Hampshire, holding Reading scoreless over 1.1 innings pitched.

Reading and New Hampshire are back in action Friday night at 7:05 p.m. LHP David Parkinson is scheduled to start for Reading, and New Hampshire's starter has not been announced. Video coverage is available on MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.

The Fightin Phils return home Tuesday, August 15, to begin a six-game series with the Somerset Patriots (Yankees). Tickets to all games are available at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL or in-person at the Customers Bank Ticket Office.

The 2023 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.

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Eastern League Stories from August 10, 2023


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