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EL1 Reading Fightin Phils

Reading Falls to Richmond 3-2

May 22, 2011 - Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


Reading, PA - Clayton Tanner was nearly perfect for Richmond. Reading nearly came back to win the game.

Matt Rizzotti broke-up a perfect game in the seventh inning with a single, Cody Overbeck followed with a two-run game-tying home run, but the R-Phils fell short to Tanner and Richmond by a score of 3-2 in the finale of their three-game series from FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Tanner (1-4, 3.60) was perfect through the first 6.2 innings of the game to earn his first win of the season. The Australian native retired 20-straight batters before Rizzotti came up with the first hit of the game for Reading in the seventh. The 23-year-old lefty allowed just three hits and two runs over seven innings to help lead Richmond to a series win over Reading.

The R-Phils (24-18) were unable to get anything going against Tanner early. In the seventh, however, Rizzotti stepped to the plate with two outs. The New York native singled for the first Reading hit of the afternoon, and Overbeck followed with his Eastern League leading 12th home run of the season to put Reading on the board, and ultimately tie the game at 2-2. At that point, the game changed, with Reading in good position after trailing for the first 6.2 innings.

On to the top of the eighth inning now, where Reading starter J.C. Ramirez (5-3, 3.00) finally had some runs to work with. The Nicaraguan native was also cruising along nicely at the time. With the game tied, however, Ramirez allowed a one-out solo home run to Justin Christian, which put the ‘Squirrels back on top. The home run for Christian was his second of the season and proved to be the game-winning blast.

Despite two singles in the bottom of the eighth inning (Paco Figueroa and pinch-hitter Stephen Susdorf), the R-Phils failed to push across a run in the final two innings against the 'Squirrels bullpen. Three Richmond relievers combined on two scoreless innings. Jason Stoffel got the final two outs in the ninth inning to earn his seventh save of the season.

In all, Ramirez was solid on the hill for Reading, but was the hard-luck loser. He went eight innings for the second-straight start and allowed three runs on six hits. He fanned a season-high six batters and walked none. All three of his losses have come during the month of May.

Reading will now have an off-day on Monday, and return to FirstEnergy Stadium for a three-game series with Trenton on Tuesday. RHP Austin Hyatt (5-2, 4.19) will take the hill in the opener for Reading. Trenton will go with RHP Shaeffer Hall (2-3, 4.02).

Pre-Game coverage on Tuesday will begin at 6:05 p.m. on ESPN Radio 1240 AM WIOV and readingphillies.com. Brian Seltzer will have the call with first-pitch set for 6:35 p.m.

Phillers... Overbeck leads the E.L. with 12 home runs and 33 RBIs... Rizzotti is hitting .351 on the season... Phillippe Aumont tossed a scoreless ninth inning for Reading... Hyatt beat the Thunder and Hall in Trenton back on May 11... Hyatt allowed two runs on seven hits over 6.2 effective innings... Hall allowed five runs, four earned, on ten hits over five innings... He was saddled with the loss... Before Sunday's game, all kids were permitted to throw-out a first pitch... The R-Phils also had all choral singers perform the National Anthem on the field before the game.

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Eastern League Stories from May 22, 2011


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