EL1 Reading Fightin Phils

Rizzotti, R-Phils Walk-Off with 7-6 Win on Monday

Published on July 11, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


(Reading, PA) -- Matt Rizzotti's dad gave him a vote of confidence right before his final at-bat on Monday.

"Matt, come on, let's end this, I got to go home," said the elder Rizzotti, who approached his son right before he stepped to the plate for the final time on Monday. The younger Rizzotti would do just that.

Rizzotti launched a game-winning home run in the bottom of the 11th inning, and the R-Phils earned a four-game series sweep over the Trenton Thunder with a 7-6 win on Monday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium in front of 6,961 fans. Reading improved to 47-43 on the season, and will go into the All-Star break on a positive note.

A native of New York, Rizzotti, 25, stepped to the plate in the 11th inning against Trenton reliever Pat Venditte (2-5, 3.28), and roped the 1-0 offering over the right field fence for his team-leading 17th home run of the season.

With that, Rizzotti ended the first-half of the 2011 season with a win - Reading's fourth-straight and eighth over their last 10 games. The red-hot R-Phils have pulled themselves back into a potential playoff run for the start of the second-half, which will begin on Thursday.

At the break, Rizzotti is hitting .296 with 17 home runs and 55 RBIs. He finished Monday's contest 2-4, and will spend the All-Star break in New Hampshire, as he will compete in both the Eastern League Home Run Derby and Eastern League All-Star Game, which will both take place on Wednesday, July 13.

Reading reliever Derek Loop (1-1, 1.64) tossed a perfect 11th inning to earn the win. Loop struck-out one batter and was the seventh pitcher on the afternoon for Reading. Reliever Josh Zeid pitched a perfect eighth inning, but allowed Trenton to tie the game in the ninth inning, courtesy of a Jose Pirela three-run home run.

Philadelphia Phillies reliever Brad Lidge made a rehab appearance for Reading on Monday. Lidge, 34, came on in the sixth inning and was sharp. The Sacramento, CA native, who made his first rehab appearance with Reading this season, struck-out two batters over a scoreless inning. He tossed 13 pitches, nine for strikes, and four for balls. It was his fourth rehab this season (three with Lakewood). He is scheduled to continue his rehab with Reading after the All-Star break.

"Everything feels pretty good right now," said Lidge during a post-game press conference. "I'm very happy about where I'm at."

Reading starter B.J. Rosenberg allowed three runs on four hits over three innings. The Virginia native allowed two home runs, but struck-out a season-high seven batters.

The R-Phils sent Trenton to their ninth-straight loss and improved to 8-6 against the Thunder in 14 games this season. Reading will now have two days off (Tuesday and Wednesday) due to the Eastern League All-Star Game. Their next game is set for Thursday, July 14, when they will once again face the Thunder - this time in Trenton, NJ.

Phillers... Venditte, a switch-pitcher, retired the first batter he faced in the 11th, before surrendering the home run to Rizzotti... The 2011 Eastern League All-Star Game will be held on Wednesday in Manchester, NH, home of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats... Michael Spidale and Austin Hyatt are Reading's other representatives... Paco Figueroa enjoyed a solid day at the plate on Monday... Figueroa went 3-3 with a double, two runs scored, two walks (one intentional), and two RBIs... Terry Evans was also solid for Reading... Evans went 2-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base... The R-Phils return to America's Classic Ballpark on Thursday, July 21 for a seven-game homestand.

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Eastern League Stories from July 11, 2011


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