EL1 Reading Fightin Phils

Sixth Inning Surge Lifts Fightins

Published on August 4, 2018 under Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


(Bowie, MD) - Needing a win to gain some traction on their six-game roadtrip, the Fightin Phils ran into All-Star Dillon Tate on Saturday night against the Baysox. Alexis Rivero's third start was his longest, and the righthander kept the Baysox hitless until the fifth inning. The difference was the sixth, when the Fightins sent all nine to the plate and scored five runs on six hits off Tate to pull away. In the bottom of the ninth, Josh Tols saved the day with the bases loaded and no outs for his first save to hang on for a 7-4 win to force the deciding game on Sunday.

Rivero didn't allow his first hit until Ademar Rifaela singled with one out in the fifth. Later with two outs and Rylan Bannon on the move from first, ball four was thrown down to second by Deivi Grullon trying to catch the runner stealing. In the process, Rifaela broke home and scored the game's first run to give Bowie a 1-0 lead.

The immediate response off Tate in the sixth was tremendous, with Adam Haseley and Cornelius Randolph going back-to-back with singles. With one out, Darick Hall slashed a single into left to tie the score at one. On 1-2, big Jose Pujols launched a three-run homer to straightaway center for his first Double-A home run and a 4-1 lead. Jan Hernandez followed with a bomb to left, giving the Fightins back-to-back home runs for the third time this season.

Seth McGarry (2-4) backed up Rivero with a scoreless inning, and Kyle Dohy retired all four batters he faced with a pair of strikeouts. In the bottom of the eighth, Edgar Garcia's night started with a walk to Ryan Mountcastle, and Aderlin Rodriguez launched a two-run homer to left to cut the deficit to 5-3.

Again, the Fightin Phils had the immediate response in the top of the ninth, putting two runners on with a pair of walks. With two outs, Randolph laced an RBI single into right center and Damek Tomscha ensured all nine Fightins reached base with a hard single for a 7-3 advantage.

Trying to pull off their second four-run comeback against the Fightins this season, the Baysox loaded the bases with three straight walks to start the bottom of the ninth. Josh Tols came in for his first save opportunity, and got Corban Joseph on a bunt to the right side of the infield. The lefthander then punched out the three and four hitters Mountcastle and Rodriguez to escape the jam, giving the Fightin Phils a 7-4 win to force the deciding game.

America's Classic Ballpark is proud to be a part of Pennsylvania's Americana Region. Season tickets for the 2018 season are available online at Fightins.com, by phone at 610-370-BALL, and in-person at FirstEnergy Stadium. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter at @ReadingFightins and like them on Facebook via www.facebook.com/fightins.

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Eastern League Stories from August 4, 2018


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