EL1 Reading Fightin Phils

Winning Streak Ends as April Does

Published on April 30, 2017 under Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


Reading, PA - In one of the most well-played games at FirstEnergy Stadium so far in 2017, Shane Watson and Jalen Beeks took center stage after the Fightin Phils and Sea Dogs combined to hit seven home runs in the first two games of the series. Looking for their first sweep of Portland in Baseballtown since 2012, the Reading offense was held off the scoreboard for the first time all season. And Jake DePew's seventh inning single stood up for the game's only run as the Sea Dogs salvaged the final game of the weekend series in front of a crowd of 7,426, snapping the Fightins six-game winning streak.

Beeks barely broke a sweat on a cool but pleasant afternoon in Reading, facing the minimum for the first three innings while throwing only 29 pitches the first time through the lineup. The good news was that Watson was able to match him after going 2-0 in his first three starts. With his fastball hitting 95 in the second inning, he struck out Nick Longhi and Tzu- Wei Lin to retire the side in order. The only serious threat came in the top of the fourth when Cole Sturgeon led off with a bunt single and Rafael Devers walked. Just like he did last Sunday in Richmond, Watson got a groundball to short that produced a double exchange between Jorge Flores and second baseman Angelo Mora.

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Carlos Tocci became Reading's second baserunner when he drew the second walk given out by Beeks. Harold Martinez then got a hold of the first pitch and stroked a single into left field, but Beeks kept the inning right there when he got Chace Numata to fly out to center. Watson's final inning was the fifth, and he benefitted from another 6-4-3 double play that developed after a leadoff single from Joseph Monge. With 10.0 scoreless innings in his last two starts, Watson's ERA decreased to 3.72.

Jiandido Tromp got a few good looks at Beeks, adding a hard double to the left field wall with one out in the fifth after walking in his first at-bat. A groundout by Aaron Brown got him over to third, and Flores ended the inning with a groundout to second on the very first pitch. Beeks nearly found trouble in the seventh during his final inning when he walked Mitch Walding and allowed a single to Tromp with two away. For his final act he struck out Brown to end his day, marking the second time in four starts he finished the seventh.

The game's only run came for Portland in the top half of the seventh after Lin led off with a walk. A sacrifice bunt from Jose Rosario pushed the dynamic shortstop up to second, and a soft single from DePew did the trick to put the Sea Dogs on top 1-0. Austin Maddox followed Beeks (3-1) in the eighth and continued his scoreless start to the Double-A season, stranding a runner at third after Flores led off with a single before three groundouts to second ended the inning.

Facing Jamie Callahan in the ninth, the Fightins got a one out double from Numata that skipped down the right field line.

With two chances to at least tie it, Callahan closed up shop with a strikeout of Walding before Tromp popped out to end the ballgame and the winning streak at six games.

America's Classic Ballpark is proud to be a part of Pennsylvania's Americana Region. Season tickets for the 2017 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 April 30, 2017


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