Lively Named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week

Reading Fightin Phils starting pitcher Ben Lively was announced as Pitcher of the Week by the Eastern League on Monday afternoon for the period of April 27th through May 3rd. Lively joins fellow starting pitcher Zach Eflin as Fightins players who have won the honor this season from the Eastern League. 

In two games for the Fightins last week, Lively posted a 2-0 record with 16 strikeouts and a 2.08 ERA. A native of Pensacola, Florida, he made his first start of the week last Monday night at Richmond and threw seven shutout innings in Reading's 5-0 victory. He scattered six hits while recording seven strikeouts and one walk.

Lively also got the win in his second start of the week, a Reading 6-5 win over the visiting Portland Sea Dogs on Sunday afternoon. He saw his 17-inning scoreless streak come to an end after surrendering three runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out nine batters over six innings of work. His nine strikeouts were the most since he accomplished the same feat for Pensacola (AA) on July 13, 2014 last season.

The right-handed pitcher led all Eastern League pitchers in strikeouts (16) and innings pitched (13.0) last week and also tied for the league lead in wins (2). Lively entered the season rated by MLB.com as the seventh best prospect in the Philadelphia organization and was acquired by the Philadelphia Phillies in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds for Marlon Byrd this past offseason. He was originally selected by the Reds in the fourth round of the 2013 draft after going 7-5 with a 2.04 ERA as a junior at the University of Central Florida.

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