Bats Quiet as Fightin Phils Fall for Second Straight Night

BOX SCORE

(Reading, PA) - Another early offensive prowess lifted the Somerset Patriots (9-11) to a 9-0 win over the Reading Fightin Phils (9-11) on Saturday night. With the win, the Patriots cut Reaidng's lead in this week's series to 3-2, and the Fightin Phils can still capture a series win with a win tomorrow afternoon.

The Patriots once again wasted little time striking, as they played a run in the top of the first inning. Agustin Ramirez walked and moved to third on a Ben Rice double. Ben Cowels then singled to score Ramirez and put Somerset on top 1-0.

In the second, Somerset sent nine hitters to the plate and scored five runs. Elijah Dunham reached on a one-out single. Then with two outs, the Patriots did all their damage. Aaron Palensky worked a two-out walk and then both Palensky and Dunham scored on a Spencer Jones triple to make it 3-0. With Jones on third, Ramirez lifted his ninth home run of the season to make it 5-0. It was the second straight night Ramirez homered. Following a Ben Rice walk, he moved to second on a wild pitch and scored when Cowles hit an RBI single for the second-straight inning.

The Patriots got traffic in the third inning, but Reading starter Noah Skirrow (L, 0-2) held them off the board. That was the end of the night for Skirrow, as he went three innings, allowing seven hits, six runs (five earned), four walks, and no strikeouts.

Andrew Baker entered for the fourth and was tagged for a run in the inning. Agustin Ramirez hit a lead-off single off Baker and moved to second on a walk from Rice. Following a double play, Alex Vargas hit a triple to Ramirez and made it 7-0, Patriots. In the fifth, Elijah Dunham tripled down the right-field line and scored following a sacrifice fly to right field from Aaron Palensky, making it 8-0.

Following Baker was Eury Ramos, who tossed two scoreless frames, allowing just one hit with a walk and strikeout a piece. Matt Russell then entered in the eighth for Reading and allowed one run in that frame when Ben Cowles hit a solo home run to left field to make it 9-0, Somerset.

Brock Selvidge (W, 1-1) starred on the mound for the Patriots tonight. He tossed seven innings, allowing two hits, no runs, no walks and picking up a career-high 11 strikeouts. Yorlin Calderon followed Selvidge and pitched a scoreless eighth. Kevin Stevens tossed a scoreless ninth to finish off the win for Somerset.

The Fightin Phils and Patriots return to the field Sunday afternoon at 3:15 p.m. for game six of this week's six-game series. LHP Lachlan Wells gets the start for Reading, and he will go opposite RHP Zach Messinger for Somerset. Radio coverage is underway at 3 p.m. at rphils.com/radio. A video stream is available via MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.

The series finishes Sunday with a Phillie Phanatic Appearance, presented by Penske. Tickets to all games are on sale, but going fast. To buy tickets, call 610-370-BALL, go to rphils.com/tickets or in-person at the Customers Bank Ticket Office. The Fightin Phils Brentwood Industries Team Store is open both in-person or online 24/7 at rphils.com/shop.

The 2024 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.